Off Ramp (The Leftovers)
Laurie and Tom attempt to rehabilitate former Guilty Remnant members.
"Off Ramp" serves as the thirteenth installment of *The Leftovers* overall and the third episode of its second season. The episode was penned by series creator Damon Lindelof alongside co-producer Patrick Somerville, with Carl Franklin directing. It aired on HBO in the United States on October 18, 2015.
In the episode, Laurie and Tom work to establish a support group for former members of the Guilty Remnant, aiming to help them reintegrate into normal life. Tom contacts an ex-GR member named Susan and brings her to a building where Laurie, returning to her psychiatric work, runs the group. Tom seeks out a new GR chapter in the area to identify its most disillusioned members and recruit them. While Tom infiltrates the chapter, Laurie writes a book exposing the GR’s activities. She asks Tom to deliver a letter to Jill, but her office is locked by the landlord due to unpaid rent, trapping her laptop and manuscript. Laurie breaks into the landlord’s home at night to retrieve the laptop, fleeing from his wife until two GR members block the road. She revs her engine and hits them with her car, then sends the manuscript to her publisher.
Tom is caught trying to infiltrate another GR chapter and is tied up in a van. Meg visits him, rapes him, and has other members throw him to the ground and douse him with gasoline. She pulls out a lighter but spares him, telling him to relay the message to Laurie. Tom returns home and confronts Laurie about Meg and her methods, though he does not disclose the rape. Later, Laurie is devastated to learn that Susan killed herself, along with her husband and child, after reading a note from the GR. While meeting with her publisher, Peter, Laurie becomes upset when he requests editorial changes and attacks him. Tom bails her out of jail and comforts her, suggesting that the GR gives members something meaningful, so the support group must offer an alternative. At the next meeting, Laurie opens up about how joining the GR damaged her relationship with Jill. Tom then shares a story about Holy Wayne, claiming that before his death, Wayne wanted Tom to keep his ability to take away people’s pain. Tom offers the group a hug.
The episode’s title was revealed in September 2015, with Lindelof and Somerville writing and Franklin directing.
- Series
- The Leftovers
- Season
- 2
- Episode
- 3 (overall 13)
- Written by
- Damon Lindelof and Patrick Somerville
- Directed by
- Carl Franklin
- Original air date
- October 18, 2015
- U.s. viewers (millions)
- 0.777
Lore & Background
In the episode, Laurie and Tom are setting a support group of former GR members, hoping to get them to return to their normal lives. Tom contacts an ex-member, Susan, and takes her to a building where Laurie has formed a support group for former members, returning to her previous job as psychiatrist. Tom is looking for a new GR charter in the area, where he wants to identify the most disillusioned members and get them to the support group. As Tom infiltrates a charter, Laurie writes a book exposing GR activities. Her office is blocked by the landlord due to unpaid lease, preventing her from taking her laptop with her manuscript. She sneaks into his home at night, retrieves her laptop, and flees from the landlord's wife until two GR members block the road. She hits them with her car and sends the manuscript to her publisher.
Reader's Guide
Tom attempts to infiltrate another charter but is caught. Tied in a van, he is visited by Meg, who rapes him and then has other members throw him to the ground and douse him with gasoline. She pulls out a lighter but spares him, telling him to tell Laurie. He returns home and confronts Laurie about Meg and her methods, without telling her about the rape. Later, Laurie is heartbroken to discover that Susan killed herself along with her husband and child after reading a note from the GR. While meeting with the publisher, Peter, Laurie is taken aback when they want to make edit changes to her book, causing her to attack Peter. Laurie is bailed out of jail by Tom, who comforts her and tells her that the GR gives its members something and that the support group needs to offer something different. At their next support group meeting, Laurie opens up about how joining GR ruined her relationship with Jill. Tom then speaks about Holy Wayne, claiming that before his death, Wayne wanted Tom to keep his powers to take their pain away. Tom offers the group a hug.
Did You Know?
- The episode was written by series creator Damon Lindelof and co-producer Patrick Somerville, and directed by Carl Franklin.
- According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.777 million household viewers and gained a 0.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
- The episode received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 9.15/10.
- TVLine named Chris Zylka as an honorable mention as the 'Performer of the Week' for the week of October 24, 2015, for his performance in the episode.
More in The Leftovers episodes 1-24
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