Ep 12. Screw The Moon

The Last Man on Earth has been a unique and humorous take on the post-apocalyptic genre, and episode 12 of season 1, titled "Screw the Moon," is no exception. The episode follows our protagonist, Phil Miller (played by Will Forte), as he attempts to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams – to travel to the moon.

In the opening scenes, we find Phil trying to locate his moon landing tapes, and we hear him talk about how he's always been obsessed with space travel. Though he's aware that his dream of being an astronaut will never come true, he decides to build a makeshift spacecraft out of some unorthodox materials. He enlists the help of his only other surviving neighbor, Carol (Kristen Schaal), to aid in his pursuit of space exploration.

Phil's plan is to launch a rocket ship on a set of rails powered by a giant slingshot, with the goal of reaching the moon. As he begins his launch countdown and prepares to take off, Carol has second thoughts and decides to not let him go ahead with this dangerous plan. She argues that Phil's obsession with the moon landing is just a way for him to feel important, and that it's not worth risking his life for a selfish dream.

The ensuing argument between Phil and Carol highlights the emotional struggles of the survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. Phil's dreams of space travel are one of the few things that give him purpose and meaning in life. But Carol reminds him that, even in the absence of the world as they once knew it, the lives they have now are still worth living, and he shouldn't throw it all away for a fleeting moment of glory.

Throughout the episode, we see Phil grappling with his own sense of purpose and self-worth, and the show uses humor to soften the more serious themes. We get to see the absurd lengths Phil goes to in order to achieve his dream, like using a kiddie pool for a rocket launcher. The episode also features other recurring characters, such as Todd (Mel Rodriguez), whose weight loss was a big plot point earlier on in the season, and Melissa (January Jones) who is struggling with her own demons.

Overall, "Screw the Moon" is a great showcase of what makes The Last Man On Earth such a fun and unique show. It balances humor with poignancy, and has a talented cast of comedians who are able to bring the characters to life in such a way that we care about them. The themes of self-worth and purpose resonate with anyone grappling with their own sense of identity, and the show manages to explore these themes in an entertaining and engaging way.

While the show has its share of flaws and has been criticized by some for its lack of diversity and stereotypical gender roles, it's still a breath of fresh air in a TV landscape that's often stale and uninspiring. For those looking for a show that combines heart, humor and a unique point-of-view, The Last Man On Earth is definitely worth checking out. And "Screw the Moon" is a great episode to start with.