Interview
You have talked in the past about Matt as an "eternal optimist," and how he's been a joy for you to play. Does that side of him still remain after an episode like this?
I have to be careful. Without getting into spoiler territory... I would say it's renewed. "Optimism" is perhaps a simplistic word for it, but at the beginning of this episode, he's "re-galvanized," if you like, with almost a new belief system and a new figure to focus it on. There's a similar passion and drive that we have experienced with Matt being in denial of the rapture. The drive is still there in this third [season], it's just focused on a different area.
Among the reasons why this particular story is compelling, Matt faces off against God in this episode — at least, depending on your interpretation and what you think of David Burton. Was it a powerful experience to play, having Matt come face to face with a man who is at the very least presenting as God?
Yeah. And very reminiscent of course of Job questioning God. The central story of the Book of Job prompts the legendary response: "Who are you to question me? I made the ocean, I made the sky, I made all of this." Everybody talks about the extreme nature of The Leftovers thematically and what the characters go through, but it's always seemed from within and inside The Leftovers world very naturalistic to us. It felt quite right for Matt to finally have God in the chair, as it were.
I have to be careful. Without getting into spoiler territory... I would say it's renewed. "Optimism" is perhaps a simplistic word for it, but at the beginning of this episode, he's "re-galvanized," if you like, with almost a new belief system and a new figure to focus it on. There's a similar passion and drive that we have experienced with Matt being in denial of the rapture. The drive is still there in this third [season], it's just focused on a different area.
Among the reasons why this particular story is compelling, Matt faces off against God in this episode — at least, depending on your interpretation and what you think of David Burton. Was it a powerful experience to play, having Matt come face to face with a man who is at the very least presenting as God?
Yeah. And very reminiscent of course of Job questioning God. The central story of the Book of Job prompts the legendary response: "Who are you to question me? I made the ocean, I made the sky, I made all of this." Everybody talks about the extreme nature of The Leftovers thematically and what the characters go through, but it's always seemed from within and inside The Leftovers world very naturalistic to us. It felt quite right for Matt to finally have God in the chair, as it were.
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Promo
Episode #26 (season 3, episode 6): “Certified”
Debut date: SUNDAY, MAY 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Laurie Garvey (Amy Brenneman), a former therapist, must become one again as she heads to Australia to help Nora (Carrie Coon) and Kevin (Justin Theroux) along their paths.
Written by Patrick Somerville & Carly Wray; directed by Carl Franklin.
Debut date: SUNDAY, MAY 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Laurie Garvey (Amy Brenneman), a former therapist, must become one again as she heads to Australia to help Nora (Carrie Coon) and Kevin (Justin Theroux) along their paths.
Written by Patrick Somerville & Carly Wray; directed by Carl Franklin.
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