It’s so delightful when Hollywood actually gives the people what they want, and it’s even more delightful when that coincides with givingNatasha Rothwell— a standout ofInsecure,The White Lotus, and, let’s face it, every project she’s in — her own show. Maybe that’s not exactly accurate to say. After all, Rothwell deserves credit for giving herselfHow to Die Alone, serving as the creator, and taking on writing duties in addition to acting. The results are just as hilarious as you’d anticipate from someone who wrote onSaturday Night Live— and perhapsdeeper and more touching than you’d expect.
What Is ‘How to Die Alone’ About?
How to Die Alone’s basic premise is ripe for comedy and conflict alike:a 35-year-old airport worker named Melissa (Rothwell) is ironically afraid of flying— along with many other things,like putting herself out thereand being in love. This frequently causes tension with her family, including her more financially successful brother Brian (Bashir Salahuddin), who is married with kids, and occasionally her trust fund baby best friend Rory (Conrad Ricamora), with whom Melissa borders on co-dependent.
After Melissa suffers a freak accident involving a heavy piece of furniture and crab rangoon on her birthday, however, she finds herself sharing a hospital room with an inspiring woman named Elise (Jackie Richardson), whomotivates her to start living her life to the fullest. Melissa has only a few months to get over her fears so she can get on a plane and tell her boss and ex-boyfriend Alex (Jocko Sims) that she still has feelings for him before he gets married to someone else.
‘How to Die Alone’ Is a Worthy Star Vehicle for Natasha Rothwell
Before we get too deep into discussing the show, let’s get one thing out of the way:How to Die Aloneis undoubtedly a true comedy. That’s an important distinction nowadays when people are fighting over genre muddlers likeThe BearandBarry.How to Die Aloneserves up its fair share of drama(more on that later),but it leads with humorand absolutely nails it. It pays tribute to other shows — each episode starts with a street interview, similar to howSex and the Citydid back in the day, and comparisons toworkplace sitcomslikeThe Office,Parks and Rec, andAbbott Elementaryare inevitable — but sets itself apart as its own thing.
It’s not amockumentary, for one, staying firmly behind the fourth wall — a somewhat unusual break in structure for comedies in this day and age. The fact it’s streaming instead of airing on a traditional network alsoallows it to get a bit raunchier and more explicit. Though it never goes too far in that department (it doesn’t need to in order to evoke laughs), the fact the characters are allowed to curse does often make the jokes hit harder and the dialogue feel more natural.
The show taps into the zeitgeist in a multitude of ways, making it fresh and relevant. From parodying identifiable brands like IKEA and Weight Watchers to seamlessly and effectively incorporating trending TikTok music with songs like “One Margarita (Margarita Song)” and “Beans Greens Potatoes Tomatoes” for the Thanksgiving episode,How to Die Alone’s comedic sensibilities have their finger firmly on the pulse. The show also proves that you can actually makesolid jokes about edgier, more serious topicslike sexual harassment seminars without being offensive or disrespectful. (Take notes, all the comedians out there whining about the woke agenda and cancel culture.)
Natasha Rothwell has been criminally underrated for years, stealing scenes left and right in juicy supporting roles. It’s an absolute treat seeing her get well-deserved leading lady status, especially in a role this meaty. Melissa is a deeply imperfect yethighly relatable protagonistwho’s easy to root for even when she’s making mistakes. The show doesn’t let her off the hook for her flaws, but it provides context for them that makes us empathize with her.Rothwell plays Melissa with a breathtaking vulnerabilitythat is sure to bring tears to your eyes on more than one occasion. The show goes deep into how insecurity impacts every facet of your life, exploring the fact that change is messy, painful, and nonlinear. The way the show tackles body image feels particularly radical in its nuance and authentic in its empowerment — a far cry from the fat jokes that dominated the landscape just a decade or two ago.
‘How to Die Alone’ Has the Makings of a Comedy Classic
Ever sinceSpeechlesssaw Jimmy DiMeo (John Ross Bowie) working at the airport, I thought it seemed like a naturally rich place to center a comedy, andHow to Die Aloneproves me right.The show capitalizes on its settingin a multitude of ways. The first is, of course, the humor, satirizing the uniquely chaotic vibe and absurd situations that happen, from Melissa and Rory scouring obscure confiscated contraband and abandoned luggage to one of Rory’s flings being a TSA worker who proclaims that his job is “to humiliate people and tell them to get new socks.”
The second is that the airport is a hub for all kinds of people from all types of backgrounds.How to Die Alone’s cast is effortlessly diverse, with people of all races, sexualities, and body types represented — that’s simply how the real world looks, after all. This extends to the characters beyond the airport as well, showcasing a realistic New York City. There are alot of supporting characters to jugglebetween Melissa’s co-workers, family, neighbors, and other friends — and sometimes, the show bites off a little more than it can chew, considering some of the key ensemble all but disappears for a few episodes at a time — but all of them are so entertaining and bring something so special, it would be a shame to get rid of any of them for the sake of tighter focus. Melissa’s world is fleshed out in a way that’s rare for a half-hour comedy and even rarer for a show that only has eight episodes in its season.
Andwhat would a future classic comedy be without alove triangleand some inevitable shipping wars deliciously foreshadowed in the very first episode? The romantic aspects ofHow to Die Aloneare compelling, presenting two excellent and wildly different options for Melissa. I won’t spoil who Alex’s competitor is here — you should watch the pilot and see if you can sense the early chemistry — but I will say they provide a metaphor about a Roomba that’s one of the best (not to mention the funniest) analogies I’ve heard in a while.
The title ofHow to Die Aloneis beautifully ironic, as this show is all about learning to be brave enough to live your best life and open yourself up to connection. At its core, it’s about how loving yourself goes hand-in-hand with the power of community. It’s not a stretch to sayHow to Die Aloneisone of the most joyful, honest, and hopeful shows of the year. It’s also the type of heartwarming series we could use more of now and always. May it go on for many more seasons.
How To Die Alone
Natasha Rothwell gives a raw and hilarious performance in a comedy with a fresh and important voice.
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.
