The Last Man on Earth Season 4 Episode 1 Review: M.U.B.A.R.
Kaitlynn Smith
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The season premiere of The Last Man on the Earth sets the stage for a promising year with our group.
The Last Man on Earth Season 4 Episode 1 picks up right from the ending of The Last Man on Earth Season 3.
Kristen Wiig's character Pamela had just shot Pat, the suspicious guy from the group's past. It was a suspenseful and exciting cliffhanger, and the follow-up episode "M.U.B.A.R." does not disappoint.
The Last Man on Earth Season 4 premiere had me laughing out loud frequently, particularly with some great moments from Tandy, Carol, and Pamela.
Wiig is delightful on the show, and she fits in with the rest of the cast seamlessly. The last time we saw her on the show, she was acting mostly with herself, as her character was struggling to survive the virus after her friends and family had all passed.
Kristen Wiig was great in that episode, but at the time, it felt strange. The audience had never met this character but were suddenly supposed to care about whether or not she lived.
It did not hurt that Wiig was cast in the role. It set us up to like her automatically but still left us wondering about this odd socialite.
Now that Pamela has joined the group, though, Wiig can truly shine.
She’s all over my husband. She laughs at all of his jokes, and let’s face it, he’s no Garrison Keillor.
Carol
She and Will Forte already have great chemistry from their days at Saturday Night Live together, but she fits in well with the rest of this established ensemble.
I look forward to seeing her and Forte together on the yacht as Tandy tries to rejoin the group, and I'm already itching to know what will happen to Pamela when the group reunites with them.
The most exciting part of this show has been watching Phil "Tandy" Miller develop. His character was unlikable, misogynistic, and immature in the beginning seasons. It's nice to see him grow as a person because of these new people in his life.
The old Tandy would never have wanted to go after Carol, especially with a woman like Pamela throwing herself at him. However, when Pamela sends the group off to the island, Tandy is furious and begs to go back to his wife.
I know a lot of stuff went down today. It’s not often that you see a double homicide. That’s why I think it’s important that we have a talk. Sometimes when a bullet and a man’s brain feel very strongly about each other, they decide to take it to the next level, okay? And that’s called penetration.
Tandy
His maturity has never felt forced. The writers have done an incredible job of organically growing the character as he develops genuine relationships with this weird family in which he has found himself.
The addition of the young child Jasper at the end of last season was especially brilliant. Tandy's interactions with Jasper have been awkward but loving, and it's preparing Tandy well for the arrival of his unborn child.
The Season 4 premiere also treated us to a surprise cameo from Jack Black. Although he was only on screen for a minute (and maybe not even a full minute) before being killed, Black made an impression.
He would have been a great addition to this wacky show, and I wish we had gotten more time with him. However, it was a memorable and exciting way to kick off a new season.
Rear Admiral, what can I say? You died doing what you loved, being alive.
Tandy
Despite an overall strong episode, there was one moment I would not have missed if it was eliminated.
At the beginning of the episode, Tandy wants to ensure that Pat is really dead. He decides to decapitate him with a shovel.
The joke about wanting to really make sure Pat was dead was great, especially after Pat surprised everyone by still being alive and shooting Jack Black.
The decapitation bit, though, lasts entirely too long. The sound effects are disgusting and unnecessary. It's generally understood that a post-apocalyptic show will have some violence and grotesque imagery.
On this comedy show, though, it felt like the writers were using violence for cheap laughs. It's especially not needed when they have a strong cast like this one who is capable of being funny without it.
The writers have a lot of material to work with for the new season, and the season premiere kept the audience perfectly entertained while setting up the characters for what is to come.
How will the group survive on the island, and who was watching them as they arrived? Will Tandy fall for Pamela's trap or will he figure out a way to get back to Carol? How will raising two babies affect the group now?
These questions, and many more I'm sure, will be answered in Season 4. I think it has potential to be the strongest season yet, particularly if the Season 4 premiere is an indication of how great the rest of the episodes will be.
What did you think of the Season 4 premiere? What are you hoping to see in this season? You can watch The Last Man on Earth online and then share your comments below!
Guess around I'll be seeing you.
Carol
Kaitlynn Smith was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in May of 2018.
