Off Ramp (The Leftovers)
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Episode 3
- "Figures Eight"
by Max Roach & Buddy Rich - "Where Is My Mind?"
by Maxence Cyrin - "Spoiler"
by Hyper - "Leave Your Love"
by Young Summer - "Cocktail Lullaby"
by Greencastle Homer - "Jesus I'm Calling"
by Tangle Eye
| "Off Ramp" | |
|---|---|
| The Leftovers episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Carl Franklin |
| Written by | |
| Featured music |
|
| Cinematography by | John Grillo |
| Editing by | David Eisenberg |
| Production code | 4X6053 |
| Original air date | October 18, 2015 |
| Running time | 56 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Off Ramp" is the third episode of the second season of the American supernatural drama television series The Leftovers, based on the novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta. It is the thirteenth overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Damon Lindelof and co-producer Patrick Somerville, and directed by Carl Franklin. It was first broadcast on HBO in the United States on October 18, 2015.
In the episode, Laurie and Tom are setting a support group of former GR members, hoping to get them to return to their normal lives.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.777 million household viewers and gained a 0.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising Brenneman's and Zylka's performances, character development, directing, score and themes.
Tom (Chris Zylka) contacts an ex-member of the Guilty Remnant, Susan (Heather Kafka), taking her to a building where Laurie (Amy Brenneman) has formed a support group for former members, returning to her previous job as psychiatrist. Tom is looking for a new GR charter in the area, where he wants to identify the most disillusioned members and get them to the support group.
As Tom infiltrates a charter, Laurie writes a book, which will expose all of the activities that the GR was involved in. Knowing that Tom will meet with Jill (Margaret Qualley), she asks him to deliver a letter to her. Her office is blocked by the landlord, as Laurie has not paid to lease it, which prevents her from taking her laptop with her manuscript. She sneaks at his home at night, where she takes back her laptop. She manages to flee from the landlord's wife, until she finds the road has been blocked by two GR members. After revving her engine, she runs them over. With her laptop, she sends the manuscript to her publisher.
Tom attempts to infiltrate another charter, only to be caught instead. Tied in a van, he is visited by Meg (Liv Tyler). She rapes him and then has other members throw him to the ground and douse him with gasoline. She pulls out a lighter but spares him, telling him to tell Laurie. He returns home, where he confronts Laurie about Meg and her methods, without telling her about the rape. Later, Laurie is heartbroken to discover that Susan killed herself along with her husband after reading a note from the GR. While meeting with the publisher, Peter (Mark Harelik), Laurie is taken aback when they want to make edit changes to her book, causing her to strangle Peter.
Laurie is bailed out of prison by Tom, who takes her home. He comforts her on Susan's death, telling her the support group needs her to dispose of the GR's beliefs. At their next support group meeting, Laurie opens up about how joining GR ruined her relationship with Jill. Tom then speaks with a story regarding Holy Wayne. He claims that before his death, Wayne wanted Tom to keep his powers to take their pain away. Tom then offers the group a hug.
Production
Development
In September 2015, the episode's title was revealed as "Off Ramp" and it was announced that series creator Damon Lindelof and co-producer Patrick Somerville had written the episode while Carl Franklin had directed it. This was Lindelof's twelfth writing credit, Somerville's first writing credit, and Franklin's third directing credit.[1]
Writing
The episode featured a scene where Meg rapes Tom in a van. Damon Lindelof explained, "when you are depicting it on television, any presentation of non-consensual sex, you just have to do it with a lot of intentionality and a lot of responsibility and hopefully we did. But, you know, we didn't go into it with blinders on."[2]
