'The Leftovers' 2014 Pilot Episode Rabid Dogs And Stag Theories: Co-Creator Damon Lindelof & Star Justin Theroux Discuss HBO Show's Animals

There are countless questions pouring out of viewers' minds after watching the pilot episode of HBO's The Leftovers from creators Tom Perrotta and Damon Lindelof. While speaking to HBO.com, Lindelof and series star Justin Theroux gave their own theories on one aspect of the show - how the animals in Mapleton are acting. A pack of wild dogs and a lone stag roam the streets, but why are they acting in such a manner? Let's see what Theroux and Lindelof think about these beasts.

In the premiere episode, the Frost twins explain one theory on the dogs: that they were present when their owners were taken in "the Rapture," and they just went crazy. Soon, the twins explain, the same will happen to the humans.

Lindelof agrees with the twins, because "we're not equipped to deal with this event. It's just going to make us insane."

"We are just this close. We are still going to the supermarket and buying our food, but if something like this were to happen again, we would be running down the aisles, looting the place," he said. "So this idea of feeling like insanity is always just right around the corner raises the palpable tension."

Meanwhile, the mysterious stag that Theroux's character, Chief Kevin Garvey, kept running into before its demise at the jaws of the aforementioned dogs is a bit more complicated according to the actor.

In some sense, the stag has to be some kind of - for lack of a better word - spirit animal," he said. "Something that represents strength and grace and survival. I don't know what it means in a larger sense for the show, but there is something spiritual afoot."

What do you think about the animals in The Leftovers?

Read more HERE!

Also, check out what Perrotta and Lindelof said about episode one's "spin-the-bottle" scene HERE!