Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for the first three episodes of Y: The Last Man.
Hulu on FX’s Y: The Last Man adaptation was right to cast Elliot Fletcher in the role of Sam Jordan, a trans man who was introduced into the ensemble of the classic graphic novel series. Beyond offering a perspective that was neglected in the original comics, Fletcher’s character also enhances the narrative of the adaptation by furthering the development of Hero Brown and grounding her character.
Published in 60 issues from 2002 to 2008, Y: The Last Man was one of the greatest series to come out of DC Comics’ Vertigo line for mature readers, standing alongside series such as Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and Mike Carey’s Lucifer as some of the world’s most acclaimed graphic novels aimed at adults. The series detailed the misadventures of slacker escape artist Yorick Brown, as he undertook a quest to figure out why he and his pet monkey were the only mammals with a Y chromosome to not die following an unexplained global event. A critical darling upon release, Y: The Last Man also won multiple Eisner awards for Best New Comic and Best Continuing Series.
Despite these accolades, Y: The Last Man has also been criticized in recent years for its narrow focus in exploring the question of how humanity would adapt after the death of almost every man with a Y chromosome. The new Hulu on FX adaptation has taken steps to address the oversights of the Y: The Last Man comics and adding Elliot Fletcher to the ensemble helps address those issues. However, the character of Sam Jordan also improves Y: The Last Man‘s story.
The Problem With The Y: The Last Man Comics
One of the chief complaints about Y: The Last Man is how poorly it accounted for trans men in its larger narrative. There are no major trans male characters and only a few passing references to trans men as the story progresses. More worryingly, it is implied indirectly that gender identity is a matter of choice. One scene in Y: The Last Man #11 is typical of the series’ problematic treatment of trans men. While waiting to board a train, Yorick is approached by a sex worker who offers advice on how to make his “fake” beard look more realistic. She then makes reference to other cis sex workers who are choosing to “become men.“
Beyond this, the only reference Y: The Last Man makes to trans men is as victims. The Daughters of the Amazon, a cult that rises up after the Event, dedicate themselves to killing trans men and women who choose to disguise themselves as men, when they aren’t destroying sperm banks, churches, or other “patriarchal symbols.” There is also a brief discussion of trans men being forced into sexual slavery and cis women being forced to transition in the Philippines to meet the new demand. For all that Y: The Last Man did to try and offer a feminist perspective on the classic science-fiction trope of the last man on Earth, it failed to offer a view of trans men as anything other than sex objects.
Why Y: The Last Man Series Cast Elliot Fletcher
Y: The Last Man showrunner Eliza Clark was well aware of how problematic the original comics were, but also recognized the power of the story and its relevance in the wake of recent events. The idea of an unknown plague resonates in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opening episodes of Y: The Last Man evokes the imagery of the January 6 domestic terrorist attacks. Despite that, the decision to add a trans male character to the core cast of Y: The Last Man seems to be the most controversial aspect of the new series.
Related: Y: The Last Man Cast & Character Guide
Elliot Fletcher is no stranger to controversy, being one of several trans actors who filmed a video demanding Hollywood offer a wider variety of roles for transgender people in 2017. Since that time, Fletcher has gone on to play Trevor, a trans man who works for a charity that helps homeless LGBT+ teens, in the Showtime series Shameless. This role, which presented a trans male who was kind and generous and not defined by his gender identity or sex life, set the stage for the character of Sam Jordan, whom Fletcher plays in Y: The Last Man.
How Elliot Fletcher’s Character Improves Y: The Last Man’s Story
Beyond standing as another rare trans male character who is not informed entirely by his status as a trans man, Sam Jordan also serves to greatly enhance the character of Hero Brown (Olivia Thirlby), the older sister of the series’ titular protagonist, Yorick Brown (Ben Schnetzer). A paramedic who was presented as being far more sensible than her younger brother, Hero’s journey was a secondary consideration to that of her brother in the original Y: The Last Man comics. Despite appearing in the first chapter of the series, Hero disappeared for several issues before suddenly emerging as a member of the Daughters of the Amazon. While a later issue filled in the gaps between Hero’s appearances as she hunted her brother across the country, many have thought it odd that someone as strong-willed as Hero, even after falling into despair after the Event, could come under the thrall of a doomsday cult so easily.
The Y: The Last Man series addresses this by establishing Hero as having an addictive personality and introducing Sam Jordan as her best friend and AA Sponsor. The friendship between Sam and Hero is completely platonic and Sam’s status as a trans man is not referenced in his first scene in the sci-fi show. Sam stands by Hero even as she becomes more withdrawn and the following episodes show their struggle for survival. Their scenes together not only cause Hero’s collapse from the comics to seem more realistic but also serve to make her more sympathetic, as she is snapped from her funk when Sam tells her that he’s almost out of the testosterone he needs for his treatment. While Hero is reluctant to seek help from her estranged mother to ensure her own survival, she will humble herself to help a friend. It seems likely, however, that if Hero’s journey from the comics mirrors her destiny in the show, that there will be some kind of conflict when they meet up with the Daughters of the Amazon.
