Pilot (The Leftovers)

Lore & Background

The episode was written by series creators Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta and directed by Peter Berg, who appears in a cameo role as Pete. The budget for the pilot was $8,433,643. In an interview on the Season 1 Blu-ray, Lindelof explained that much of the show was informed by decisions made while shooting the pilot, noting the improvisational quality of television. In a 2015 interview with Uproxx, Lindelof recalled that before shooting, Berg told him the script made him think about Newtown after the Sandy Hook shooting, and Berg took Lindelof to Newtown, where the town's sadness and memorials became embedded in the show.

Reader's Guide

The pilot received largely positive reviews, with critics praising its themes, performances, and intrigue. On Rotten Tomatoes, it gained a 100% approval rating based on 13 reviews. Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx noted that the story focuses on the Garvey family, who lost no one in the Departure but have lost each other as a result. Ben Travers of IndieWire gave the episode an "A" grade. Robert Ham of Paste wrote that the pilot sets up central themes and characters and leaves the viewer hanging enough to encourage return. The episode was nominated for Best Long Form Adapted at the 67th Writers Guild of America Awards, but lost to Olive Kitteridge.

Did You Know?

• Director Peter Berg appears in a cameo role as Pete.
• The budget for the pilot episode was $8,433,643.
• The episode achieved a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 1.77 million viewers.