Laurie is a mother and wife who struggles to process the aftermath of the global disappearances. Previously an agnostic, she abandons her comfortable life to join the Guilty Remnant, an austere cult that requires its members to wear white, take a vow of silence, and smoke cigarettes constantly. She is driven by a deep need for structure and a fundamental rejection of the town's attempts to return to a normal routine.

Kevin is the mayor of Mapleton and a dedicated father trying to hold his remaining family together. Following his wife's defection to a cult, he sold his successful liquor store chain to enter local politics and enforce stability. He relies on strict daily routines, mayoral duties, and a determined belief that the town must move forward past the tragedy.

Jill is Kevin and Laurie's seventeen-year-old daughter. Once a dedicated student, she now skips chemistry tests, shaves her head, and attends parties with her rebellious friend Aimee. She carries the specific trauma of witnessing her friend disappear right next to her and struggles with the emotional void left by her mother's abandonment.

Tom is the Garvey's college-aged son who dropped out of Syracuse University after the Sudden Departure. Seeking an escape from his depression, he joins a cult called the Healing Hug Movement led by Holy Wayne Gilchrest. He takes on the responsibility of protecting Wayne's followers, finding a much-needed sense of purpose in his devotion to the cause.

Nora is a woman in her thirties widely known as the saddest person in Mapleton, having lost her husband and two small children during the Sudden Departure. Supported by a generous government payout, she spends her days cycling and watching children's television as a coping ritual. She grapples with her public identity as a tragic figure while managing private, complicated grief.

Aimee is Jill's charismatic and rebellious best friend who practically lives at the Garvey house. She acts as a magnetic force in her social circle, dictating what parties they attend and influencing Jill's behavior. She avoids her own home due to her mother's disappearance and an uncomfortable relationship with her stepfather.

Meg is a young woman who abandons her wedding plans to join the Guilty Remnant. Struggling to move past her own grief, she finds she cannot commit to a future with her fiancé. She forms a tight, co-dependent bond with Laurie as they follow the silent, austere rules of the cult.

Holy Wayne is a charismatic figure who claims to absorb people's pain through physical embraces. He builds a massive following out of the post-Departure grief. Though he preaches healing, he surrounds himself with young spiritual brides and faces severe criminal charges.

Christine is one of Holy Wayne Gilchrest's young spiritual brides. She is pregnant and fiercely believes she is carrying a messiah who will save the world. She depends heavily on the cult's network, and specifically on Tom, to keep her safe while Wayne deals with legal troubles.

Matt is a former pastor who split from the Zion Bible Church to start the Rapture Denial movement. He publishes a controversial newsletter dedicated to exposing the sins and flaws of those who vanished, aiming to prove the Departure was not a holy rapture.

Rosalie is Laurie's best friend in Mapleton. Devastated by the sudden disappearance of her daughter, she is the first in their circle to seek out the Guilty Remnant, ultimately inspiring Laurie's own entrance into the organization.

Karen is Nora Durst's sister. She tries to support Nora through her immense grief, encouraging her to socialize and attempting to protect her from painful encounters with people from her past.

Doug is Nora's husband who vanished during the Sudden Departure along with their two children. Posthumous revelations about his private life deeply complicate Nora's grieving process.

Patti is a local director for the Guilty Remnant chapter in Mapleton. She enforces the group's strict lifestyle and orchestrates their provocative demonstrations against the town's attempts to move on.