The first episode of Y: The Last Man , titled "The Day Before," focuses on the final 24 hours leading up to a global cataclysm that wipes out every mammal with a Y chromosome except for one man, Yorick Brown, and his pet monkey, Ampersand.
Watch a recap of the series premiere which sets the stage for the global event: Y: The Last Man, S1E1 "The Day Before" Recap Comic Book Club YouTube• Sep 12, 2021 Key Plot Points
The Calm Before: Unlike the comics, which begin after the mass death, the show spends most of the pilot introducing the cast in their normal lives.
Yorick's Struggle: Yorick is introduced as a struggling amateur escape artist who is financially dependent on his mother. He attempts a failed marriage proposal to his girlfriend, Beth.
The Brown Family: His mother, Jennifer Brown, is a prominent Democratic Congresswoman. His sister, Hero, is an EMT grappling with a messy personal life.
Agent 355: A mysterious secret agent from the "Culper Ring" is shown performing high-stakes missions before the event hits.
The Event: The episode concludes with the "Gendercide"—a violent, sudden plague where men everywhere begin bleeding from their noses and mouths before collapsing. Critical Reception
Reviewers at Vulture and Entertainment Weekly noted several highlights and drawbacks:
Y: The Last Man Season 1 Episode 1 'The Day Before' | Review Y The Last Man Episode 1
"Y: The Last Man Episode 1" Review
The pilot episode of "Y: The Last Man," titled "Pilot," sets the stage for a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious event has caused the extinction of all male mammals, except for one man, Yorick Taranov, played by Josh Brolin, and his pet monkey, Ampersand. The episode masterfully blends drama, action, and intrigue, making it a compelling start to the series.
The story begins with a cleverly designed sequence of events showing the worldwide catastrophe unfold. The cause of the global extinction event remains a mystery throughout the episode, adding to the suspense and curiosity of the audience. As the world crumbles, we are introduced to various characters who are trying to survive in this new reality.
Yorick, a rugged and charismatic survivalist, finds himself one of the very few men left alive. Alongside his pet monkey, Ampersand, Yorick navigates through a desolate and eerie landscape. He soon discovers other survivors, including a young woman named Agnes Crain (played by Elisa Scanlen), who becomes pivotal to his journey.
The episode explores themes of isolation, survival, and the human condition in the face of unimaginable loss. The show does not shy away from depicting the violence and desperation that comes with the end of the world as we know it.
The cast delivers strong performances across the board. Josh Brolin's portrayal of Yorick brings depth and nuance to the character, making him relatable and rootable. The supporting cast also shines, bringing their characters to life with emotion and conviction.
The direction and cinematography are noteworthy, capturing the devastation and loneliness of the post-apocalyptic world. The visual effects are seamless, enhancing the reality of the fictional world.
Overall, "Y: The Last Man Episode 1" is an engaging and thought-provoking start to the series. With its intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and strong performances, it sets the stage for a compelling exploration of humanity's resilience and adaptability in the face of catastrophe. If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic dramas or are simply looking for a new series to dive into, "Y: The Last Man" is definitely worth checking out. The first episode of Y: The Last Man
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommendation: If you enjoy post-apocalyptic dramas like "The Walking Dead" or "Fear the Walking Dead," and are looking for a new series with a unique premise, then "Y: The Last Man" is a great choice. Fans of strong character development and intricate storytelling will also appreciate this show.
The episode opens not with chaos, but with unsettling stillness. We are in Washington, D.C. — a city buzzing with the mundane machinery of political life. The title card appears in soft, off-white lettering against a black screen: "THE DAY BEFORE."
We meet Congresswoman Jennifer Brown (Diane Lane), a seasoned politician and the clear heir apparent to the presidency. She’s in a tense backroom meeting with her staff, discussing a stalled reproductive rights bill. Her chief of staff whispers about a potential primary challenge. Jennifer is sharp, impatient, and exhausted. She glances at her phone — a text from her daughter, Hero (Olivia Thirlby): “Mom, can we talk? It’s important.” She ignores it.
