TV PREP: The Leftovers – “Gladys”

First off, all jokes about stoning will never be nearly as funny as they were prior to last Sunday. I’ve seen a lot of gruesome deaths (being into Game of Thrones and all), but this one was so upsetting and brutal, really. What I’m suspicious about was what happened right before it: all we see is Gladys (the deceased) sitting at Patti’s desk, the two women staring at each other until Gladys nods. Did Patti plan for this to happen? Was it their intent to somehow get sympathy for the GR? Was Gladys a martyr that broke her vow of silence in her final moments?

Another theory might be that this wasn’t anyone in the town, but people from the FBI. They told Kevin themselves that they have “dealt” with these kinds of cults before by simply eliminating them. I’m wondering if someone had already informed the FBI about the GR and they decided to get the ball rolling by giving the police reason to call and involve them. Of course, the FBI agent in charge of the ATFEC didn’t seem too bothered by Kevin’s phone call. Could that be a front?

There’s definitely something to Kevin’s alarm not being set and his shirts going missing. Did the guy at the dry cleaners really have them, or were they just some random ones? At first, I thought that Laurie might have stolen them when the GR members were taking photographs, but it would seem that this episode takes place several weeks after the burglary.

I definitely had a Donnie Darko flashback when Patti and Laurie had breakfast. Remember? “Sometimes I doubt your commitment to sparkle motion.” Patti threatened Laurie in a very friendly tone rivaling Petyr Baelish telling Ros to cheer up.

Matt, always the helpful preacher, decides to give Gladys a memorial in front of the GR’s headquarters. In a successful attempt to prove herself, Laurie takes one of the panic whistles and blows it repeatedly into his face. Whatever happened to not wasting your breath?

This episode had a definite theme of fire, flames, being burned. Not only did we see Gladys incinerated in the end, but both Matt and Patti spoke of burning.

MATT: “If I tell you what he spoke to me, you will pick up rocks and stone me. And fire will come from the rocks and devour you.”

PATTI: “…what we do is very, very hard. But there can’t be any doubt, Laurie, because doubt is fire! And fire is gonna burn you up until you are but ash!”

If you enjoyed Amanda’s review, you can find the rest of her work right HERE on Sci-Fi Bloggers. You can also follow her on Twitter @ErukaMoseley.

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