More fancy pants behind the scenes shenanigans with a relaxed edge at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Plus babies, celebrating the return of Agent Carter and some A+ 70s outfits.
Will Forte showed that his new half-shaved look wasn’t just a onetime TCA affair (his entire body is like this, yep everything) and gave Justin Theroux’s expressive eyebrows a workout of Leftovers proportions at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Award shows can all get a bit much for some. The Jane the Virgin table also featured heavily in reactions to the super adorable Jacob Tremblay. They are all of us.
A very super smiley Liv Tyler on her way to the awards and it is probably a very good thing that she didn’t have to lie down to avoid crease awkwardness.
Also to be filed under “things that seem too magical to be true” is Kroll Show originals Gil and George appearing on The Bachelor live show and Jenny Slate filming her reaction. Yep, I still miss Kroll Show, but I am thrilled that Gil and George are still out there in the world.
More adorable babies and hitting that ‘cast members who still hang out after their show has finished’ sweet spot. Also Dave Annable wins best Instagram caption contest this week.
A smorgasbord of pattern clashing and bold color from the many outfit changes for Mindy Kaling on The Mindy Project. Even by this shows standards this is a lot for one day and it’s hard to pick a favorite; edging toward the floral sweater and pajamas with the dragonfly dress also wrestling for top place.
While I’m on the subject of jeans – I am coveting these ones Gina Rodriguez is wearing hard and the whole 70s vibe of this outfit is ticking all the boxes.
The awards shows they keep on coming and the Critics’ Choice celebration continued the Mr Robot hot streak. Plus plenty of amazing red carpet looks from those who attended last weekend’s Golden Globes and a whole host of different faces (including many beloved by TV Ate My Wardrobe).
Combing one of the big trends from the Golden Globes (sparkles) with perfect for shimmying pleats; Krysten Ritter’s excellent Zuhair Murad track record continues. At the Netflix TCA panel it was announced that Jessica Jones has been renewed for a second season and I cannot wait.
Aya Cash stakes an early claim on #LadySuitWatch2016 in this excellent tux and gold tipped pumps.
A clutch close up because Aya Cash’s Les Petits Joueurs should be seen in all its “AAH!” glory and last time we saw one of these fabulous Lego bags was from another award season shindig.
Judith Light continues to work the red (blue) carpet like no other slaying in a turtleneck and jacket casually slung over her shoulders finishing it all off with a floor length (and pocketed) skirt.
More #LadySuitWatch2016 with Master of None’s Lena Waithe (posing with co-star Kelvin Yu) delivering polka dot perfection in a fun twist on this look and continuing pattern shirt dominance.
The You’re the Worst cast maybe went home empty handed, but they killed it on the red carpet. Every detail right down to the pocket square on Chris Geere’s Ted Baker ensemble is incredible.
Another amazing maroon dress and Rachel McAdams stands out in an Elie Saab frock which manages to make me love sheer (on this very special occasion). Love the delicate chain straps, tousled hair and bold lip color.
More lipstick yes from another winner and Kirsten Dunst does delicate tiered sparkles in this very 20s/30s Chanel Couture frock.
Icy blue was a big trend on the Critics’ Choice blue carpet with Constance Wu leading the pack in this ethereal Peter Langner number.
More sequin delights and Sarah Paulson’s Naeem Khan dress has a fun silk neckline and sleeve cap spin adding that extra something something.
Another recent repeat awards best dressed and another take on cornflower blue from Saoirse Ronan in Antonio Berardi. The sleeve detail is spectacular.
The Middle’s Eden Sher kills it in Rubin Singer and I’m so here for this fun play on black and white stripes.I love Constance Zimmer’s striped Tracy Reese dress as much as I love her reaction to winning (which I love a lot).
Another speech/winner I adore is Carrie Coon and she’s bringing the bold in blonde and a whole lot of yellow.
Pattern clashing at its best from Zoe Kazan and her take on the red carpet experience is worth reading in this love letter of sorts – in three parts found here, here and here – to her stylist and friend Leith Clark.
Ditching delicate for fun and I am always partial to a bit of Mary Katrantzou; Alicia Vikander is the ideal person to pull this look off.