Cut to Boston, Massachusetts. Hero Brown is in a cramped, dimly lit apartment, packing a go-bag. She’s agitated, checking the window every few seconds. A woman, Sam (Elliot Fletcher), her trans male roommate, asks what’s wrong. Hero lies: “Work thing.” Sam, sensing danger, lets it go. Hero kisses him on the forehead and leaves — but not before we see her stash a pistol in her jacket.
Meanwhile, in Washington Heights, New York, Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer) is having the worst day of his life (or so he thinks). He’s a struggling magician and escape artist, performing a pathetic card trick for a disinterested coffee shop crowd. His only audience is his pet capuchin monkey, Ampersand (played by real-life monkey Tater and puppetry), who is more interested in stealing a croissant.
Yorick’s phone buzzes. It’s his girlfriend, Beth (Juliana Canfield), calling from Australia — where she’s studying abroad. She’s crying. She wants a break. “It’s not you, it’s the distance,” she says. Yorick, heartbroken, begs her to wait. “I’ll come to you. I’ll get on a plane tomorrow.” She hangs up. He’s left holding the phone, Ampersand draped over his shoulder.
We cut to Washington, D.C., the White House. The President of the United States (a fictional President, played by Paul Gross) is preparing for the State of the Union. His security detail is tight. His wife, the First Lady (Amy Landecker), is by his side. But we notice something strange: the President is sweating. He rubs his chest. His doctor chalks it up to anxiety. He waves it off. Opening Sequence: The Calm Before Extinction The episode
And then — THE EVENT.
Title: "Before the Fall" Aired: September 13, 2021
The premiere of Y: The Last Man, titled "Before the Fall," faces a Herculean task. Adapting Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s acclaimed graphic novel is a daunting prospect for any screenwriter; the source material is dense, philosophical, and deeply character-driven. Showrunner Eliza Clark tackles this by structuring the pilot not as an explosive action set-piece, but as a quiet, dread-inducing character study. The episode is less about the sudden disappearance of every male mammal on Earth and more about the fractured state of humanity before the event occurs. By slowing down the narrative velocity, the show invites the audience to sit with the unease of a world that is already broken, making the eventual collapse feel like an inevitability rather than a surprise.
For the uninitiated, Y: The Last Man presents a simple, terrifying “what if?”: In a single, catastrophic instant, every creature possessing a Y chromosome—every human male, every male mammal (dogs, whales, mice)—dies simultaneously. The event, later dubbed “The Gendercide” or “The Plague,” reduces the global population by roughly 50% and shatters civilization overnight.
The twist? One man survives: Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer), a failed escape artist, amateur magician, and aspiring smart-ass living in Washington, D.C. Alongside him, his male pet capuchin monkey, Ampersand, also survives. Episode 1 is not about the aftermath, but the 24 hours leading up to the cataclysm. Hence the title: The Day Before.
The pilot’s most effective tool is its use of the everyday. The Gendercide isn't a laser beam from space; it’s a husband collapsing while brushing his teeth. It’s a pilot turning to ash in his seat. Director Louise Friedberg (known for Dark) uses static, wide shots to emphasize emptiness. A bustling diner becomes a tomb. A crowded street becomes a parking lot of corpses.
The sound design is the unsung hero. The absence of male voices—lower registers, laughter, shouting—creates an eerie, hollow soundscape. When women finally speak, their voices feel sharper, more brittle.
Upon release, “The Day Before” received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Diane Lane’s performance and the atmospheric direction. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a hauntingly patient take on the end of the world,” while Variety noted that the show “improves on the source material by grounding the tragedy in real-world grief.”
However, some fans of the comic felt the pacing was too slow, arguing that 50 minutes of “normal life” delayed the apocalyptic thrills. Others celebrated the restraint, noting that by not showing the mass chaos immediately, the show earns its emotional stakes.