The title of Natasha Rothwell’s new Hulu original series, “How to Die Alone” (premiering Friday, Sept. 13), is jarring, to say the least. But, once you get past it, this is binge-worthy material for sure. Kudos to Rothwell, who serves as star, co-showrunner, executive producer, and writer of this eight-episode series, created under the banner of her company, Big Hattie Productions. That’s big-girl energy.
But her road to success wasn’t easy. It took grit and determination for Rothwell, starting in 2016, pulling, pushing, and guiding the show through two development deals before it finally landed at Hulu. In recent interviews, Rothwell shared that there were countless opportunities for her to walk away, but something inside told her this story had to be born. I’m so glad she didn’t let Hollywood diminish her shine — and after watching, you will be too. “How to Die Alone” gives you space to ask the big, necessary questions about life, with answers designed to help you contrast and compare. She’s so “every person” that her struggles translate seamlessly.
The series is ultimately a story about growth and what “doing the work” really looks like — as well as the mistakes, the lessons, and how they ripple through every relationship in your life when you finally let go of what no longer serves you. While the most central relationship is between Mel and herself, every character in her life evolves throughout the season as they navigate their friendships, romantic entanglements, and professional lives.
It’s worth noting that all of season one was directed by women of color. Though the series is set in New York, it was filmed in Toronto.
Mel, played by Rothwell, works at an airport and is a single woman who desperately wants to be seen but, like so many of us, is terrified of putting herself out there. She calls herself “fat, not phat” and struggles with self-confidence, an issue tied to her deep fear of flying. Ironic, considering she works at JFK Airport and has never set foot on a plane.
Then something terrible happens. Mel has a near-death experience and is clinically dead for three minutes. When she wakes up, she’s in a hospital emergency room, separated by a curtain from another woman. They strike up one of those deep conversations where profound life truths are exchanged — the beginning of what could be a long-term friendship. But then the woman, Mrs. Robinson, dies, with no next of kin to claim her. Her parting words linger, sending Mel spiraling down the rabbit hole of her own messy, complicated life. That brush with death pushes Mel to finally confront the life she’s only half-dared to dream about.
“There are three kinds of death,” Mrs. Robinson tells Mel. “Physical death, when people stop caring about you, and the worst — when you stop caring about yourself.”
The series is wonderfully messy on purpose — not in its story structure or writing, which are spot-on, but in its characters, who make you love them, one and all. Each one is perfectly crafted, reflecting archetypes we know all too well. I promise, you’ll see yourself in them, and that’s where Rothwell’s brilliance truly shines.
Special mention goes to Saagar Shaikh, Melissa DuPrey, Elle Lorraine, Chris Powell and Asia Ali, whose performances add depth and heart to this stellar cast.
“How to Die Alone” deserves a long, long life with many, many seasons.
I hope we get to see more of these characters in a second season and beyond. Setting much of the story in an airport is genius for so many reasons. It’s a constant reminder to keep moving, searching, and traveling — physically and emotionally. Every connection, no matter how fleeting, can crack open mountains of emotion, reminding us that in life, outcomes are deeply uncertain, even when we think we know the answers.
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