In the world of Y: The Last Man, which is now available at FX on Hulu, the world is dominated by women as a result of an apocalyptic event, but showrunner Eliza Clark wants viewers to understand the circumstance is not a cause for celebration.
While speaking to CBR, Clark reflected on how the pilot episode covered the effect of the plague spreading across the globe, showing the deaths of not only humans but various animals such as rats and a horse.
"I mean, I felt like it was important that we understand that this event kills everything with a Y chromosome because I think some of the narrative that's out there about the show is like this sort of Girl Power thing, which it's not actually -- it's tragic, what happens," she said. "It upends everything. Children die. A dog dies. Lots of men die. Trans women die. It's horrible, what happens. I think it's important to know that... but you only see one die."
Clark has also previously spoken about how the series will address gender identity and diversity, as well as how it challenges the gender binary. "Gender is diverse and chromosomes are not equal to gender, she said, "And so, in our world -- in the world of the television show -- every living mammal with a Y chromosome dies. Tragically, that includes many women; it includes non-binary people; it includes intersex people." Clark assures that Y's creators "are making a show that affirms that trans women are women, trans men are men, non-binary people are non-binary, and that is part of the richness of the world we get to play with."
The only two mammals in the world with a Y chromosome who survive the plague are Yorick Brown and his pet monkey Ampersand. The series follows the two beings as they journey across the country, pursued and protected by survivors with various agendas.
Based on the acclaimed DC/Vertigo comic of the same name written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man stars Ben Schnetzer as Yorick Brown, Ashley Romans as Agent 355, Diana Bang as Dr. Allison Mann, Olivia Thirlby as Hero Brown and Diane Lane as President Jennifer Brown.
Y: The Last Man is now streaming on FX on Hulu.
Source: CBR