'The Last Man on Earth' episodes 9 & 10 review: 'The Do-Over' and 'Pranks for Nothin''

In its first couple episodes, The Last Man on Earth prided itself on how against the curb, existential and bittersweet it was with its bountiful premise. As the series continued, however, many of these traits were through to the side for awkward banter and comedy of errors. It’s disappointing in many ways, but mostly for how it took away from the retrained joy it brought.

While still some steps behind, this week’s “The Do-Over” and “Pranks for Nothin’” finally bring the heart and soul of Will Forte’s show back to the forefront. These episodes, especially the latter, find the sitcom at a slower but still agreeable pace, and finally help make Forte’s Phil seem affable again. While it may still be too interested in having our main character become more and more unlikable, at least the smarts and art of The Last Man on Earth is still alive and well in Tucson.

As “Mooovin’ In” left off, Carol (Kristen Schaal) now lives under the same roof as her husband, which makes Phil predictably filled with more grievances. He’s not betaken by her sleep breathing machine, and he’s especially not ecstatic in how she moves his dirty magazines and paints little additions to his classical paintings. In a fit of rage, he goes out and lets off steam the one way he knows how: by destroying things, specifically a list of items on Carol’s shopping list.

It’s in this act, however, when Phil feels lower than before that he finally talks to God for the first time since the pilot. He questions all the new situations in his life, and wanders if he can get a do-over. Sure enough, fate or the man upstairs does give him some form of salvation when two strangers, Gale (Mary Steenburgen) and Erica (Cleopatra Coleman) drive up next to his side. They, as you expect, saw Phil’s signs and come to ask if he’s still alone. After some hesitation, he says yes.

Phil goes with them to their spacious home quarters, where they share some champagne and get to know each other a little better. After “confessing” how his wife, Carol, died some time ago, they grow even closer and decide to spice up the night with some skinny-dipping. As this happens, Carol, Todd (Mel Rodriguez) and Melissa (January Jones) go on the road to surprise Phil with some balloons. The two cars meet, and Phil’s life gets even worse.

So begins episode two this week, where we start off immediately where we left off. A red-handed Phil tries to explain to both parties how this was all just a prank in the making. They don’t believe his lies, and leave him alone in the dark by himself. With him now in the doghouse from everyone on the planet, Phil gets more time to spend with his sport equipment buddies. It’s there where he tries to learn bartending tricks and also thinks deeply about his place in life. These scenes are some of the best not just this week, but in The Last Man on Earth’s limited history. And this is because it gets to the root of what made the first handful of episodes so special.

When it wants to be, Forte’s show is particularly quiet. It doesn’t have the whizz-bang style prominent in the rest of the station’s Sunday line-up. It’s a more contemplative series than on most broadcast stations—comedy or drama wise—and it’s not afraid to reach far and remember just how alone these characters are. They live in a pretty unforgiving world, yet it seems there is a God present and that’s what should make the relationships more interesting. Why do they live? Why must there be so few survivors? If there’s a God, why did he do what he did and why did he leaves these specific people?

These are questions only sometimes answered, or even addressed, in The Last Man on Earth. It’s not so much a reflection on reality but one giant game of “What If?” Forte and his team clearly have a lot of fun with this concept, but also like to study these characters and see where they develop in a society so undeveloped and broken. But when these questions are unanswered and we have to spend five or so episodes watching Phil try to get with a girl uninterested for him, it can be easy to understand why Forte’s show can be somewhat disappointing as it goes along.

To their credit, however, these two episodes show the creators hard at work to push boundaries and step over tired ideas. The comedy still isn’t as natural as it should be, but there’s still good laughs. Especially in Emily Spivey’s teleplay for “Pranks for Nothin,’” audience see what tough choices they must make all in the face of comedy.

It’s still a daringly repressive series, with some smart figureheads in charge and careful planning in check. Plus, the sympathy audiences should feel for Phil is finally found again this week, and actually earned for once. It’s still needs to work its way out the doghouse, but at least Phil and The Last Man on Earth have better intentions in mind.

Image courtesy of INFphoto.com