Looking fabulous in floral sleeved Randi Rahm and Tracee Ellis Ross demonstrates how to make a black dress stand out.As does Bryce Dallas Howard in plunging Balmain and as with her Jenny Packham frock at the Golden Globes last week she bought this off the rack (this time from Forward by Elyse Walker).
Posing in front of a superb piece of fan art capturing the amazing Helen dancing in her spanx scene from The Affair is Maura Tierney working a Max Mara skirt and top with super casual fancy aplomb.
Ditching the tie once again, but sticking with Dior is winner Rami Malek posing with co-star Portia Doubleday (whose dress I like when you can’t tell just how sheer it is *shakes fist at this trend*) in front of the Mr Robot fan art mural.
In my head they are comparing the amount of desperation, sadness, confusion and sweat levels in both of their amazing performances.
Welcome to TV Ate My Wardrobe’s “Best of 2015” costuming series and rather than doing a straightforward countdown we’re going to do a variety of posts that look at which costumes and shows have made a huge impact this year. From items we want in our own wardrobe to pieces that got everyone talking; we want to celebrate the work of television’s best costume designers.
Now is the turn of a huge range of shows we have been watching this year from network, cable and streaming with comedy, drama and all those other hard to categorize scripted offerings. There has been so many fantastic individual moments that we have had to split this post into two otherwise the scrolling would be endless.
Here is Part 2 of the standout costuming moments in 2015.
Camo Queen
Diane Lockhart is the ultimate when it comes to power dressing in the office – make sure you have at least one piece of statement jewelry – and she manages to transfer this skill to the snowy hunting climate working the all camouflage and furry hat getup like no other.
The Morning After the Night Before Award
Looking dudes killing it with their cardigan, plaid and most importantly bathrobe attire in the season 2 premiere. Patrick also hugged a tree, which was possibly the most adorable TV moment of 2015.
Hair Most Watched
When you want people to believe a HUGE character has been killed off don’t say the actor who plays him has cut his hair because for the next few months every public appearance will be under the hair watch spotlight; whether this be at Wimbledon or an airport (which also happens to be where said show is filmed). Nice suit, Kit. Sunglasses won’t protect your identity.
Inaugural Cary Agos Hot in a Hoodie Trophy
Cary Agos wore his hoodie recently much to our delight and yet we are going to give his prize to the one and only Matt Murdock who took this look to new shirtless levels in Daredevil. Rosario Dawson’s Claire also does casual cool ever so well.
Clothing Most Lived In
It would be remiss if while I was on the subject of hoodie wearers if I didn’t mention Elliot from Mr Robot and it just so happens that I started watching this yesterday (three episodes in and all I want to do is watch the rest). Elliot’s hoodie is very much part of his being and he pulls his hood up at any given opportunity. If a person could live in their clothing then Elliot would definitely live in his black hoodie with his black backpack as his home away from home.
How to Work a Sleeveless Hoodie
This is NOT A GOOD LOOK outside of a boxing movie (and even then I would probs give it a pass) and yet there is something so mesmerizing about Lee Pace in this getup. The same can be said for pretty much all of his Halt and Catch Fire costuming (dude even makes an all white suit and tee work) and this is one show I am so glad I went back to. For actual style inspiration check out everything Donna.
Best Mode of Transport
Amy Schumer’s “Last Fuckable Day” sketch was sadly all too accurate, but most of the time it is better to laugh than cry and that is exactly what Inside Amy Schumer did with this moment and many others over the super strong season 3. And Julia Louis-Dreyfus makes a rowboat look cool as fuck. Is there nothing this woman can’t do?
Smackdown of the Year
There’s a lot that can be said about the relationship dynamics on Jane the Virgin; the Villanueva women are guaranteed to get me crying at least once an episode and I am firmly in the Team Michael camp. There is one relationship that has gone from antagonistic to friendly with a whole dose of it’s complicated in-between and the Jane/Petra situation is the one which intrigues me the most. In Chapter 20 the pair entered the fantasy wrestling ring and it was as much fun as the leather wresting attire that a pregnant Jane was wearing. Petra didn’t look too shabby in her liquid silver jumpsuit. Jane the Virgin is particularly good at mixing the soapy/fantasy elements with real world in both content and costuming; this smackdown episode showcases these elements.
