Although Y: The Last Man came out a few weeks ago, the TV series is based on a comic book series created by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra nearly two decades ago. The FX show's cast is rather convincing, featuring actors with impressive backgrounds in a variety of mediums who play the characters that comic book fans have waited for a long time to see come alive on the small screen.
But the show also features new characters who were not in the comics when those were published from 2002 to 2008. That timeframe isn't a far cry from the 1990s and it is a fun exercise to take a moment to consider what the show would have looked like if it were made a few decades ago.
Jennifer Brown - Ellen Burstyn
In Y: The Last Man, Diane Lane plays the role of President Brown and gives the characters an interesting ambiguity. It's hard to tell whether Jennifer is or isn't a good person at times, because although she seems to be motivated by a desire to help others and protect what's left of the nation, she could potentially turn power-hungry.
Diane Lane is a prolific actor who walks that fine line with brio and if the show was made in the 1990s, Ellen Burstyn would have been a great choice to play this character as she two can navigate the mysterious waters of that type of role. Burstyn shares with Lane the ability to play a fearless leader while also showing some vulnerability. Her role in the 1995 movie How to Make an American Quilt is a great example of the kind of strong performance Burstyn can give and she'd do justice to Jennifer's complex character.
Yorick Brown - Matthew Fox
Yorick is rather unsuccessful in life. He teaches magic tricks to kids, asks for money from his family all the time, and can't get the hint when his girlfriend turns down his proposal. In the show, the character is played by Ben Schnetzer, who gives him a certain level of hopelessness.
Yorick is the last man and for that reason, he is constantly scared while doing his best to put on a brave face. If the show were made in the mid-1990s, Matthew Fox, well-known now for being on Party of Five at the time (and later on for playing the likable castaway Jack Shephard on Lost), would have been a great Yorick because he too would have been able to play the character in a way that made him come across both as an underdog and a potential hero.
Hero Brown - Julianna Margulies
Hero is Yorick's older sister and someone who has seen a lot of suffering in her life. She has issues with her mother and struggles with her addiction to drugs, but she does her best to survive and support her family when they need it.
Olivia Thirlby lends her acting skills to the character in the current series, but if the show was a '90s drama, it would not have been surprising to see Julianna Margulies play Hero's part. Whether it is on ER as one of the best TV nurses of all time or as the beleaguered spouse on The Good Wife, Margulies has played characters who are damaged and yet relentless, and she would have been a good Hero by making her both courageous and vulnerable.
Agent 355 - Jada Pinkett Smith
During her time on Gotham, Jada Pinkett Smith proved that she can play quite the enigmatic woman, a quality that would be well-suited for the character of Agent 355. Ashley Romans plays the part well in Y: The Last Man, remaining hard to read throughout her time on screen.
Jada Pinkett Smith would have been a good fit for the role as she would have brought up the badass nature of Agent 355. In the 90s, Pinkett Smith scored roles in both comedies like The Nutty Professor and dramas like Set If Off, giving her the opportunity to show off her range as an actor. She would have made the character of Agent 355 as interesting as Romans does by making sure she comes across both as someone you can trust and fear at the same time.
Beth DeVille - Michael Michele
Juliana Canfield plays Beth in Y: The Last Man and she portrays her as someone who is still trying to figure out what she wants out of life before the world turns upside down. She loves Yorick but isn't ready to commit to their relationship the way he wants her to, and after the event that kills all the men, she disappears.
If the show was made in the 1990s, Michael Michele would have been a good pick for Beth. She could stand her ground against Yorick without coming across as heartless and would have made the character relatable, much like she proved she could when she played Dr. Cleo Finch on ER.
Kimberly Campbell Cunningham - Kelly Rutherford
Played by Amber Tamblyn in the show, Kimberly is the daughter of the late President of the United States and a conservative woman very much set in her ways. While she lost, just like so many other women, her entire family following the global event that killed all men with a Y chromosome, it is hard to have compassion for Kimberly.
She isn't very likable and holds on to her values while those don't mean much in a world that is crumbling under her feet. The role would have suited Kelly Rutherford if the show was made in the 90s because, just like Tamblyn, Rutherford has the ability to play nice while also potentially wreaking havoc all around her. During her time on Melrose Place, Rutherford showed that she could play a strong-minded yet nice person flawlessly.
Nora Brady - Marcia Cross
Nora Brady is a former White House employee who finds herself powerless once all the men are gone. The new government doesn't seem to want her around and she scrambles to keep herself and her daughter alive. The choice of who would play Nora Brady would have been different if Y: The Last Man were made in the 1980s, but in the late 1990s the part would have perfectly suited Marcia Cross.
Granted she might have been a bit young at the time to play that part but there is no doubt the magic of television could have made it work. Cross would have given the character the perfect blend of no-nonsense fearlessness while also showing the vulnerable traits of the role like she was able to do during her time on the Fox soap opera Melrose Place.
Allison Mann - Margaret Cho
Dr. Allison Mann is the geneticist chosen by President Brown to find out why Yorick and his monkey are the last males of their kind. She is an unconventional scientist who isn't afraid to through away the rule book. In the show, she is played by Diana Bang, who does a great job showing just how devoted to her research Allison is.
If the show were from the 1990s, Margaret Cho would have been an excellent pick to play the role as she would have been given a similar energy and personality to Dr. Mann. Being a stand-up comedian, she would have had no issue giving some edge and humor to the character while also being serious when needed as she showed in the 1996 movie It's My Party.