Surprisingly Funny but Deeply Moving, 'The Leftovers' is Triumphant in Final Season

With its nonlinear storytelling and dense episodes, "The Leftovers" challenged viewers for two seasons. The HBO series, co-created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (the show is based on the latter's 2011 novel), felt like something that transcended TV, making it one of the best shows in recent memory. Critically lauded, but little watched, "The Leftovers" is as ambitious and devastatingly moving, albeit surprisingly funny at times, in its third and final season, which debuts Sunday. Yes, Easter Sunday.

Just like the first two installments, the new season of "The Leftovers" is jam packed with Biblical references, illusions and mysteries that will keep the Internet busy in the days between episodes. Lindelof also reaches back into the program's own mythology, bringing back old faces in unexpected and exciting ways. Having seen seven out of the eight episodes of the final season HBO provided for review, re-watching the first two seasons of "The Leftovers" is not a requirement but a second will definitely make the experience of watching the new season more rewarding.

Successfully pulling off a final season - especially for a show that is as revered and as complex as "The Leftovers" - is no easy task. Every moment counts and some showrunners can fumble and fail to stick the landing. This isn't the first time Lindelof felt that kind of pressure when ending a critically acclaimed show. As an executive producer and co-showrunner for "Lost," many fans were quick to turn on him after that show's series finale, which did not satisfy a majority of viewers. For the final stretch of "The Leftovers," however, Lindelof, Perrotta and Co. don't spare a moment, making the show's final chapter risky and riveting.

Set two weeks before the seventh anniversary of The Sudden Departure - the monumental moment that saw 2% of the world's population vanish into thin air without any explanation - "The Leftovers" once again relocates, moving across the globe from Miracle, Texas to Australia. As religious leaders, including Rev. Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston), point out, the number seven is significant in several religious texts, including the Bible. Matt believes something catastrophic will happen on October 14 and Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and his friends and family are preparing for the worst.

For its complicated but fruitful storytelling, which comes with its enthralling twists and turns, "The Leftovers" is a character driven show. In Season 3, the show doubles down on how the main characters process grief and loss. Similar to past seasons, each episode of Season 3 is told from the viewpoint from one or two characters, allowing writers to flesh out motivations and how they bump up against the unexplainable. This kind of storytelling makes each episode of "The Leftovers" feel special; completely unique unto itself while being part of a larger narrative. The examination of psyche can be hard for some viewers - a common complaint of "The Leftovers" is how dark and relentlessly depressing it can get. But just like Season 2, the new season finds moments of comedy that will catch you off guard, balancing out the series' sardonic side.

It is the cast of "The Leftovers" who are able to sell the complicated writing - with lesser performers "The Leftovers" could easily fall apart. Though Season 3 has a slim cast, the core crew shines in every scene. Carrie Coon, arguably the show's MVP, is excellent as Nora Durst, who is now more jaded and icy than ever - seven years after she lost her entire family in the Sudden Departure. Along with Coon, Theroux and Eccleston are equally magnificent, as is Amy Brenneman, who plays Kevin's ex-wife Laurie, especially in the second half of the season. Scott Glenn, playing Kevin's father, gets a bigger role this season and is, unsurprisingly, brilliant as a determined older man on a mission. Newcomer Lindsay Duncan ("Absolutely Fabulous") dazzles as well.

On top of its expert writing and masterful cast, "The Leftovers" Season 3 is boosted by its beautiful look. The tone is set by director Mimi Leder, who also serves as executive producer, as she helms the first episode; a visual masterpiece. When the show heads Down Under in its third episode, Leder again directs, making it one of the most breathtaking episodes of the series.

"The Leftovers" may be narratively layered but it's always been about feeling and music has been a big part of the show. Composer Max Richter crafted the series' themes and his powerful piano ballads continue to pop up in Season 3. But the new season's music supervisor gets a shout out as the music cues are absolutely incredible, punctuating the "The Leftovers" with poignant and mind-blowing tunes.

If there is a downside to Season 3 it's that the second season of "The Leftovers" set the bar very high. Season 2 was an unexpected delight for some, becoming an undeniable bold and surprising TV show compared to its first season. From the wild cavewoman opening to Kevin becoming an assassin in the afterlife, "The Leftovers" Season 2 went full Lynchian nightmare mode, making Season 3 slightly less shocking when the show goes weird. Those who felt the show should have ended last year probably will stick by those sentiments. That said, the wildest moments on Season 3 are still stunning.

Lindelof promised the series finale of "The Leftovers" wouldn't leave any "dangling threads, no to be continued, no spinoff possibilities."

"We made pretty sure that this was going to be the last season of the show," the showrunner told Variety. "The audience deserves as satisfying an ending as we can give them. I don't think anyone wants to see a question mark at the end of this."

The series finale was not made available for viewing and it's impossible to tell where the show will go based on the first seven episodes. But viewers are in capable hands. "The Leftovers" has offered plenty of wondrous moments with gratifying conclusions while letting the mystery be. Whatever Lindelof has planned for the endgame of "The Leftovers" it's going to be grand.