HBO’s 3-Part Post-Apocalyptic Masterpiece Has One Producer Still In Awe Of Its Legacy

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Nine years after it finished airing on HBO, the creator of the show is still amazed by how many people remember and appreciate it.

HBO is famous for shows like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, but it also offers excellent post-apocalyptic dramas. The Last of Us, adapted from the popular video game, tells the story of a world overrun by a mutated fungus. Another critically acclaimed series, Station Eleven, depicts a world rebuilding itself twenty years after a devastating flu pandemic wipes out most of humanity.

In a conversation with Ash Crossan from ScreenRant about his show The Miniature Wife, Damon Lindelof discussed a project that gained popularity over time. He pointed to HBO’s The Leftovers, noting that while it didn’t have huge ratings initially, its audience steadily grew. Now, years later, he says it’s the show he’s most often asked about and believes it has lasting appeal. You can read his full thoughts below.

The Leftovers is a truly exceptional show. Created by Damon Lindelof, it consistently overcame low initial ratings at HBO and steadily gained a dedicated following. Even ten years after it aired, it remains the project I’m asked about most frequently, and it’s clearly a show that continues to resonate with viewers.

The TV series The Leftovers starts with a massive, unexplained event called the Sudden Departure, where two percent of the world’s population simply vanishes. Instead of trying to solve the mystery of who disappeared or where they went, the show focuses on the people who remain and how they cope with loss, the emotional aftermath, and the challenge of rebuilding their lives.

A major factor in the lasting popularity of The Leftovers is how well its ending was received. The final episode, “The Book of Nora,” currently has a 9.5/10 rating on IMDb – one of the highest for the entire show. Critics and viewers alike overwhelmingly praised Season 3, with a 99% rating from critics and a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s unusual for a show to deliver a satisfying conclusion, especially compared to the often-divisive finales of mystery-driven series like Lost and Manifest.

It’s important that The Leftovers finished as its creators intended, and the show remains highly praised. With only 28 episodes total, an impressive nine of them have received a 9.0 or higher rating on IMDb. It also boasts excellent scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with 91% approval from critics and 90% from viewers.

While ratings on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb can be helpful, they don’t capture the full picture of what makes a show great. The Leftovers is a deeply moving exploration of grief and the search for purpose, and its themes feel just as powerful today as they did when it originally aired on HBO from 2014 to 2017. The show focuses more on the emotional journeys of its characters than on the plot itself, making their struggles feel real and meaningful over the course of its three seasons.

What really sets this show apart is its ability to feel fresh each season. While each new location – from New York in season one to Texas in season two and Australia in season three – offers a completely different setting, the show still respects the story that’s come before. By exploring complex themes, focusing on its characters, constantly challenging expectations, and avoiding simple resolutions, the show makes you think, and that’s likely why people are still discussing it with Ellenberg years later.

Besides his work on The Leftovers, Ellenberg has also produced several other well-known projects, including Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood and Prometheus, as well as Scenes from a Marriage, Pachinko, The Morning Show, and his latest production, The Miniature Wife.

All 10 episodes of The Miniature Wife are now streaming on Peacock.

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2026-04-19 23:58