HBO has confirmed via press release:

Viewers will continue to be very depressed well into 2015: the network has renewed The Leftovers for Season 2.

"We are thrilled to bring back The Leftovers for a second season with the exceptional talents of Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta [on whose bestselling novel the series is based],” HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo said in a statement.

"It has been truly exciting to see the overwhelming response to their provocative and original storytelling. We look forward to continuing the journey as the show delves deeper into the lives of those who remain."

This is a late pick-up for the network, with over half of The Leftovers Season 1 having already aired, but production did shut down for a few weeks so the creative team could figure out a new direction for the series.

Both critical and viewer reaction to the series has been split in half, with most either loving or hating the drama.

It's very dark, it's very bleak, it's very well-acted - and now it's guaranteed at least 7 more episodes after this summer run comes to a close.

Will you keep tuning in?

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.