G'Day Melbourne

"G'Day Melbourne" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American supernatural drama television series The Leftovers, based on the novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta. It is the 24th overall episode of the series and was written by Tamara P. Carter and Haley Harris from a story by series creator Damon Lindelof, and directed by Daniel Sackheim. It was first broadcast on HBO in the United States on May 7, 2017.

"G'Day Melbourne"
The Leftovers episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 4
Directed byDaniel Sackheim
Story byDamon Lindelof
Teleplay by
  • Tamara P. Carter
  • Haley Harris
Produced by
Featured music
Cinematography byRobert Humphreys
Editing byDavid Eisenberg
Production codeT13.19804
Original air dateMay 7, 2017 (2017-05-07)
Running time55 minutes
Guest appearances

The series is set four years after the "Sudden Departure" – an event which saw 2% of the world's population (approximately 140 million people) disappear and profoundly affected the townspeople. The previous season featured the characters moving to the town of Jarden, Texas, where no one vanished during the Departure. In the episode, Kevin and Nora arrive at Australia, where things start falling apart between them.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.846 million household viewers and gained a 0.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances, writing, emotional tone, pacing, directing and cinematography.

Plot

While on the plane, Kevin (Justin Theroux) deduces that DSD is not involved in their destination, and questions why Nora (Carrie Coon) needs to meet with Mark Linn-Baker, but Nora brushes it off. As they arrive in Melbourne, Nora reads Kevin's gospel, mocking its content. Per the scientists' instructions, Nora must go to a bus stop by herself, leaving Kevin in the hotel room. While watching TV, Kevin is confused when he sees Evie (Jasmin Savoy Brown) during a live broadcast of "G'Day Melbourne". When the power turns off, he leaves for the location of the show in Federation Square.

Kevin finds Evie, who claims that her name is Daniah and can't recognize him. As a man steps up to protect her, Kevin is forced to flee. He calls Laurie (Amy Brenneman), who is shocked to discover she is alive, but advises him not to pursue her. Kevin ignores the advice and follows her to the State Library Victoria. She confesses to being Evie, but then claims that Laurie instructed her to tell him she was Evie. Calling Laurie again, Kevin is told that "Evie" is an hallucination, which he realizes after checking her photo again, which is now a different woman.

Nora takes a bus to Kensington, Victoria, where she is greeted by physicists Drs. Eden (Katja Herbers) and Bekker (Victoria Haralabidou). She is subjected to a few tests, which leads to some skepticism from Becker. To determine her place in the test, they ask her a question: two kids are born and one will discover the cure for cancer only if the other baby is killed at birth, would she let the baby die a quick death if it could cure cancer. Nora answers yes, claiming that kids die every day. The doctors then decide that Nora is not suitable for their plan and they leave despite Nora's pleas.

That night, Kevin returns to the hotel, finding Nora. Kevin is not willing to share his problems, as Nora left when he told her he was seeing Patti. She accuses him of believing in Matt's world of the gospel, which made her send Lily away. This prompts Kevin to burn the gospel, also telling her that she refuses to have a kid, because people wouldn't feel sorry for her. Nora maintains that her children aren't dead, just gone. Kevin then coldly tells her to be with them, and leaves the room just as the fire activates the sprinklers. Kevin tries to get a taxi, only to find chaos in the streets from an explosion. Kevin Sr. (Scott Glenn) appears, having recognized him on "G'Day Melbourne". He and Grace (Lindsay Duncan) drive Kevin away from the hotel, while Nora stays in her room.

Production

Development

In March 2017, the episode's title was revealed as "G'Day Melbourne" and it was announced that Tamara P. Carter and Haley Harris had written the episode from a story by series creator Damon Lindelof while Daniel Sackheim had directed it. This was Carter's first writing credit, Harris' first writing credit, Lindelof's 23rd writing credit, and Sackheim's second directing credit.[1]

Reception

Viewers

The episode was watched by 0.812 million viewers, earning a 0.3 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale. This means that 0.3 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode.[2] This was a slight decrease from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.846 million viewers with a 0.4 in the 18-49 demographics.[3]

Critical reviews

"G'Day Melbourne" received critical acclaim. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.67/10 for the episode, based on 16 reviews. The site's consensus states: "The power of grieving, broken love is the theme of 'G'Day Melbourne', which further explores a profound mystery of biblical proportions."[4]

Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a perfect "masterpiece" 10 out of 10 and wrote in his verdict, "The Leftovers excelled with its disintegration of Nora and Kevin's relationship - this time using a big change of scenery to exacerbate their issues instead of mending them with a 'miracle town'. Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux were magnificent in their respective panics and plights as Nora gave in to her 'cursed' moniker and Kevin spiraled in ways only Kevin could spiral."[5]

Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A–" grade and wrote, "Love stories, even the most life-affirming ones, are full of doubt, crossed signals, longing, and resentment. And so too is Kevin and Nora's love story, which hits its roughest patch yet in 'G’Day Melbourne'."[6]

Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx wrote, "Nobody likes it when Mommy and Daddy fight, but nobody expects them to fight this dirty, no matter how much pain they're each in."[7] Jeff Labrecque of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "And if this catastrophe happened this way, how much did Kevin have to do with it? Did his anger set things off? Or did fate intervene again — like the earthquake that saved him from drowning — and send him to Australia specifically to keep him safe? The Leftovers writing room works in mysterious ways."[8]

Sean T. Collins of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I wouldn't be surprised if we look back on 'G'Day Melbourne', tonight's episode of The Leftovers, and conclude that not showing us the explosion that brought society to a standstill was the smartest thing it did."[9] Nick Harley of Den of Geek wrote, "This was an emotionally draining episode of The Leftovers, featuring raw, electrifying turns from Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon and piercing direction from Daniel Sackheim, who delivers a final shot of Nora, water streaming down her eyelids, that feels like a series defining image. The love is over, but our time with The Leftovers thankfully isn't, at least not yet."[10]

Matt Brennan of Paste gave the episode a 8.5 out of 10 wrote, "The episode's musical through line, a-ha's 'Take On Me', blares from a few forthright horns, and The Leftovers finds the last remaining link between Nora and Kevin: their desperate need to escape."[11] Noel Murray of The New York Times wrote, "It doesn't take long before a sense of queasy dread creeps into this week's episode of The Leftovers and takes a permanent hold."[12]

References
  1. "(#24/304) "G'Day Melbourne"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  2. Metcalf, Mitch (May 9, 2017). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.7.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  3. Porter, Rick (May 2, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: 'American Gods' has decent premiere on Starz". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  4. "The Leftovers: Season 3, Episode 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  5. Fowler, Matt (May 7, 2017). "The Leftovers: "G'Day Melbourne" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  6. Alston, Joshua (May 7, 2017). "Kevin and Nora come to a fork in the road in an emotional Leftovers". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  7. Sepinwall, Alan (May 7, 2017). "Kevin And Nora Fall Apart In A More Devastating Than Usual Episode Of 'The Leftovers'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  8. Labrecque, Jeff (May 7, 2017). "The Leftovers recap: 'G'Day Melbourne'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  9. Collins, Sean (May 7, 2017). "The Leftovers Recap: A Sudden Departure". Vulture. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  10. Harley, Nick (May 8, 2017). "The Leftovers Season 3 Episode 4 Review: G'Day Melbourne". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  11. Brennan, Matt (May 7, 2017). "The Leftovers: Perfect Strangers". Paste. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  12. Murray, Noel (May 7, 2017). "'The Leftovers' Season 3, Episode 4 Recap: Disappearing Act". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
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