Yes, Ashley Romans Really Was Singing and Dancing on ‘Y: The Last Man’

When you’re talking about a post-apocalyptic drama like Y: The Last Man, you can expect a lot of plot twists: heartbreak, violence, even dark humor. But the one thing you don’t expect is a musical number. Yet that’s exactly how Episode 4, “Karen and Benji”, opens. Y: The Last Man’s showrunner and executive producer Eliza Clark spoke to Decider about what went into that fabulous song and dance opener, as well as the unique challenges that came with adding Elliot Fletcher’s Sam to this story. Spoilers ahead for Y: The Last Man Episode 4.

Episode 3 ended on one of the darkest notes of this intrinsically dark series. As Yorick (Ben Schnetzer) escaped with Agent 355 (Ashley Romans), a second helicopter carrying two pilots crashed beside them. It’s implied that Agent 355 orchestrated this “accident” in an attempt to make their getaway cleaner. But instead of starting with Yorick yelling at or even questioning his new companion, Episode 4 starts with a musical number. Sporting a frilly pink dress, Agent 355 takes the stage and starts to swoon “Taking a Chance on Love” into a microphone, lounge singer style. It’s a sequence that is soon revealed to be a dream, albeit one that shows a softer, more human side to this secretive government agent. And according to Clark, that performance is all Romans.

“She’s not a singer or a dancer. I said to her, ‘Ashley, do you think you can do this?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, OK,'” Clark said. “She’s actually singing, she’s dancing, and later in that episode she’s actually fighting. She does most of her stunts. She is one of the most capable people I have ever — she is incredible… She’s a real star.”

Episode 4 is also the first episode that really dives into one of the most interesting dynamics of this adaptation. In Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s comic book of the same name, Yorick’s sister Hero (Olivia Thirlby) largely goes on her journey alone. FX on Hulu’s take on this story gives her a companion in the form of her best friend Sam (Elliot Fletcher), a trans man who may be in danger because of his alliances. Creating an established friendship in a genre that typically doesn’t portray them posed a challenge.

“I feel like friendship — established friendship, old friendship — is such an interesting relationship. We’re watching friendships form for much of the book and for much of the series. But we’re seeing two people who really know each other, both the good and the bad, and really love each other in spite of the ways their relationship co-dependent or toxic,” Clark said. “I think that their relationship is super complicated but rooted in love, and that is something that is a huge part of the human experience. She is a character, Hero, who there is a lot of self-hatred, a lot of shame, a lot of unchecked privilege. And Sam is the character who loves her. Some of his loving her enables her and ultimately hurts himself. His love for her is potentially dangerous for him. And he is struggling with his own issues about being an artist in a world where he’s not sure if art even exists anymore. It’s one of my favorite relationships in the show.”

When asked about the inspirations for this lived-in relationship, Clark pointed to a film club the production started at the start of COVID. Clark, the production’s DPs, the pilot’s director Louise Friedberg, executive producer Mari-Jo Winkler, costume designer Olga Mill, and production designer Alexandra Schaller all watched movies together, some of which would go on to influence certain elements of the show.

“There were lots of inspirations, and they were from all over, from Children of Men to Thelma & Louise,” Clark revealed. “The show is ultimately an adventure, but each world you come across kind of has its own look and vibe and world-building. So it can change, which is part of what’s so exciting and fun about the show.”

New episodes of Y: The Last Man premiere on FX on Hulu on Mondays.

Watch Y: The Last Man on FX on Hulu