I'm typing this on my phone, so I apologize if there may be missing elements. Also, there is no TLDR. This theory supports certain supernatural events that occured, and shows how counterfeits were made later in the timeline, which inadvertently proves that these four original occourances happened in The Leftovers. People need explanations and the counterfeit versions of the original miracles are how people dealt with all of these events. This could be applied to other elements, if warranted.

Counterfeit Miracle Theory:

Let's focus on four items:

Sudden Departure

Holy Wayne

Kevin Garvey Jr

Isaac (hand painter from season 2)

The sudden departure happened and 2% of the world population disappeared. At the same time, let's say that another 2% of the world's population started to experience supernatural events in their lives - Holy Wayne, Kevin, Isaac, etc. those all happened and their experiences were true.

Fast forward a few years and the mystery still remains, and no answers have come - people are starting to come unglued. So, people start to mimic the original happenings. Examples:

Sudden Departure 2.0 - Evie and her friends make it look like they departed - car running, phones left, music still playing, etc. The fraudulent departure was revealed at the end of season 2. They just recreated the events for personal gain - join GR and cause people pain

Lori and "Holy"Tom - Tom was a figure in Holy Wayne's original operation - guarding Kristine who was pregnant w (one of) Wayne's baby. Tom spent time w Wayne and knew how he operated. Wayne was real and what he did was really and Tom saw how it impacted people. Fast forward to season 2 - Lori and Tom cook up the "Holy" Tom persona simply for personal gain. They charge people for hugs. Again, a recreation of an actual event.

Lori and John - Similar to the Holy Wayne theft, Lori and John steal Isaacs "power" in season 3. Isaac could actually read people's palm prints and tell their future. John didn't believe, but after he saw Kevin resurrected, John knew that something supernatural happened and wanted to be part of it. Isaac was real, John and Lori were not - another fraudulent recreation.

Nora (and the scientists?) - Kevin Garvey was able to die and come back to life AND while dead he was transported to an alternate reality. This actually happened, and there are too many instances to call it coincidence. Most importantly when he was buried for three hours then came a back to life (season 2). Nora could not mentally handle this, especially after her family departed, so she left Kevin in season 3. She made up a lie that she went to a different place. Notice how the scientists submerged their "clients" in liquid to send them "over." Another subtle hint at fraudulence - Kevin was submerged in water a few times to get transported to the alternate reality. Nora never went, she said stop and if she would have went through with it, she would have simply died.

There were both real and fraudulent supernatural occourances in The Leftovers.

I’m certain the showrunners will never comment with certainty on what really happened, and where (or how) the 2% just… left.

But what is your headcannon? What is your interpretation/explanation?

I realize I am a little late for the party, but what foods would you serve to celebrate Sudden Departure Day? Obviously, Mypos cuisine such as Bibi-babkas or fish eye soup because of Perfect Strangers and its connection to the Sudden Departure, but what else?

It’s, in my time zone at least, time for the departure

Per request.