The Reality Show I Wish Was Real
2015 saw the end of several TV Ate My Wardrobe favorites including Kroll Show, which bowed out before it hit any kind of slump. There are many sketches that could have filled this slot – PubLIZity being a close contender – and yet it was this one off Farley piece that has me randomly saying “Look like dis.” Chelsea Peretti and Jenny Slate were my ideal Kroll Show guest stars and this included both women much to my delight.
Unexpected Character Inspiration
More reasons to adore Tatiana Maslany as not only did she deliver yet another fantastic new clone to the Orphan Black table, but she also got her initial inspiration from one of favorite places (as related to the above choice). Maslany told The LA Times that “Krystal was different because she was meant to die in the first episode. I was really into Kroll Show at the time. And I was doing PubLIZity. I was wandering around the set as Krystal in that voice, and they were, like, “We can’t kill her.” Then we started to develop her into a full character and not just me doing Jenny Slate.”
Outfit Most Inspired by Lindsay Weir
Much like Lindsay Weir, Rachel on UnREAL pretty much had her army green jacket glued to her and while Rachel’s life is definitely more of a mess there is certain Lindsay quality to her.
How to get Dressed in a Super Sexy and Snarky Manner
The Good Wife gave us the TV equivalent of blue balls squandering both Finn and Jason; instead having Alicia hook up with Johnny and Peter. At least the latter delivered on this perfect giving none of the fucks moment.
Stripes Delight
A classic look is classic no matter the decade and Virginia’s striped tee and pants ensemble on Masters of Sex is just that. If Emma Stones stripes and polka dots is my platonic ideal of an outfit then this is a close runner-up.
Most Old Hollywood
No one looks more killer (in more ways than one on this occasion) than Lady Gaga as The Countess on American Horror Story: Hotel capturing all that is glam and seductive about Old Hollywood.
Finding the Ideal Location for an Outfit that Looks Like a Painting
Every episode of Elementary is a costuming dream and Joan’s fashion palette is full of patterned delights including this stunning Victoria Beckham shirt dress; it looks like a shot of springtime against the snowy backdrop. There are several shows which use the winter shooting schedule to their advantage and Elementary is on this list (The Americans and Hannibal are two others).
International Assassin of the Year
There could only be one and the meaning behind Kevin Garvey’s suit – which Justin Theroux fits rather nicely – plays out in an incredibly surreal way in one of televisions best episodes of 2015 as The Leftovers hit new bonkers and brilliant heights. How to Make a Silly Looking Prop Look Entirely Serious
I mean it still looks pretty silly, but I don’t want to say that too loud as Keri Russell is giving killer side eye and it’s pretty terrifying. This is also one of Elizabeth’s best wigs of the season (which is actually a slightly less wavy repeat from S2). Blonde is definitely working for her.
Unexpected Sylvia Plath Quote Usage
Master of None took one of my favorite passages from any book and used it in an unexpected way that was so unbelievably perfect. Yes I burst into tears at the reading and portrayal of the fig tree passage from The Bell Jar. Here is that incredible quote in full.
“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”
Star Wars is taking over this week and we’ve got more photos from the cast on their epic promotional journey. Plus plenty of TV action including a Jessica Jones treat hidden in the middle as it is guest star spoilery, an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt singalong and the Orange is the New Black ladies coming out in force to support one of their own on Broadway.
Starting with something very cool this week and a super mesmerizing video of Lupita Nyong’o for The Guardian. Getting a whole lot of turtleneck joy from this outfit.
Lupita looked like a knockout at the Star Wars: The Force Awakens world premiere on Monday and here is a selection of the earrings she got to choose between to add even more sparkle to her ensemble.
Best renewal news as The Leftoverswill be back for a third and final season, which gives Justin Theroux a chance to flex his new Instagram muscles (dude is already a pro). I love that the hair and makeup team are all wearing Guilty Remnant like attire.
Things are a lot better between this pair in real life than for their onscreen counterparts. So much so that Justin Theroux has begun to morph into Liv Tyler’s head.
