Crazy Whitefella Thinking (2017) User Reviews (10)

One of the best Episodes, Journeys, Stories and Moments

[pontram · 14 May 2017]

Leftowers already had a few extraordinary episodes in the first season, and after a more mediocre second season, it is again on its's path with telling very personal stories, where it's always at its best.

This episode is focusing on Kevin junior's father, old Kevin Garvey senior, former police chief and former mental institution inhabitant after the events of October, 14th, and his journey to and through Australia, why he had to come there, and why he had to cross the continent in search for something to stop the apocalypse, which he thinks will come soon on the next October 14th (in Australia, October 15th).

For the most time we follow the old man, who behaves like one of the last remaining hippies, traveling through the country, talking to others, and telling his story in his own words, until he is coming to the point at the end of the previous episode, when he came out from a house, asking the four ladies, what they're are up to (drowning a sheriff named Kevin).

Until this point the episode is mostly funny, and easy to follow because we know that Kevin senior is important, and because he is really sympathetic and Scott Glenn is a great actor. Of course there is the usual symbolic scene for us to interpret, and two moments where one knows the outcome for sure.

But, what follows then, in the last few minutes, where Grace (Lindsay Duncan), the leader of the four women, is telling him, is one of the greatest moments in TV shows I've ever met. It's only a story told, but such a heartbreaking story of failure because of belief, that cost many lives, and it is told so intense, that I had to remind myself of breathing for that time. No action movie or drama or tense situation had this effect on me for several years, and I had to wonder how little is needed to create a really gripping scene - great actors, a good story and a caring director. And in this case, the music comes only in later, to release us, instead of pulling us deeper.

Anyways, a great opportunity to spend an hour with a real TV highlight.

Masterpiece

[Premium-TV · 10/10 · 11 February 2021]

For several years now, I have on many occasions thought back on this unique and fabulous episode starring Scott Glenn.

I struggle to find the right words to describe how much I appreciate this story, but I want to thank the writers for taking me on a philosophical journey that challenges me to reflect. Which makes me think about what matters in this life, the existential questions.

This is an art that very few other shows manage to achieve, but which The Leftovers repeatedly manage to master. Kevin Garvey Sr. has always been one of my favorite characters, a complex figure with a lot of will to solve the unexplained events. If you are a fan of strong, character-driven stories with good dialogue, cinematography and quality writing, this is the episode for you.

The wrong Kevin

[aarongnr · 10/10 · 23 February 2020]

This show is gettinf weirder with each and every episode and I LOVE it. I hope that it all makes sense in the end though.

Amazing

[alanaaq · 10/10 · 7 May 2019]

This episode was amazing its intense and shocking...

I love the series and i wanted to share my opinion And i want to say its amazing

I can never get these hours back.

[pmazza3 · 1/10 · 4 July 2020]

That may have been the single worst hour of TV I've ever seen. I don't know how I've made it this far. I'll probably finish it, but those raving about this being a great show should really lay off the drugs.

The damage misplaced belief can do

[TheDonaldofDoom · 1 February 2018]

For most of the duration of the episode I wondered why it was focussing solely on Kevin's father, a relatively minor character who has no place in the main storyline. By the end, as things usually do in the Leftovers, it all made sense. It's true that it sags in the middle, spending too many minutes following Kevin's trek across the outback. Some cutting down of the runtime would have been nice. Even then, there's a beautiful landscape to admire.

The meaning of this story, when it comes, hits like a sledgehammer. It highlights how stupid religious delusions which might give purpose to your life can wreck someone else's. Like how Kevin's fanaticism ended up killing an Aboriginal. Like how a lady's fanaticism ended up drowning a police officer.

What's funny is how despite the damage Matt's book and Kevin's delusion have both doled out, they have equal disregard for each other's religious delusions. It just shows the pointlessness of it all. If only they'd just realise none of it's true and stop with it. But of course that's not going to happen. Not if the final scene is anything to go by.

Fly

[dawidjagusiak · 5/10 · 22 July 2020]

Like "Fly" in Breaking Bad every show needs to have it's worst episode, and I dare to say that "Crazy Whitefella Thinking" is the one for The Leftovers.

great acting of mindless tripe

[abwetman-1-817328 · 3/10 · 26 January 2020]

By now series had devoured into nonsense . it appears the it was just an exercise in tax credit and free trip to Australia

Wasted time

[bnevs18 · 3/10 · 19 June 2021]

I love The Leftovers, but being that they knew that this would be the last season and that there were only so many episodes yet, what happened here did not justify one of the last 9 hours of the series. It could have been handled in a half an hour or so, freeing up what is not dobut great stuff that they left on the cutting room floor. Ive never given The Leftovers less than a 6, this one deserves it because its a pretty good half episode.

Garbage

[grahambuckle · 3 March 2021]

Utter guff. Can't believe anyone is lapping this rubbish up. First two seasons were good in terms of being able to provide intrigue and curiosity but now it's getting into the realms of stupidity. Shame as it showed promise early on. A disappointing way to end my viewing of this series but definitely not worth any more of my time. Similar to when Lost was around, I expected that there would be no real answers in the end. But that doesn't mean you can turn the whole thing into a joke.