The Last Man On Earth Season 1 Episode 4 Dunk the Skunk

Phil Miller is not the last man on Earth anymore. He has found another survivor, Carol Pilbasian, and, despite their differences, they're trying to make the best of it. Phil is shown to still be his selfish and crude self even as they try to make a life together. Some of his behavior might make an audience member throw their hands in the air, but it's easy to see why he's so bizarre. After all, he's been alone for literal years and it's been slowly driving him insane. Now, he's got someone who's just as unbearable as he is, and it's hard to imagine how long they'll be able to stand each other before they crack.

In the fourth episode, "Dunk the Skunk," Phil has managed to anger Carol by breaking one of the rules they agreed on: no singing. Carol made that rule because Phil is a terrible singer and he's been singing nursery rhymes non-stop for days to pass the time. Their arguments now have a new audience as they come across a skunk. Phil is excited to see the little creature because of how rare it is now, but Carol knows all too well the unpleasant scent a skunk can exude. Instead of listening to her, Phil tries to catch the skunk to play with it. Carol is frustrated and it's clear she wants nothing to do with Phil's antics.

Meanwhile, Phil has hired one of the skunk's scent glands and now the entire house is permeated with its smell. Carol demands that Phil get rid of the skunk, but he is determined not to let it go. That is until the skunk sprays him and his entire wardrobe. Phil looks for some way to wash his clothes, and he is forced to wear most of his female neighbor's outfits, as they are the only ones that are clean. This is where the show gets hilarious. Will Forte's comedic timing is impeccable, and his physical comedy is even better. Seeing him strut around in ridiculous outfits is priceless.

While Phil is dealing with the consequences of his own stupidity, Carol takes it upon herself to learn how to drive a steamroller. Learning how to drive a steamroller is pretty much the complete opposite of learning how to drive a car, yet Carol manages to pick it up pretty quickly. Mary Steenburgen is great at playing the straight man to Forte's quirky Phil, and the scenes where she is trying to get a handle on the steamroller are genuinely funny.

As usual, there is a lot of cringe humor in the show. It seems like every episode, Phil finds himself in an incredibly uncomfortable situation. This is all thanks to the fact that he refuses to accept his life for what it is and instead tries to bend it to his will. Phil's character is frustrating, but he's also sympathetic at times. He's a terrible person, but it's hard to not feel sorry for him. It's clear that he's desperate for human connection, and even though he has it now, he's not sure how to make it work.

"Dunk the Skunk" is a great episode of The Last Man on Earth. It's funny, it's ridiculous, and it's a bit heartwarming. Watching Phil and Carol try to navigate their new life together is a lot of fun, and it's clear that they're both taking things one day at a time. There is no sense of urgency in the show, despite the fact that these characters are essentially the last people on Earth. They're just trying to live their lives, and that's what makes the show so enjoyable. Anyone who is a fan of cringe humor or oddball comedies will love The Last Man on Earth.