As it stands, Y: The Last Man won’t return for a second season. The announcement of its cancelation came before the debut season had even finished airing. And the first 10 episodes didn’t even scratch the surface of the epic tale Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s 50-issue comic.
Y: The Last Man follows escape artist Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer) and his pet capuchin monkey Ampersand, the only two males to somehow survive after a mysterious plague wipes out every mammal on Earth with a Y chromosome. After learning of his survival, Yorick’s mother, President Jennifer Brown (Diane Lane) sends him out under the protection of Agent 355 (Ashley Romans) to find Dr. Mann (Diana Bang) in the hope that she can use him to learn what caused the plague.
Showrunner Eliza Clark certainly sees the potential in the show, previously saying she’d like it to last “about five seasons.” What’s more, FX seemingly liked her season 2 pitch, but behind-the-scenes pandemic-related problems contributed to the run being cut short. “When I came on, COVID hit, and we had to push back another five months,” she told TV Insider. “FX was in an unfortunate position of having to make a decision about the show without a lot of data. I don’t think it was a creative decision, and FX really liked our Season 2 pitch, so I am optimistic about our ability to find another home for the show. There’s so much more story to tell.”
So what’s in store for season 2, if it happens? Well, it sounds like things would’ve got much bigger and zanier. “The second season is primed to be extremely fun and propulsive,” Clark said. “So much of the first season is about who these people are going to become. By the end of the first 10 episodes, they’re becoming something new and next season is about stepping into those personas.”
"There’s the promise of potentially reuniting Yorick and Beth. But what’s exciting is that all these characters on different tracks now know about Yorick’s survival. The noose is tightening around his neck and he, 355, and Allison have to race to the genetics lab in San Francisco while all these forces are after him."
It’s a shame to see Y: The Last Man come to an end when the board is set and the pieces are moving. It might not be a perfect show, but the first season is a promising start. Let’s hope someone picks it up — apparently, they’re holding conversations with various networks “this week.”
Stephen King can’t believe Y: The Last Man is already canceled
Horror writer Stephen King is a huge fan of Y: The Last Man. In fact, he’s previously hailed the story as “the best graphic novel I’ve ever read,” and now he wants to see the show continue Yorick’s on-screen adventures:
Is Y THE LAST MAN really canceled? Please say not. Although far from perfect (and some of the scenes are so dark you can't tell who's talking), it's one of the most interesting shows on TV. C'mon, Hulu...or somebody... don't leave me hanging.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 2, 2021
Whether Y: The Last Man gets greenlit for a second season remains to be seen, though showrunner Eliza Clark says the team is “committed” to finding it a new home. Season 1 is currently streaming on FX on Hulu.
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