HBO's The Leftovers has been one of the most dramatic, harrowing shows on television since its inception, but will there be even more suffering in season 3?

Considering The Leftovers centers on a group of people living in the aftermath of a rapture-like departure, it's fair to say that the show hasn't been afraid of tackling suffering head-on.

The series did not wallow in the suffering of its characters in season 2 as much as season 1, but it could be heading that way again, based on a recent Slashfilm interview with series co-creator Damon Lindelof.

"I feel like the show, to me, what it's about is, it's Job. It's, is there purpose to suffering? If I suffer enough, will I get a reward?" he explained. "Or is this why we're here on the planet, to suffer? Is there a lesson to be learned? Can we transcend through suffering? Obviously, The Guilty Remnant, that's like their whole jam, is creating an environment where they are suffering, but they also want to bring suffering to others."

He then quipped, "So yeah, that's a great logline: season three: more suffering, where that came from."

Season 2 ended on a bittersweet note for many characters. The Guilty Remnant infiltrated Jarden, Texas, led by the quietly powerful Meg (Liv Tyler). But Kevin (Justin Theroux) ultimately came home to his loved ones, finding some shred of peace in a broken world. There is no indication of where the show will go for season 3, but based on Lindelof's comments we probably should expect a huge tonal shift.

Season 3 of The Leftovers does not yet have a premiere date on HBO.

Tags: The Leftovers television hbo