Speaking of co-stars hanging out – the Orange is the New Black ladies turned out in force for Danielle Brooks’ big Broadway opening night for The Color Purple and this video is giving me so many feelings.
America Ferrera looking terrific for the crazy early Golden Globes announcement (my live stream kept buffering so I didn’t get to see a whole lot of Ferrera presenting, I did get to see Dennis Quaid pronounce “Saoirse”) and this dress definitely falls into the ‘perfect for announcing award nominations’ category (if there is one).
So this is definitely a guest star spoiler which is why I have buried it in the middle of the post and I love how Jessica Jones got their Daredevil fill in this way. Firstly we need more Rosario Dawson on TV and secondly it worked very well for the narrative. And look how happy they both are.
This was meant to go up in last week’s post and it is just too good to let go; who wouldn’t want to watch The Wiz with the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt team?!
And because I am constantly wondering where Robyn is – now Jason has gone can she come back please? – here is Jess Weixler looking stunning on her wedding day (ditto Jessica Chastain) and this is giving me wedding dress ideas (which I really need to start thinking about).
News faces to the TV Instagram world, plus plenty of finales, shows to catch up on and behind the scenes action in this week’s collection. Film Insta is also making an appearance with fabulous outfits, singing and selfie sticks.
Look who joined Instagram this week! And he’s already been on a posting blaze including this very muddy looking shot from The Leftovers. Those jeans are going to feel mighty crunchy.
It hasn’t been easy for Kevin Garvey this season on The Leftovers in the getting covered in substances department and there has also been plenty of blood, sweat and tears (and snot). Luckily it is all smiles behind the camera. Delighted to see the all important aviators making an appearance.
All fun and games for the Dickie Dollar Scholars on Scream Queens and I don’t have any opinions on the finale/killer reveal yet as I won’t be watching it until later. I don’t have high hopes tbh as the season in general has been pretty patchy, but Glen Powell is the gift that keeps on giving.
Super cute casual outfit from Mindy Kaling and I am so behind on the Mindy Project. The theme of this month is realizing that the festive season will hopefully be a good time to catch up on all the TV (when I’ve done everything else first).
These are some very Jessica Jones looking jeans (of which I have many feelings about) and unlike last week I have managed to watch a whole bunch of episodes. SO many yell out loud HOLY SHIT moments and I still have 2 episodes to go.
Agents of SHIELD costume designer Ann Foley took over the Costume Designers Guild official Instagram this week and there’s plenty of behind the scenes action including the cast and those who make the costumes. Would highly recommend checking it out.
Gonna end things with some film Insta highlights this week as the Star Wars press tour cranks up a gear and these two beauties work leather and quilted jackets with aplomb.
Justin Theroux is good at many things – no one quite does despair and bewilderment quite like him – plus he is super good looking to boot, but one thing he is not so hot at is singing. This we discovered in his rendition of “Homeward Bound” as he buys his freedom from the hotel limbo nightmare (Part II) in The Leftover’s season 2 finale and the episode benefits from his shaky and far from perfect vocal.
When Kevin wakes up in that same bathtub and is faced with the same selection of clothes he opts for the uniform he once wore. His mission isn’t to rid himself of Patti this time; instead he needs to find his way back and we don’t have a whole episode to complete this task. Instead things take an even more surreal turn when he gets told that all he needs to do is sing for his freedom like a twisted version of a reality competition. Luckily it isn’t based on how good Kevin is and he crushes the song on a deeper level than talent. Also I get how hard it is to sing along to Simon & Garfunkel because a) I am a terrible singer and b) Simon & Garfunkel are one of my go to writing/reading music choices and I tend to enthusiastically join in at random points.
Instead what this song allows Kevin to do is see flickers of his past from the cigarettes he smokes (being the only thing he shares with the GR), to the issue of National Geographic his father was intent on him reading and then to the images of family when all was not well in “The Garveys at Their Best” prior to the sudden departure (with the lyrics “I’ll play the game and pretend”) and ending on Nora’s smiling face when they decided to really make a go of it at the start of this season. These last two are the most important because they focus on the one thing Kevin realizes he desperately needs and that is family. Patti wanted to destroy the idea of family because the only ones she knew had marginalized her and treated her like shit, but now Patti is gone and Meg has a different opinion on the matter as she tells Tommy that “Family is everything.”
