BWW Recap: Phil Is a 'Skidmark' on THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

Before this season began, Will Forte said that THE LAST MAN ON EARTH wouldn't rely on introducing new people as major twists like the show did in the first season, instead opting for situational plot twists. This has proven true for the season thus far, except tonight we get a new introduction-one in the works since the first season finale. Mike finally reaches the Malibu crew.

Of course, as soon as Mike shows up on the beach Phil feels threatened. He immediately tackles his brother, and they begin to fight about ex-girlfriends. The rest of the Malibu crew watch as the brothers wrestle around in the sand. Mike appeals to Phil, saying that he's been in space and they're finally reunited. Phil stops the fighting, and they hug.

Then, introductions are in order. The whole Malibu crew plus Mike sit around the table and Mike tells the story of his leaving the space station and finally arriving in Malibu. Jason Sudeikis has an awfully charming demeanor that fits really well within the rest of the show's cast. With every laugh from the other characters we immediately sense that Mike is very well-liked. Then Mike introduces Phil's old childhood nickname-Skidmark. Everyone in the group laughs it off like a funny story, but Phil takes it to heart. He sees it as a continuation of their fight in the first scene, a stop to the ceasefire they agreed to.

After Mike reveals Phil's old nickname, he makes his brother sleep outside. Mike insists that there must be a room available in the Malibu mansion, but Phil, petty over the nickname story, makes him sleep outside. In bed, Carol talks about how excited she is by Mike's arrival. Carol is always the objective, moral center, and here she displays the appropriate response to Mike's introduction.

Phil, more than ever, is threatened by Mike. Because they are brothers, Mike represents everything Phil could've been, but wasn't. Due to this, Phil feels especially vulnerable in the group, worried that Mike will replace him. All Phil wants is validation, and he seeks it interminably. He doesn't realize that he has that validation right in front of him in the form of Carol. Phil's insecurities come out in full force tonight as he and Mike go back and forth.

Mike suggests they have a bonfire party for his arrival. He shoots a fire arrow to set off the bonfire, and does it in one shot. This is an obvious call-back to the episode a couple weeks back where Phil tried (and failed) to light Phil 2's casket on fire. Mike is successful where Phil isn't-he can shoot arrows, he can flirt with women, he can play David Bowie's Ground Control to Major Tom on guitar and get his crowd to start crying.

Phil perceives Mike's actions here as a power play. He sees the arrow and the song as Mike showing off his power. The morning after, Phil says he's putting on his own show. He fails miserably to sing his own version of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire, and then heckles Mike, bringing up his plagiarism and his inability to go to their grandmother's funeral. This is a low moment for Phil, and one that he only does when he feels like a total failure. Mike leaves, and then everyone but Carol follows.

Carol, again the voice of reason, tells Phil he needs to stop fighting with Mike and apologize. "You're the only two people in this world who have family," she says. "Why don't you leave things in the old world where they belong?" Phil's biggest problem is his inability to adapt to the new world. He is so stuck in his old world mentality that he can't accept his brother. This is most striking in comparison to tonight's other plot.

While Phil refuses to leave the old world behind, Todd, Melissa, and Gail start a polyamorous relationship. After Todd's failed multi-proposal last week, Melissa and Gail go to each other to apologize. While apologizing, they both end up discussing what makes Todd so attractive. It is then them who go to Todd with the idea of a polyamorous relationship-one which Todd graciously accepts.

THE LAST MAN ON EARTH is at it's best when it's breaking boundaries like this. Not only does it have unconventional lead actors, a diverse cast that is never the brunt of the joke, but now it introduces a logical, serious polyamorous relationship. I don't know of another show to handle this topic so well and so naturally.

Phil's behavior, in contrast to this development, feels especially stuck in the past. In a post-apocalyptic society, they can rebuild to be whatever they want. While the people around him continue to move forward, Phil is stuck in petty childhood fights. And if the preview for next week is any indication, the Phil / Mike feud is only just beginning.

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Leave your comments or thoughts on tonight's episode below or tweet me @gunnar_larson! Tune in next week for the next episode of THE LAST MAN ON EARTH season 2!

Photo Credits: The Last Man on Earth official Twitter

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