In this golden age of streamers, there’s a surplus of television shows to watch. But because there are so many options, sometimes truly stellar shows fly under the radar. Not all series get a chance to find and grow their audience, but that doesn’t mean thatthere aren’t shows that deserve it.Natasha Rothwellcreated and stars in the fantastic comedy series,How To Die Alone.But even with positive reviews and some awards under its belt, Hulu just announced thatit won’t be pursuing a second season. Here’s a rundown of why that’s a giant mistake.
Natasha Rothwell Created a Unique, Underrated Comedy With ‘How To Die Alone’
The series follows Mel (Rothwell), a depressed Black woman whoworks at JFK airportbut is ironically afraid to fly. Her fear is a metaphor for how Mel lives her life; she’s stuck in depressing circumstances because she’s too afraid to take a risk and move forward. Mel is leery of trusting others and has pretty low self-esteem, which means that she’s single, lonely, and stuck in a job with no future. Although she has some wonderful friends (played byConrad RicamoraandKeiLyn Durrel Jones), Mel longs for a meaningful relationship with someone like her ex, Alex (Jocko Sims).When a near-death experience occurson her birthday (thanks to some rickety IKEA-esque furniture and crab rangoon), Mel experiences the wake-up call she needs to turn her life around. But as hard as she tries, Mel seems to attract bad luck, andthese situations make for a compelling and hilarious look at a woman’s quest to find her own voice.
Although the series has tons of good qualities (the airport alone creates plenty of opportunities for humor), it is truly a must-watchsimply for Rothwell’s performance. She portrays Mel as completely relatable; we all know someone who just can’t seem to get their life together. Rothwell has written Mel as a protagonist who can’t get out of her own way but who is still easy to root for because of her kind heart and self-deprecating wisecracks. Instead of sticking to a traditional comedy formula,How To Die Alonestands out for its originality and its ability to find humor in all kinds of human experiences.Collider’sTaylor Gatescalled the series"one of the most joyful, honest, and hopeful shows of the year," adding, “it’s also the type of heartwarming series we could use more of now and always.” Because of Rothwell’s ability to demonstrate vulnerability and strength, the series is a captivating (and continuously funny) ride.
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‘How To Die Alone’ Should Get a Season 2
Hulu has definitely made a serious mistake in cancelingHow To Die Alone. The streamer should have at least allowed Rothwell to bring back these characters for one more season (if nothing else, then to wrap up all those cliffhangers in Season 1!). Butthe series also deserves another chance to shine because it brings diversity to the screen, as well as a unique perspective for audiences to explore.Rothwell noted in a statementabout the cancelation that “representation isn’t just about visibility — it’s about ensuring that our stories, our existence and our cultural contributions are not erased.” The cancelation is even more surprising since Rothwell’s original writing earned plenty of impressive reviews when the show premiered in September 2024. The comedy evennabbed an Independent Spirit Awardfor Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series, as well as three nominations for the upcoming NAACP Image Awards.
With a 91 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, it makes sense thatRothwell seemed stunned by Hulu’s decision, saying that she was “shocked, heartbroken, and frankly, baffled” by the cancelation announcement. But that doesn’t mean that Rothwell has completely given up. She stated that her team is committed to finding a new home for the series. Hopefully, either Hulu will decide to reverse its decision, or Rothwell can find another streamer or network that will bringHow To Die Aloneback for more episodes. If not, it would truly be a shame that a show of this caliber can’t convince executives that it has earned a place at the table. It’s true that Rothwell will be kept busy with other projects;she returns toThe White Lotusnext week.But it will be so disappointing if a show likeHow To Die Aloneisn’t given the opportunity to find the audience it deserves.
How To Die Aloneis available to stream on Hulu in the US.
How To Die Alone
After a near-death experience, Mel, a broke JFK airport worker, embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Determined to live life on her own terms, she navigates through comedic and heartfelt moments while confronting her fears and redefining her sense of self-worth in this bold, character-driven comedy.