The latter helps Tommy with his journey and thereby becomes part of the striking final motif joining the rest of his family at the Garvey/Durst residence while chaos reigns outside. Everyone is searching for something to make them feel okay and while some are better at pretending (see Michael’s story about the truth behind the bathtub incident) Tommy has been bouncing from one ideology to another finding temporary solace. Nothing has stuck, but seeing Nora and Lily in danger on the bridge connects both his pre-departure life and the one which started his journey on looking for a broader meaning in this fucked up world. Tommy has never met Nora before, but he played a vital part in Nora’s decision to stay when he left Christine and Holy Wayne’s baby on his dad’s porch and she was the one who found her. Lily gave hope and the chance for these broken people to connect.
In the second episode this season Kevin couldn’t quite understand why Nora spent such a vast sum on money on a house she had never seen and Jill was the one who had to point out the obvious – she did it to feel safe. When Tommy bundles Nora and Lily into the Airstream he tells her she is okay and they are safe. Everything she has wanted to feel since October 14, four years ago.
Babies aren’t band-aids (and now I’m singing a weird version of “Bad Blood”) and one of the questions which plagued Kevin this season (mostly from Patti, sometimes from Jill) was whether he really loves Nora and Lily or if they are just an attempt to cover up the chaos. Ever since Holy Wayne hugged Nora she has been full steam ahead on the ‘everything is good’ train and Kevin’s Patti revelation coupled with the ‘lens’ theory really shook this whole idea prompting her to flee the house. It’s why she reacted so violently to the radio discussion about the departure and moving on, but she also has her faith renewed in her choices by how panicked/devastated she is when Lily is snatched from her arms. The image of Lily lying unprotected on the bridge is where my stress levels went through the roof as was Nora’s decision to lie down and protect her with her body as the crowd continued to surge forward. But Lily is more than just a concept in helping Nora move on and this confirms just how important she is.
The same can be said for Kevin and while he has never wavered from his position of loving his family this rendition of “Homeward Bound” is like the weirdest test of putting his money where his mouth is. It is an ordeal of a completely different kind to the challenges he has previously faced and he nails it. The tight close ups on his face captures the intense emotions of the song and what it means to Kevin; it’s not just the far from perfect singing which shows a lack of vanity in this performance as there is also snot dripping from his nose. Justin Theroux continues his spectacular portrayal of Kevin’s desperation and desire to be with his family again as his voice cracks on certain words.
It turns out that “Homeward Bound” wasn’t the first choice of song for Kevin to sing as Damon Lindelof tells Alan Sepinwall in this excellent interview that Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” was the original intended track (it is still on the wheel). They couldn’t get the rights and so it fell to Simon & Garfunkel and I agree with Lindelof that this is a better choice. I also love that Justin Theroux pointed out that he can’t sing and still went with it.
Despite losing a fuck tonne of blood (an official measurement) Kevin does indeed make it home and I’m not even going to question the logistics here – maybe there are miracles in Miracle – and his place is far from empty (as John fears his house will be). Panning around the darkened room with the strains of the Leftovers signature theme we first see those he had told to stay (Jill and Laurie), Matt and the now wide awake Mary, followed by Tommy holding Lily still dressed in his all GR white and finally Nora entering the room illuminated by a candle. Kevin has found his way home in all senses of the word. And as with the first season finale we are left with Nora saying the final line of dialogue and a repeated sense of hope even as everything burns up the street.
It is unclear whether The Leftovers will get a third season pickup, but I am so not ready to be done with this crazy fucked up world. Especially if next season has some kind of version of all these characters living under one roof as things sure could get uncomfortable fast. But first Kevin should probably go see a doctor about that hole in his chest.
And for your listening pleasure here is the Simon & Garfunkel version of “Homeward Bound” and sadly HBO has yet to put up the Kevin version.
