Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… alone in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she’s a doctoral candidate in the astronomy department at the University of Michigan. She’s been studying and observing exploding stars.
Profession… soon to be out of job. Don’t get us wrong—Kate is incredibly talented. But she and her advisor have discovered an asteroid that is 6-9 kilometers wide that is heading straight to Earth. There’s not much job security when there is a 99.78% chance that the Earth will end in six months and 14 days.
Interests… smoking weed. It relaxes her, and she needs that more than ever. But more importantly, Kate’s latest interest is saving the world. She and her advisor Dr. Mindy have tried to convince NASA and the U.S. President to do something to prevent this disaster, but no one is taking them seriously. Since she is young female and didn’t go to an Ivy League college, so Kate is discounted at every turn. She is also made to pay for snacks at NASA when they’re free for everyone else.
Relationship Status… single. Kate was in a relationship with a journalist named Phillip, but everything went south after Kate and Dr. Mindy went on a morning talk show called The Daily Rip. The show focuses on news that is light and fun, but Kate didn’t have any fun news to share. On the show, she shows her panic: “Maybe the destruction of the entire planet isn't supposed to be fun. Maybe it's supposed to be terrifying. And unsettling. It’s 100% for sure that we’re all going to f’ing die.” After that, Kate was featured in a viral meme as the yelling lady. Her boyfriend wrote an article that he slept with the meme sensation, effectively ending their relationship when the article went to print. Kate was not too frazzled by the breakup and was quickly back on her feet. And she hears that grocery stores are a good place to meet men.
Challenge… convincing officials to stop an Earth-destroying disaster. The mental weight of not being able to spread life-saving information turns into a difficult burden to bear. Her efforts feel futile, so she is pressured to think of creative and effective ways of discerning the information despite the government’s refusal to cooperate. Kate and Dr. Mindy now finally have the President’s ear and resources, but it may be too late.
Personality… snarky, blunt, and rebellious. Ultimately, Kate’s persistence and consistent impulses to push back against authority prove to be her most useful tools. She’s going to try her best to save the world, but if not, she’s going to enjoy her last days and minutes she’s on this Earth.
