If You Were the Last

A botanist and optimistic crew member who tends plants, chickens, and a goat to keep morale high in a long-haul space mission. He favors staying hopeful and seeks stress relief through humor and connection, even as the odds of rescue look slim. His closeness with Jane tests his loyalty to Savannah back on Earth, underscoring the conflict between duty and desire.

A rational and resilient astronaut who keeps the ship running while battling the emotional toll of confinement. She contends with past instability and the pressure of the mission, seeking sanity through companionship, music, and exploration. Her evolving bond with Adam complicates her marriage to Tom and her sense of self under extreme isolation.

Adam's wife on Earth, a future politician who rises to governor. She represents the world beyond the mission, appearing in video messages and press moments that reveal public life and personal sacrifice. Her relationship with Adam shifts as the couple navigates distance, longing, and the reality of returning to a changed life.

Jane's husband on Earth, who initially remains distant from the danger and isolation of space. He later reveals a history of dating others, highlighting the imperfect, human fallout of a long separation. He embodies the world left behind and the resilience required to rebuild life after the mission.

The ship's AI and confidant, serving as a sounding board for the astronauts. The computer records their confessions and becomes a silent witness to their private lives, occasionally implicated in the perception of danger as events unfold.

The public-facing voice during Earth broadcasts and press briefings that frame the mission for the outside world.

A high-level official who represents the organizational oversight of the mission and the broader space program.