The Leftovers took a strange and wonderful trip this week with “International Assassin” as Kevin Garvey experienced something that could be described as purgatory/the afterlife or even a drug induced descent into his psyche. There is no one definitive answer – on this show that is a rare – and your interpretation will vary depending on whether you think Kevin is experiencing a psychotic break or if Patti really is there talking to him. It is an incredibly trippy episode and these kinds of dream state outings can be divisive with some seeing it as an easy way to explore the inner workings of a character/story. I tend to like an existential journey if it is done well and The Leftovers hits all the right notes with their exploration of everything Kevin has been experiencing since this version of Patti came into his life.
Waking up naked in a bathtub essentially being spat up by the water we see Kevin surviving another near drowning. There are also rebirth connotations and the hotel room location further disorientates both Kevin and us as it is nondescript and could essentially be anywhere. The first test Kevin must face is picking an outfit or rather picking an identity with the closet offering up a riddle of sorts “Know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.” It all sounds very biblical and the presence of religious garb is not surprising, nor is Kevin’s immediate dismissal of this ensemble. Next comes the all white Guilty Remnant signature look and this gets a mere glance; I can see Kevin in the purple robes before he would ever contemplate wearing GR material.
More time is spent perusing the uniform he used to wear, but this is not who he is anymore and he left that version of himself back in Mapleton. Kevin was always the reluctant police chief and while he is drawn toward this idea of order it is not the right look for wherever this place is.
It is also not very incognito and there are responsibilities that come with wearing this uniform; one of those isn’t killing the woman who has been plaguing your earthy existence. The black suit doesn’t come with the same set of pre-conceived notions, even if Kevin later finds out that it makes him the international assassin of the episode title (*drink*). It could mean one of many things and people wear black suits for various reasons; the other three outfits have specific roles and right now Kevin is pretty lost other than the mission at hand to vanquish his tormentor. Because Kevin isn’t privy to the secrets of this universe we are thrust into this same level of bewilderment as he is and Justin Theroux is nailing the desperation of these many WTF moments in what continues to be new and devastating ways; it isn’t just down to his magical and super expressive eyebrows either.
There is another Damon Lindelof show that springs to mind where this episode is concerned and that protagonist was wearing something very similar when we first met him; Jack Shephard is no international assassin.
He picked well and luckily this is a very quick drying suit after he took a swim to save what turned out to be a young Patti. Bonus points for being the perfect fit and woah does Jack’s suit look 90s level of baggy in comparison.
Overall it is probably best he didn’t go for his old uniform as things don’t look so good for this person (maybe the version of Kevin who went for the police chief look) who walked by Kevin later in the episode.
And for those (like me) who were slightly disappointed that Kevin didn’t take a walk down clothing memory lane this is for you.
At least those aviators have made the leap from Mapleton to Jarden.
Earlier this season I wrote about Nora’s change of look, while Kevin pretty much stayed the same other than losing his uniform and along with it some of his power/control. Not that this uniform protected him from the crazy back home – remember the dry cleaning incident and all of his shirts hanging in the woods?! In fact his handcuffs are now part of his daily routine to stop his sleepwalking rather than being part of his job. Plus he has put himself in danger thanks to the handcuffs when he stopped by the fire station to get them removed; now John (the self appointed man in charge) has his hand print which will place him at the scene of his daughter’s disappearance and there is no way John is going to believe any of Kevin’s sleepwalking reasoning.
Patti dies for a second time with Kevin at her side and unlike the first version where she took her own life and he embraced her as she died, the embrace comes first and is followed by Kevin drowning her at the bottom of the well. It is all he can do to save himself and complete his mission (the suit did the trick), but what we don’t know is what got whispered in his ear Lost in Translation style on the bridge. What it comes down to is not killing an enemy, but understanding who Patti was and why the sudden departure gave her a twisted new lease of life. Who knew a story about Jeopardy could be this devastating and explain so much about a character’s journey.
The warning that he will be forever changed is incredibly foreboding and no matter whether this is all in Kevin’s head or if he has experienced a version of the afterlife he is going to have a hard time explaining exactly what he has been through. Especially as we definitely saw him clawing his way out of the very real Jarden ground.
