One of the most reflexively amusing aspects in The Last Man on Earth, at least as it continued, is how it’s based on social manners in a post-apocalyptic world. Where most pieces in the genre focus on retained humanity in an inhumane world, the principles of Will Forte’s new show is often on how one attempts to keep social decency even with impure intentions and especially with the world around them in ruins.
With this week’s “The Tandyman Can,” however, almost everyone gets on Phil’s (Forte) level. Besides the new Phil Miller (Boris Kodjoe) and Melissa (January Jones), the remaining primary characters — including Todd (Mel Rodriguez), Carol (Kristen Schaal), Erica (Cleopatra Coleman) and Gail (Mary Steenburgen) — are overcome by lust, desperation and jealously. One would think this would push The Last Man on Earth over the edge, but surprisingly this penultimate episode finds the Fox sitcom finally refining its rhythm.
As seen last week, there are two Phil Millers alive in Tucson now. Attractive, humble, good intentioned and hardworking, the new Phil Miller has very little in common with Forte’s Miller beyond their gender and name, but that doesn’t stop him from stomping over his land. In just a mere few days time, this new Phil takes away our main character’s name, handyman position, some of his living quarters (although, this was based on the man’s own request) and even his presidency. Of course, Phil Miller 1 —now called by his middle name, Tandy —is overcome with envy, although he’s not alone.
As hinted last week, Todd doesn’t care much for the new, attractive Phil either. He worries his suave nature will take his girlfriend Melissa away from him, and he has reasons to believe as much when he finds his gal riding the back of the man’s garbage truck. He tries to forbid Melissa from seeing him, but a turn of events where Melissa seems ready to end their relationship has Todd himself cut their ties prematurely. At least, this is what Melissa says, but she may just want to look like the bigger person and also have a reason to sack up with this Phil, just like the rest of the girls in town.
Erica and Gail are the most taken by this new Phil, and try to prove themselves as simpler than the other to get in his pants. To their surprise, however, the newly divorced Carol is more alluring, as her knitting and her cat-centric fingernail painting betake him. Additionally, Phil Miller 2 makes some productive changes around town. He builds a working shower, he fixes the town’s garbage problem and he even makes the cow go downstairs, back outside where he builds her a gate and “locks her up like Charles Manson,” Tandy comments. If Phil Miller 1 is the handyman, than Phil Miller 2, a.k.a. Tandy, is the self-titled Tandyman—the man who brings nothing to the table, but wishes to reap the benefits regardless.
Phil Miller 2, however, finally becomes the first character to address their Tucson lifestyle. As he notes, “I mean, no offense, but in this new world Tucson is pretty much the worst place to sustain human life.” He’s not wrongheaded, but the proud Tucson citizen in Tandy doesn’t like this and tries to prove his town’s worth by planting a garden overnight. It’s a good start, and Tandy seems to earn the mild trust of his roommate/new President. It also doesn’t hurt how fears of Phil Miller 1 sleeping with every woman in town led to the revelation that they were in their house to shower inside their new water-pressured bathroom. Things take a good turn, but when relations begin between this new citizen and Tandy’s ex-wife, the tables’ turn, and Todd is by his side this time.
Not only among the most fluid and consistent episodes to date, “The Tandyman Can,” written by Matt Marshall and directed by Claire Scanlon, finally sees The Last Man on Earth in progression. As this is the next-to-last episode left in the first season, such changes are expected. It’s refreshing, though, to see this often-pandering show have some firm direction. The laughs are now more readily found, and now the narrative keeps moving to compliment the nice writing at hand.
Not only this, but “The Tandyman Can” gives a nice balance between the characters. Every persona, besides perhaps Melissa, gets their intentions seen clear, and they grow in this episode in more believable ways, something this show hasn’t had in some time. While The Last Man on Earth’s inability to swear is constantly distracting, the dialogue still has the comedy beats it prides on but feels more natural and genuine. For whatever reason, whenever more characters become mean-spirited, The Last Man on Earth becomes more humane.
The Last Man on Earth is rarely consistent, but “The Tandyman Can” feels the most genuine episode in the show’s run since its initial three. The spirit is reformed, but now it's comfortable with itself and what it wants to do. Plus the promise of bigger tenures is encouraging, and hopefully lead to a finale as good as its premiere.
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