The Garveys at Their Best

Kevin (Justin Theroux) returns to his house after jogging, which looks different than in previous episodes. He is welcomed by Laurie (Amy Brenneman), revealing that the events are taking place before the Departure. Laurie is preparing for an appointment at her job as a psychiatrist, while Jill (Margaret Qualley) is shown to be more free-spirited and innocent. Kevin wants them to prepare for a birthday party that night.

Laurie tends to a recurring patient, who turns out to be Patti (Ann Dowd). Patti feels a looming sense of dread and suggests that the world could end. Laurie considers that Patti may be the victim of spousal abuse, advising that she can calm herself by placing all her fears in a bag and leave them at her husband's doorstep. Laurie later goes to pick up a dog, with Gladys (Marceline Hugot) as the breeder, although Laurie does not want to make a decision until she discusses it with Kevin. Meanwhile, Nora (Carrie Coon) prepares for a job interview, informing her husband Doug (Sebastian Arcelus) and her children. Her interview proves to be part of the electoral campaign for Lucy (Amanda Warren), who is a city councilwoman. Their interview is interrupted by Kevin Sr. (Scott Glenn), who works as Chief of Police, inviting Lucy to his birthday party, aware that Kevin is planning it.

Kevin is alerted when a deer attacks in an elementary school. Kevin Sr. wants to order officers to kill the deer, but Kevin suggests it might not be the best. Kevin Sr. gives him the chance to calm the deer and return it to the woods before animal control takes care of it. Kevin is also called when Tom (Chris Zylka) is arrested for confronting his biological father, Michael (Scott William Winters). Kevin releases Tom and then punches Michael in front of his young kid. He takes him home, where he bonds with Jill. Laurie also tells Jill that she will be unable to attend her science fair for an appointment, although Jill claims she understands.

That night, Kevin Sr. is welcomed to his "surprise" party. The party is attended by many police colleagues and friends, including Matt (Christopher Eccleston) and his wife Mary (Janel Moloney), who still walks. After Kevin delivers a toast, his father tells him that he lacks a greater purpose and needs to stop pretending some aspects of his life. Before sleeping, Kevin reaffirms to Laurie that he is interested in getting a dog.

On October 14, Kevin once again goes jogging. He witnesses a manhole cover exploding without explanation, prompting him to return home. When he tells Laurie about it, she dismisses it as she confronts him about smoking and the fight with Michael, with Kevin expressing unhappiness with his life. Alerted of the deer's presence, Kevin follows it to a house owned by a family. The deer flees the house and is hit by a car as it exits the house. With the deer wounded, Kevin puts it out of its misery by shooting it. He takes the woman who drove the car to her hotel room, where he has sex with her. Laurie arrives at a clinic, where she runs into Mary, who is waiting for Matt to come out from a scanning session. Matt comes out, revealing that there is nothing wrong with him. Laurie enters the clinic room for an ultrasound, revealing that she is pregnant.

At the moment of the Departure, Nora is unable to answer a phone call from Lucy after her daughter spills juice on her phone. As she takes her frustration out on her family they all vanish. Tom and Jill are part of a human circuit at the science fair, and realise that one of Jill's classmates has disappeared when the light they are powering goes out. The woman Kevin is having an affair with vanishes while they are having sex, and after being distracted by a scream Laurie realises her child no longer appears on the ultrasound scan.

In July 2014, the episode's title was revealed as "The Garveys at Their Best" and it was announced that supervising producer Kath Lingenfelter and series creator Damon Lindelof had written the episode while Daniel Sackheim had directed it. This was Lingenfelter's third writing credit, Lindelof's eighth writing credit, and Sackheim's first directing credit.^[1]