Sarah Mason and Jake Essoe review The Leftovers Season 1, Episode 2, "Don't Be Ridiculous" on this week's episode of The Harold and Maudecast.
If you think you've heard that song before, you're right. The opening credits to HBO's drama, The Leftovers, Season 3, Episode 2 is new, and old. It's the theme song to the 80s sitcom "Perfect Strangers" starring Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker. Baker, the actor, has been a running gag throughout the series. In Season 1 we learn that all of the major cast members from Perfect Strangers departed. In Season 2 we find Mark Linn-Baker living in Chihuahua, Mexico. He faked his departure due to a severe case of survivors guilt. Now in Season 3, Baker is back with a crazy proposal for Nora. After getting a call from Baker telling her he can reunite her with her departed children, Nora travels to St Louis to meet with him in a hotel room. We don't quite no whether she's truly on behave of the Department of Sudden Departure, as she tells her boss, or if she really thinks this crazy quest is legit.
Episode 2 is heavily focused on Nora. We discover what happened to baby Lily when Nora pops in for an announced visit to her playground where mom Christine is shocked to see her. This episode also sets up the journey to Australia and in fact ends with a taste of what's to come there including a reunion with Kevin's father (Scott Glenn).
Look for; Erika's (Regina King) return, small but poignant performance by Brett Butler (Grace Under Fire) and the introduction of the mysterious Australian wrangler, Grace played by veteran Scottish actress Lindsay Duncan (BIRDMAN, UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN). High marks for writing and performances, as always. 8.8/10
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