Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Does the final season go Outback with a bang?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 18, 2017

The Leftovers never did grow anywhere near as popular as Lost, both shows the brainchildren of Damon Lindelof. Whether that's because one aired on pay TV and the other a network, a comparative lack of advertising, less word of mouth, whatever, the two shows, which are not all that dissimilar from one another at their very mysterious cores, certainly took different roads towards and through somewhat congruent central narratives. Both wander through the realms of the unusual and the unexplainable and explore those strange circumstances in some detail both on personal levels and by way of expanding, larger-world perspectives. The Leftovers, regarded as one of the greatest shows of its time, has reached its all-too-quickly realized end in season three. Its final outing is another striking example of the show's complete package excellence of narrative domination, impeccable performances, and flawless technical construction. Season three brings much of the story to conclusion. It's weird yet weirdly believable, sprawling yet intimate, personal yet universal.

Official Synopsis: In an instant, 140 million people vanished from the face of the earth. The cause of that incredible event remains unknown, and there is no indication that those who are gone will ever be seen or heard form again. 'The Leftovers' follows the lives that were forever changed by the event that shook the world on October 14. In the third season, the Garvey and Murphy families come together as they desperately grasp for a system of belief to better explain what defies explanation. The world is crackling with the energy of something big about to happen, a corresponding bookend to the Sudden Departure that sent them all spinning years earlier, bringing their journey Down Under.

If one were to make the mistake of somehow starting The Leftovers with season three, the show would appear to be a jumbled mess of narrative mumbo-jumbo, wayward visual and musical stylings, and patently ridiculous on the whole (really, go back to seasons one and two first). But the show is, of course, anything but those things. It's a deep, complex, assertive, mysterious, and compelling human interest story with increasingly interesting and intensive Sci-Fi overtones. The show deals in physical, emotional, and spiritual responses to an extraordinary and unexplainable event, over the course of its run from both a more immediate reaction to, by the end, a much longer, more drawn-out response time. Season three digs more deeply, more intimately, and draws closer to the truth and the possibilities of finding and, perhaps more important, understanding it as it maneuvers through its well-paced eight-episode arc. Even as startling new revelations are made, as dynamics shift, as characters grow, as truths are revealed, the show keeps itself grounded in tone and style of presentation, never betraying its steady rhythm of engaging narrative intimacy and the occasional bursts of complimentary music, flashback, or deep gaze into a character's evolving psyche. It's high-end stuff, a moving work of art that engages both for its structural development, technical presentation, narrative complexities, and deep character responses.

Performances are fantastic across the board. There's a striking depth and seriousness to them, an almost uncanny realism that exposes each character's soul along the arc as they develop outwardly and inwardly alike. The actors firmly and assuredly wrestle with deeply rooted emotional destruction, uncertainty, fear, and the façades they place in the way that are often torn down through the process. They evolve congruently with plenty of symbolism, exacting development, and finer point detailing that sees them and the show evolving in some way practically in every frame. The overall depth of every facet -- on-screen and off -- never ceases to amaze. This is not television -- not any of the three seasons -- for anyone more accustomed to much of today's empty-vessel entertainment options. This is mentally intensive television that explores extreme characterization and narrative detail like few others. Season three brings it to a rather satisfying conclusion, satisfying within the show's established structure and presentation, anyway, and its three-season, 28-episode stretch ranks amongst the finest day-plus worth of television one is ever going to encounter.

The following episodes comprise season three. Summaries are courtesy of the series' official website.

Disc One:

• The Book of Kevin: Season Three Premiere. As the seventh anniversary of the Sudden Departure approaches, Kevin does his best to forget that he died.
• Don't Be Ridiculous: Nora investigates a scam that claims there's a way to reunite victims of the Sudden Departure with their families.
• Crazy Whitefella Thinking: Kevin Garvey Senior wanders through the Outback on a self-appointed mission to save the world.
• G'Day Melbourne: Kevin tags along with Nora to Australia and it all goes down under from there.

Disc Two:

• It's a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World: Believing Kevin to be in serious trouble, Matt Jamison leads his fellow disciples to Australia on a 'rescue' mission.
• Certified: Nora finds an unlikely ally in her quest while Laurie attempts to track down Kevin.
• The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother): On a mission of mercy, Kevin assumes an alternate identity.
• The Book of Nora: Series Finale. Nothing is answered. Everything is answered. And then it ends.

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season's 1080p transfer isn't dissimilar to those that preceded it in the season one and season two Blu-ray releases. Warner Archive's presentation, sourced from a digital shoot that's not a far cry from that coveted filmic appearance, features exceptional, tangible detailing throughout. The definition by which the transfer presents the most intimate close-up details is astonishing, even more than a decade into the format's lifespan and even in the 4K era. Facial hairs are incredibly finely defined, pores and skin imperfections at practically the microscopic level are easy to see, and general image clarity and textural definition to objects all over the frame, like cars, houses, and natural grasses and leaves, are always striking. Colors are robust and intense, full and very well and naturally saturated without appearing excessively hot. Core vibrance is incredible. Flesh tones are spot-on and black levels are wonderful. Some source noise is apparent in lower light, but the image is otherwise blemish-free.

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. As is the case with the video, this audio presentation falls largely in-line with the pair of previous seasons on Blu-ray. Sound positioning and fluidity are excellent. Clarity is never sacrificed in the name of increased range or movement. Precise details accompany all variety of music and effects, along with balanced surround and subwoofer engagement. In fact, key elements can go quite large, again maintaining exceptional precision even during the most intensive blasts of music or hardcore sound effects, like punishing weather. Even without added back or overhead channels, there are no gaps in coverage or feeling that the illusion of precise fluidity is missing. Likewise, gentle atmospheric support is clear and well positioned around the listener. Dialogue presents with the expectedly strong clarity and prioritization from its front-center position.

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season contains no supplemental content, and neither did season two (season one did offer a handful of extras). No DVD or digital copies are included, either. Beyond its basic menu screen, it's as totally bare-bones as they come.

The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As is always the case with a top-flight television show, it's sad to see The Leftovers wrap, but season three brings the show to a very strongly realized conclusion that puts a topper on the series' complexities and unwavering commitment to character depth and intimate exploration. It's wonderful television deserving of critical accolades and audience affection. The Leftovers: The Third and Final Season is unfortunately featureless, but video and audio are quite strong. As with seasons one and two, season three comes very highly recommended.