{"id":730,"date":"2026-04-19T20:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T20:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/?p=730"},"modified":"2026-04-19T20:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T20:38:00","slug":"hbos-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe-of-its-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/?p=730","title":{"rendered":"HBO&#8217;s three-part post-apocalyptic masterpiece has one producer still in awe of its legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It&#8217;s been nine years since the post-apocalyptic series ended on HBO, and producer Michael Ellenberg is inspired by the show&#8217;s enduring legacy. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>Often associated with HBO; <em>the sopranos<\/em> and <em>game of thrones<\/em>it&#8217;s also home to some of the best post-apocalyptic shows of all time. This includes: <em>the last of us<\/em>is based on the hit video game series of the same name, in which the fungus Cordyceps sinensis infects much of the world and mutates those it infects. Although it hasn&#8217;t become much of a pop culture phenomenon, there&#8217;s another well-received series in this genre on HBO. <em>station eleven,<\/em> The film is set 20 years after an influenza pandemic destroys world civilization. <\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"hbo-shows-everyone-should-watch-once\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stringer-looking-serious-in-the-wire.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/stringer-looking-serious-in-the-wire.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\t20 HBO shows worthy of masterpiece status<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">From &#8220;The Sopranos&#8221; to &#8220;Six Feet Under&#8221; to &#8220;The Larry Sanders Show,&#8221; these classic HBO shows have more than earned the coveted masterpiece label.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In an interview with <em>screen abuse<\/em>Ash Crossan <em>miniature wife<\/em>Ellenberg was asked about projects he&#8217;s done in the past that felt small before, but have grown over time. His answer was an apocalyptic series <strong><em>leftovers<\/em><\/strong>He explained that while HBO&#8217;s viewership ratings were never that great, they gradually increased. Almost 10 years later, he is most often asked about the series he has worked on. <em>&#8220;It stands the test of time.&#8221;<\/em> Check out Ellenberg&#8217;s comments below. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Well, \u201cThe Leftovers\u201d is that show. So The Leftovers is a great show, Damon Lindelof, that was the little engine that made it possible. And while the ratings on HBO weren&#8217;t huge during its run, the show gained momentum and grew over time. And 10 years later, I still get asked more questions about this show than almost any other show I&#8217;ve produced. And it&#8217;s one of those shows that stands the test of time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>leftovers<\/em> It begins with an event known as the Sudden Departure, in which 2 percent of the world&#8217;s population disappears without a trace. Rather than delving into the mystery of why these particular individuals disappeared and where they are now; <em>leftovers<\/em> Instead, it primarily focuses on the characters left behind after death and how they grapple with grief, trauma, and the struggle to move on with their lives. <\/p>\n<p>One of the many reasons behind long-term success is <em>leftovers<\/em>&#8220;ending. Season 3, Episode 8, &#8220;The Book of Nora&#8221; received a 9.5\/10 rating on IMDb, the third highest rating of the entire series, and on Rotten Tomatoes, Season 3 received a score of 99% from critics and 91% from viewers. It&#8217;s rare for a majority of viewers to have an ending that satisfies them, especially when juxtaposed with the more polarizing series finales of Mystery Box shows like: <em>lost <\/em>and <em>manifesto<\/em>. <\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:50%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/justin-theroux-and-carrie-coon-dancing-visibly-older-in-the-leftovers-season-3.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/justin-theroux-and-carrie-coon-dancing-visibly-older-in-the-leftovers-season-3.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/justin-theroux-and-carrie-coon-dancing-visibly-older-in-the-leftovers-season-3.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/justin-theroux-and-carrie-coon-dancing-visibly-older-in-the-leftovers-season-3.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/justin-theroux-and-carrie-coon-dancing-visibly-older-in-the-leftovers-season-3.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_505_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_505_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"826\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon dance in Season 3 of 'The Leftovers'\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_505_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_505_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon dance visibly older in &#8216;The Leftovers&#8217; Season 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>leftovers<\/em> While not being canceled and ending naturally is important to that tradition, the continuation of the series as a whole continues to be appreciated as well. 9 episodes out of 28 total have a score of 9.0\/10 or higher on IMDb. This is an unusual feat for any show, let alone one with fewer than 30 episodes. The overall score on Rotten Tomatoes is also exemplary, receiving a 91% from critics and 90% from viewers. <\/p>\n<p>However, the numbers on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb only tell part of the story. <em>leftovers <\/em>The film is an exploration of the universal experience of grief and the search for meaning, which is as relevant now and in the future as it was during its 2014-2017 run on HBO. The series prioritizes characters over plot, gaining emotional arcs for their struggles over three seasons that make them feel authentic. <\/p>\n<p>Another thing that makes this show unique is the way it reinvents itself each season. Season 1 in Mapleton, New York, Season 2 in Jarden, Texas, and Season 3 in Australia feel completely different while still respecting what has already happened in the story. Thematic, character-driven approach, continued subversion of the status quo, and refusal to provide easy answers make this show thought-provoking, which leads to why people continue to ask questions about Ellenberg years later. <\/p>\n<p>beyond his work <em><strong>leftovers<\/strong><\/em>Ellenberg serves as a producer for Ridley Scott. <em>robin hood<\/em>, <em>prometheus<\/em>, <em>A scene from a marriage<\/em>, <em>pachinko<\/em>, <em>the morning show<\/em>and now <em>miniature wife<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Total 10 episodes <em>miniature wife<\/em> Currently streaming on Peacock. <\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card type-screen large\" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"true\" data-include-community-rating=\"true\" id=\"09ab-49d0-98ed9938ee7f\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column\">\n<p>                        <!--    Rating block community and brand ratings --><br \/>\n                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img \" data-stnl-group-once=\"LYMWerEeMk\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/the-leftovers-tv-series-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Poster for the TV series \"Leftovers\"\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_48_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_48_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n                                                                                                                            <!--  Display card tags widget --><\/p>\n<p>                                                <!--  Display card community and brand rating widget --><br \/>\n                                                                <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<dl>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>release date<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t2014 &#8211; 2017-00-00<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>show runner<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdamon lindelof<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>writer<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDamon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card media widget start --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card media widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Cast widget start --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-cast\">\n<ul class=\"cast-tab-list\">\n<li class=\"cast-tab full-width\">\n                                                                                <img width=\"100\" height=\"130\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Justin Theroux's photo\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_889_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_889_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"cast-tab full-width\">\n                                                                                <img width=\"100\" height=\"130\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amy Brenneman photo\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_303_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776689683_303_HBOs-three-part-post-apocalyptic-masterpiece-has-one-producer-still-in-awe.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- Cast widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch button preview --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch preview end --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-09ab-49d0-98ed9938ee7f\" name=\"extra-content-09ab-49d0-98ed9938ee7f\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>#HBOs #threepart #postapocalyptic #masterpiece #producer #awe #legacy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s been nine years since the post-apocalyptic series ended on HBO, and producer Michael Ellenberg is inspired by the show&#8217;s enduring legacy. Often associated with HBO; the sopranos and game of thronesit&#8217;s also home to some of the best post-apocalyptic shows of all time. This includes: the last of usis based on the hit video &#8230; <a title=\"HBO&#8217;s three-part post-apocalyptic masterpiece has one producer still in awe of its legacy\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/?p=730\" aria-label=\"Read more about HBO&#8217;s three-part post-apocalyptic masterpiece has one producer still in awe of its legacy\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1738,1734,1423,682,1736,1737,1735],"class_list":["post-730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-awe","tag-hbos","tag-legacy","tag-masterpiece","tag-postapocalyptic","tag-producer","tag-threepart"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=730"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yasbou.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}