The second season of HBO's "The Leftovers" has been nothing but outstanding so far and last Sunday's episode was considered as the best one yet. Titled "No Room at the Inn," series writers Damon Lindelof and Jacqueline Hoyt gave the spotlight to Reverend Matt Jamison played by Christopher Eccleston.
In this week's episode, Matt leaves Miracle with his wife, Mary, to get to her doctor's appointment which was secretly scheduled by the Reverend mainly because he wants to find out if she had indications of brain development since she "woke up" in Jarden. However, his real intention was misinterpreted when Mary was found to be pregnant by the doctors.
It was initially a shocker but Matt was overjoyed as his wife is finally pregnant. Though, the doctors suspect that Matt had sex with his wife without her consent, given that Mary has been catatonic for several years. Matt doesn't realize it, but this is going to be trouble for him as the doctors are implying that he might actually have raped Mary. But since he believes that he is indeed a good person and he would never do such a thing, he ignores the doctor's notions and heads back to Jarden.
On the way back to Miracle, Matt tried to help a stranded motorist but it just did him no good. They're left without a car and he had to push Mary on a wheelchair through the camp just outside the town. There they encounter just about anything opposite to a "miracle" but Matt's faith remained firm even if he has to suffer relentlessly.
Matt does what must be done even if it means his suffering. He gets the money he needs to get into Miracle, he carries all kinds of burdens -- failure, rejection, physical pain, his wife's catatonic disorder for three years. It's all clear now, God's will is for him to suffer which is a biblical allusion to the story of Job in which the reverend quotes, "Does thoust still retain mine integrity! Curse God and die!"
At the end of the episode, Matt walks away and climbs the steps to replace the naked man standing in the stockade outside Miracle. He says, "I want to free him... because it's my turn." Matt has chosen to bear this cross. Was it a merciful act or is he punishing himself for his sins?
Stay tuned for next week's episode of "The Leftovers" titled "Lens," Sunday nights on HBO.
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