The Leftovers Do 10Q
Shane Hankins
In celebration of 10 years of 10Q, the characters of HBO's The Leftovers took some time off from the apocalypse to reflect on the year they've had and the year ahead (if there even is one) by answering the 10Q questions. Dive back into The Leftovers.
(Note: Damon Lindelof, co-creator and writer of The Leftovers, might have had something to do with answering each question from the perspective of a different character.)
10Q takes place during the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur known as the "Days of Awe." An interactive experience, 10Q is an exercise in self-reflection and setting intentions. 10Q will email you 10 questions, a question each day which inspires contemplative and introspective thought on the year you've had and the year ahead. After 10 days, your answers will be saved and returned to you in one year. You'll be able to see what's changed and what hasn't, and the process will start anew.
MATT JAMISON
Q1: Describe a significant experience that has happened in the past year. How did it affect you? Are you grateful? Relieved? Resentful? Inspired?
Through a series of poor judgments I won’t go into here, I found myself on a ferry from Tasmania to Melbourne occupied by a cult of Lion-worshipping hedonists and a former sportscaster claiming to be God. I won’t bore you with the details, but one thing led to another and “God” was eventually eaten by the lion right in front of me.
Was I grateful to have witnessed this firsthand? Immensely. Was I relieved? Who wouldn’t be? Resentful? Only of myself and my own hubris for thinking I had found a system of belief that was superior to the beliefs of others. Inspired? Well… yes. I was inspired to cast away magical thinking and embrace those closest to me… to listen to and support their own journeys as opposed to silently judging them while attempting to convince them to join mine. I think I can die in peace now. Amen.
JOHN MURPHY
Q2: Is there something that you wish you had done differently this past year? Alternatively, is there something you’re especially proud of from this past year?
Yeah. I wish I had mourned my daughter when she was clearly dead instead of holding out hope that she was still alive. I don’t know what I’m proud of this last year… pride has led me down some pretty dark roads and I’m trying to forgive myself for getting a little lost along the way. It’s a process, man.
LAURIE GARVEY
Q3: Think about a major milestone that happened with your family this past year. How has this affected you?
Well, my daughter went off to college, so that’s pretty great. My son joined the police force… also great. And oh — my husband was declared The Messiah. Less great. How has it all affected me? Let’s just say I’m not cut out for scuba diving.
FRENCH NAVAL OFFICER ABOARD SUBMARINE
Q4: Describe an event in the world that has impacted you this year. How? Why?
(translated from French): It was revealed to me by an angel that an enormous six-headed beast would hatch from an egg embedded in a volcanic island in the South Pacific and rain fire down upon all of humanity. I took it upon myself to fire a nuclear weapon at that island to avert the End Times and am very proud to say I was successful. Also, I took a lot of yoga classes.
KEVIN GARVEY
Q5: Have you had any particularly spiritual experiences this past year? How has this experience affected you? “Spiritual” can be broadly defined to include secular spiritual experiences: artistic, cultural, and so forth.
Pass.
MARK LINN-BAKER
Q6: Describe one thing you’d like to achieve by this time next year. Why is this important to you?
I would like to reunite with my former castmates from PERFECT STRANGERS with hopes of convincing them to film a reunion show. #DanceOfJoy
PATTI LEVIN
Q7: How would you like to improve yourself and your life next year? Is there a piece of advice or counsel you received in the past year that could guide you in this project?
There is no point in “improving” myself because there is no “myself.” There is no you. No us. And most certainly no family. Advice is pointless, but I’ll give you some anyway. Put on some white clothes. Buy a pack of cigarettes. And shut the fuck up because nothing you say matters.
GRACE PLAYFORD
Q8: Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully in 2018?
I still want to know what happened to my children’s shoes.
NORA DURST
Q9: What is a fear that you have and how has it limited you? How do you plan on letting it go or overcoming it in the coming year?
I’m afraid that everyone I have ever loved and everyone I ever will love will disappear. I don’t know if I can ever let that go…and I don’t know if it’s something that should be overcome because maybe I deserve it. Maybe we all deserve it. I need a cigarette.
ALL CHARACTERS
Q10: When September 2018 rolls around and you receive your answers to your 10Q questions, how do you think you’ll feel? What do you think/hope might be different about your life and where you’re at as a result of thinking about and answering these questions?
NOTE: All LEFTOVERS CHARACTERS refused to answer this question as many were in doubt as to whether they’d even be here in September of 2018 considering there is a high probability of the world ending. We shall see…
Now that you've seen The Leftovers answer each 10Q question, sign up to do your own.
Join the 50,000 other people (and characters) who've done 10Q over these 10 years.
Sign up today!
www.doyou10Q.com