The Leftoverswas one of the greatest HBO shows of the 2010s, and there are very few series like it — but one of the best replacements was streaming at the same time and had three seasons on Hulu. Created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta,The Leftoverskicked off with an incident dubbed the Sudden Departure, which caused two percent of Earth’s population to vanish into thin air. This left the rest of humanity grappling with these mysterious disappearances and whether there was a deeper meaning behind them.
AlthoughThe Leftoversis a mystery box series, it stands out from similar shows, as it never quite answers its biggest questions. Instead, it leaves much of what happens up to viewer interpretation, preferring to focus on the characters and their reactions to the Sudden Departure instead. Impressively,this actually benefitsThe Leftovers,despite a lack of answers hurting other mystery box shows. And those looking for a similar storytelling approach, as well as overlapping themes and plot elements, would be wise to pick up a three-season Hulu series from around the same time:The Path.
The Path Came Out While The Leftovers Was Airing, But It’s A Perfect Follow-Up
It Has Similar Themes & Is Just As Mysterious
The Leftoversaired for three seasons on HBO, running from 2014 to 2017 and concluding on a high note. But even ifThe Leftovers’endingproved satisfying, there wasn’t an obvious series to pick up after finishing it. However, the underrated Hulu dramaThe Pathwas streaming from 2016 to 2018, and it made a surprisingly great follow-up— though viewers might not have realized it at the time.
StarringBreaking Badalum Aaron Paul,Hannibalstar Hugh Dancy, and Michelle Monaghan,The Pathis nearly as bizarre asThe Leftoversfrom the very beginning. While it doesn’t open with anything as jarring as the Sudden Departure, the series introduces a fictional cult called Meyerism, digging into its dynamics and most prominent members. This will appeal to those interested inThe Leftovers’Guilty Remnant, but the similarities go beyond that.
LikeThe Leftovers,it meshes the elements of a mystery box show with those of a more straightforward drama.
After Paul’s Eddie Lane has a mysterious vision, his beliefs are called into question, bringing the character and viewers on a journey to learn the “truth” about Meyerism and its founder. This premise givesThe Patha few key mysteries, but likeThe Leftovers,it meshes the elements of a mystery box show with those of a more straightforward drama. Because of this, its approach to its plot and characters feel similar, makingThe Patha must-watch for fans of the HBO series.
The Path Takes A Similar Approach To The HBO Show With Its Mysteries & Storytelling
The Hulu Show Leans Into Its Characters Over Twists And Turns
The Path’s cancellation after season 3 could be responsible for some of its mysteries never getting solved, but the lack of answers isn’t all that disappointing. This is becausethe Hulu series functions as more of a character study than anything else, making it feel reminiscent ofThe Leftovers.It’s more interested in exploring how the people involved in Meyerism respond to the community and the revelations that come out about it. It gives answers at times, but that isn’t the central focus, and the show is better for it.
The Pathtakes a heavy interest in belief and faith, giving it overlapping themes withThe Leftovers.
Additionally,The Pathtakes a heavy interest in belief and faith, giving it overlapping themes withThe Leftovers.Each series explores these themes through different means — and the Sudden Departure arguably givesThe Leftovershigher stakes — but those intrigued by people’s perceptions of the world will no doubt find both shows compelling.There are other reasons to check out the three-season Hulu drama, too, especially if you’re still looking to fill the void left byThe Leftovers.
The Leftovers Fans Will Appreciate The 3-Season Hulu Drama For Other Reasons Too
Both Series Have Great Casts, Impressive Writing, & Feel Distinct
The mysteries, storytelling approach, and themes are the most obvious reasons fans ofThe Leftoversshould pick upThe Path, but the Hulu series has other strengths worth noting. LikeThe Leftovers, it has a fantastic cast, with stars like Paul, Dancy, and Monaghan giving stellar performancesthat deserve far more attention. The writing is also nuanced and thoughtful, and the premise makesThe Pathfeel unlike anything else on TV. These are all qualities that elevatedThe Leftovers, so there’s a good chance viewers will appreciate them here as well.
The Leftovers
Cast
The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word’s population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast.
the path
The Path is a drama series that streamed on Hulu between 2016 and 2018. The series was created by Jessica Goldberg and stars Aaron Paul, Emma Greenwell, Rockmond Dunbar, and Michelle Monaghan. The plot revolves around a group of people who join a fictional religion known as Meyerism.