When somebody joins the Guilty Remnant on The Leftovers they must leave the trappings of their old life behind including the clothes they used to wear. Nora’s change of costuming and the way she wears her hair when they move from Mapleton to Miracle (or rather Jarden, Texas)is less dramatic, but noticeable nonetheless.
In season one the most memorable item from Nora’s wardrobe is her denim jacket because it is the boldest color she wears; everything else is in the neutral wheelhouse with plenty of grey, navy, beige and black. In fact her Mapleton costuming is pretty similar to Kevin’s in that he doesn’t tend to stray from this color palette either – throw in some white tees for Kevin – and their instant connection can been seen on both a surface and deeper level. Cut to Miracle and the change is apparent; Nora’s suddenly wearing a whole lot of red and pink and Kevin is still in the same tees and undone button down shirts.
Kevin and Nora haven’t taken the traditional route toward moving in together and it is what you might call rushed. Before they had even been on a date Nora suggested they take a trip together and this idea of getting away from the town which holds so many bad memories was planted long before Kevin’s dad recommended the same course of action. Kevin also warned Nora before their first date that he is pretty fucked up and these two have been very forthcoming in the secrets they share. The fantastic confession scene at the start of this week’s episode “A Matter of Geography” is indicative of why the Kevin and Nora relationship works; even after they’ve revealed the parts they are ashamed of they still want to make a go of it.
Or rather it shows how Nora and Kevin are fundamentally different as he thinks his secret will be the bomb that blows this whole thing up and she sees it as a sign they can be okay. Kevin repeatedly hits the self-destruct button throughout this episode beyond this confession scene; he digs up Patti’s body and then purposefully gets pulled over by state police and then he reacts in rage to the state of the new house. Full disclosure is not an easy prospect even for the most transparent of relationships; Kevin’s secret is far bigger, but we don’t know how much Nora has told Kevin about the theory the MIT researchers have about why some people disappeared and that it might happen again.
Jill gets it and it is a matter of feeling safe which is why Nora has gone all in on this property and place. For Kevin, Miracle is no different from Mapleton as his demons have followed him here. And by demons I mean Patti and her presence is just as strong. Secrets can eat away at you and this one is doing just that and his spiraling takes him to an almost deadly place when he wakes up half drowned in a body of water that is no longer there with a cinder block tided to his ankle. Patti is there to keep him company much to his dismay.
He has told Nora so much, but this secret is just too big and I think he is probably scared what might happen if he reveals this humdinger. There is a certain element of denial he can maintain if he keeps it to himself and yet headphones and loud music can only drown out so much. The season 2 artwork puts the focus on this couple and actually points in part to Kevin’s new ankle accessory; he is reaching for Nora and there is a push/pull between his mystical darkness and her new found optimism. From what we have seen in the way of Nora’s reactions to Kevin’s secrets I think she will be able to handle this and the more he tries to deal with it alone, the worse it will get for everyone involved.
All the trappings of Kevin’s old life are still there; the restlessness, secrecy and look of panic etched across his face. Nora does bring out some calm and this union could be soothing if he would only tell her what the fuck is going on.
They’ve made a pretty big commitment to each other and the child they have adopted, but even that was not smooth sailing thanks to a broken washing machine. Kevin doesn’t have much luck with household appliances this week. But they look pretty complementary costuming wise in their appointment and they are both emphatic about their relationship status. Yes, Nora sounded far more convincing.
Also this baby is the most adorable.
Nora has worn her hair straight for pretty much the entire run, all with the exception of the pre-departure episode “The Garveys At Their Best.”
So it is significant that she has returned to this look when moving to a new town where they don’t know what happened to her family and now she has a new one.
Between the waves and the injection of red and pink tones into her costuming Nora’s look has been softened and moves away from her business wear styling from season 1. She is embracing motherhood and there is added femininity to her attire. Especially when she is holding both Lily and a freshly baked pie.
Nora isn’t all floaty skirts and dresses and it is worth noting there is some mirroring of Jill in the scene above wearing a vest (red once again) and jeans. Carrie Coon discussed Nora’s relationship with Jill in this wonderful Vox interview mentioning how Nora “wants to be cool! She wants to be the best pal” and this is evident here. Jill has moved from the dreaded annoying teen position to someone I want to spend more time with and part of this is down to dialing down her antagonism levels.
