I can't remember the time I first came across The Last Man on Earth. I do remember watching it around release and finding it to be a pretty fun show with a unique idea. Particularly as the zombie genre was still blowing up in popularity, this show however did something a bit different and focused on a post-apocalyptic world in which its greatest horrors are in fact just other people. And for not the reasons one would assume of a world without law and order. Instead, The Last Man on Earth was about a man's struggles to keep a community together. A man with a very energetic sense of humour and a personality that most find annoying. The Last Man on Earth suffered a sad, modern fate, however. It became the unfortunate victim of its own creator. Cancelled suddenly in 2018 alongside multiple other series that were both hugely popular and some, well, perhaps not so much.
What ensued as a result of multiple shows of varying sizes in popularity being cancelled was streaming giants seeing opportunity. Buying up the rights to these cancelled shows due to the outrage that followed as existing fans demanding a conclusion to the stories started and characters they had grown so close to. While this seems less likely to take place these days due to the competitive nature of streaming giants, it meant in 2018 that some of these cancelled shows were given another chance with a new home. Brooklyn Nine-Nine was one of these shows, but the two shows People of Earth and The Last Man on Earth were not saved. Cancelled and doomed to never have an ending for the rest of time. I was devastated to see these two small shows I enjoyed get pushed aside while the rest got picked up; I remember others feeling the same once the news came out that some would survive. For those that watched these two shows, they knew the quality was there. And that the stories being told were worth saving and exploring more. While I hadn't managed to catch up to the show's most recent episode before the cancellation, I still find myself thinking of the show from time to time, and realising there isn't anything quite like it now.
The Last Man on Earth
When I started watching The Last Man on Earth, I remember loving the first episode. Finding it fun and dumb and engaging enough to continue with the show. The idea of a man roaming the world on his own, doing everything and anything he wants. From driving stealth bombers to grocery stores to filling pools with alcohol and laying in them as he drinks all day. It showed a fun perspective of the world after something highly impactful had taken place, removing the population entirely. As the last man on Earth, he has his fun and relaxes. A strong contrast to the usual introduction of a series or film that takes place after a deadly disease or event results in the world pretty much coming to an end. Though, as the episodes go on, our protagonist Phil (Will Forte) discovers other survivors. All of them forming a little community and sticking with each other despite their differences.
I wasn't sure how to feel about this during my first watch. Feeling the show had removed itself from its first episode ideas and that the last man on Earth idea was a mere Facade. But I continued on with the show anyway, still enjoying it and curious as to what would happen. Phil is a character completely different to the other characters that appear in the show. He's certainly the most immature, and definitely has some annoying traits with his constant terrible jokes and seeming inability to take anything seriously. The result being that Phil comes off as a fool, a selfish man and one that manipulates and deceives in pursuit of his own interests and gain. Sometimes this does seem to be the case, and it is hard to not feel that Phil might be being a bit over the top. Though as the episodes go on, there's more drama around the group. Phil always managing to either contribute to it somehow.
There is a side of Phil that we see as the audience, however. One that goes beyond his crazy, and often childish behaviour; Phil actually does care for others, and does want to see them happy. As a result, Phil is often going the extra mile to please someone, even if they don't deserve it. We end up with a protagonist that is actually the leader of the community without really anyone knowing it. Though from time to time other male characters appear each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. This of course turns Phil into the jealous type due to the women around, but also serves as a counter to Phil in the narrative to prove that he can't do everything. And some things others can just do much better. With some comedic clashing, we see how Phil interacts with the other men, but inevitably falling into his own kind ways to ensure these members of the community get supported. Phil appears as the community jester, constantly dancing around and doing things everyone hates, but is highly observant if the things going on around him.
What defines a man?
The introduction of other men keep Phil human as a character. As people that can come and go with manners that pull attention from Phil and give him flaws. Everyone ultimately pulls a piece of Phil's sanity from him, and it's funny seeing the lengths Phil will go to pursue a little victory. Though with these other characters that clash with film comes the question: what defines a man? These characters are often enough, despite being appreciated more by others, much worse people than Phil. And when struggles appear in the community, none of them are really around to notice them and put in effort to fix things and help. Phil ultimately does become the last man on Earth, even if there are other men around. Because Phil is the type of character to display the values of what it means to be a man: the ability to accept failure. To spread kindness. To pursuit the happiness of others at the expense of his own. To accept his own jealousy and fate in attempt to keep everyone else together. There's a ton of self-sacrifice evident here in the show, where Phil is just endlessly battered despite the things he does; but do the other men notice these things? Nope.
The men that appear in the show are a test of Phil's true intentions as everyone else lives the life he wants, but certainly doesn't contribute to the same degree as him. While Phil is often at fault, it adds to his character in displaying someone that has weaknesses. That is flawed and is aware of it, but still strives to pursue something greater for everyone. At a glance, it seems like Phil just heavily uses sarcasm and humour as a shield that keeps his true emotions at bay. While that isn't always the greatest idea or perhaps something to be praising, it shows his resilience. A refusal to accept that giving up may be an option. Phil perseveres and helps others even if it results in his own life getting more difficult. So ultimately, who is the last man on Earth? My guess is the title goes to Phil. Even if he is a man surrounded by other men. In times of hardships, Phil is ultimately the man that brings and keeps everyone together, the true leader of the community.
Will Forte as Phil is just such an excellent decision. He plays the character perfect and even has the whacky appearance necessary. Either with a long beard and a teenage skateboarder haircut, or fully shaven and old looking, Phil seems to go through various phases, almost like evolutions of his character as he adapts to each new problem, often enough solving them in his own, but just sometimes the other characters notice something and step in. Again contributing to the balance of the show and giving them a bit of humanity too. This is all while failing to mention that this is a comedy show! And Phil's character can even make it hard to notice the depth behind the characters and the episodes, only adding to the idea that much of his humour is just misdirection. A shield to hide a more sensitive person within while showing it in every other way possible. If you aren't paying much attention, it is very easy to look at this show and think it's purely comedy, and even if you do this in the end, it's still very fun and enjoyable.
Though perhaps this is also what led to the show never really taking off enough to avoid the axe. While we won't ever know, the show is still deserving of much praise.
