Y The Last Man S01E04 is the fourth episode of the first season of the dystopian post-apocalyptic FX TV drama series streaming on Disney+ based on the DC Comics series created by Brian K Vaughn and Pia Guerra. The premise of Y The Last Man postulates a dystopian future where all men are wiped out save for one.
Entitled “Karen and Benji”, as the title suggests, Y The Last Man S01E04 focuses on Hero Brown (Olivia Thirlby) and Sam Jordan (Eliot Fletcher) as they venture out into the dystopian world under assumed names. Both are hiding secrets which might be dangerous in this new reality – Hero is of course, the daughter of the current President and Sam is a trans man in a now female-dominated world.
The only other plot involves our titular character Yorick and Agent 355 (Ashley Romans) making their way incognito to Boston so that the reason for Yorick’s survival may be determined. Yorick’s childish and entitled personality comes to the fore here, as he puts himself in dangerous positions, thereby making Agent 355’s job that much more difficult.
READ OUR REVIEWS OF Y THE LAST MAN SEASON 1.
This is really the first time in the series whereby we discover what the world is like in this new world order. Even without men, the dystopian world is a dangerous place to be. When push comes to shove, women can be just as murderous as men. Or so the series tells us. As society descends into chaos, the order is kept by gangs of women who maintain control by violent means. What? Did you think it would be more peaceful if women were in control? Not necessarily.
Thematically, Y The Last Man is the polar opposite of The Handmaid’s Tale, and argues that when shit hits the fan, men and women are not that different in times of desperation. A powerful counterpoint to make. Recommended.
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