There is now a certain kinship between Jill and Nora; instead of eye rolling her way through her dad and Nora’s confessions Jill instead cracked a joke showing acceptance. The chemistry between these three actors is excellent and there is a strong sense of salvation in this second chance. Potential issues could occur down the road, but at this point Jill has Nora’s back because Jill knows what a good thing her dad has got despite the peeling wallpaper and lack of lights. So Kevin, please don’t fuck this up.
One item I hope Nora has brought with her to Miracle is her perfect hat for spying and head protection is vital in a hotter climate.
Shopping montages and throwing out old clothes were absent so everything we see Nora wearing in Miracle could have been in the suitcases she already had packed ready for her escape. Plus there are items such as her denim jacket and penchant for wearing necklaces that have made the transition.
This isn’t Nora removing herself completely from her old life, instead this style change is indicative of a new location and embracing the family she is now part of. For Kevin despite the changes that have taken place there is still this firm grip he can’t shake so items such as his aviators and Apple earbuds are a vital shield. Plus those glasses do look really good.
For the Guilty Remnant the white uniform is their way of shedding any kind of connection to their past and any form of personal identity. Nora’s costuming/hair evolution points back to the past as well as welcoming her present; it is why she is so desperate to get away from the town that took her first family to a place where there were no departures. Red is a powerful color and adds weight to the idea that Nora is the heart of this family unit while also showing the gulf which grows as a result of Kevin’s big dark secret.
Jill’s words to her father are worth repeating “Please don’t fuck this up.” Even if we know he’s gonna.
Moving to a town which did not lose any of its inhabitants on October 14 seems like a great way to start again for Kevin Garvey on The Leftovers with his new makeshift family in tow and yet it doesn’t take long for the undercurrent of fear to take hold. As with the first trailer everything starts off well and then it all goes to hell as this new location holds as many secrets as Mapletown. Coincidence or conspiracy that all goes to shit just as they arrive bringing all their baggage (literal and figurative) with them?
Expanding on who the new characters are with Regina King providing the voiceover as Erika explains how special Jarden, Texas is – “The Jarden of Eden” – and we see how many people are flocking to this town. One thing remains the same is how no one really wants Matt to talk about what happened and he is of course going to do it regardless; suffering the consequences of his refusal to be quiet. The Guilty Remnant haven’t been consumed by the fire at the end of last season and Patty despite being dead is here to torture Kevin some more. Some ghosts are just assholes.
The Nora/Kevin relationship takes center stage both in the new trailer and artwork with Nora appearing as this force of light and good while Kevin is tied down. Definitely picturing Patty holding on to the rope.
This relationship offered a semblance of hope for the characters and the audience; their losses were of very different kinds but their shared fuckedupness made them an ideal couple with a hint of trouble ahead. Plus Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux have great chemistry and it will be interesting to see how their relationship grows and evolves in this new location. Even if I am full on expecting Kevin to fuck it all up somehow and the trailer hints there will plenty of obstacles for them to navigate their way through. I am fully expecting to get some use out of this other Carrie Coon role gif:
Throwing an extra component into the mystery and a change of location could be what The Leftovers needs as the town of Mapleton was starting to feel claustrophobic as the weight of the missing threatened to suffocate those left behind. Season 2 is doing just this and taking what looks like most of the Garvey clan, Nora, her brother Matt and his wife Mary to a town in Texas where none of the population disappeared on October 14. A town that happens to be called Miracle where all is not as it seems (dun dun dun).
This promo introduces us to Kevin and Nora’s – they are still together much to my delight – friendly new neighbors played by Regina King and Kevin Carroll with an invitation to a birthday dinner . Starting fresh doesn’t mean the slate is wiped clean as things go from idyllic porch hugs to disappearances, fights and people who are dead appearing in the background. But it will be nice to see Kevin and Nora happy for a few moments before it all goes to hell again and I’m really excited about this second season. Very much feeling Nora’s new summery look (will write more on this) with a whole lot of red and white attire; I can’t wait to have Carrie Coon back acting the shit out of everything on TV once again.
TV Ate My Wardrobe 