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How to Die Alone

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How to Die Alone
The poster shows the main character, Mel, wearing a windbreaker and a reflective vest on a runway, under a plane that's taking off. The series title is written in white blocky text in the bottom third of the photo.
GenreComedy
Created byNatasha Rothwell
ShowrunnersNatasha Rothwell
Vera Santamaria
StarringNatasha Rothwell
Conrad Ricamora
Jocko Sims
KeiLyn Durrel Jones
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Production companiesBig Hattie Productions
Welcome Stranger
ABC Signature
Onyx Collective
Original release
NetworkHulu
ReleaseSeptember 13, 2024 (2024-09-13) –
present

How to Die Alone is an American comedy series created by and starring Natasha Rothwell. The series follows a woman who has never been in love, and decides to change her life after a near-death experience. Conrad Ricamora, Jocko Sims, and KeiLyn Durrel Jones also star. It premiered on Hulu on September 13, 2024.

Premise

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The story centers on Mel, a down-on-her-luck Black woman working at JFK airport. After a near-death experience, she decides to take control of her life and begins a journey of self-empowerment and personal transformation.[1]

Cast and characters

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Main cast

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  • Natasha Rothwell as Melissa, also known as "Mel"[2]
  • Conrad Ricamora as Rory, Mel's best friend[2]
  • Jocko Sims as Alex, Mel's ex[2]
  • KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Terrance, Mel's co-worker, a baggage handler[2]
  • Jaylee Hamidi as Allie, Mel's friend[3]
  • Michelle McLeod as Patty, Mel's co-worker and nemesis[3]
  • Chris Powell as DeShawn, a baggage handler[4]
  • Arkie Kandola as Shaun, a baggage handler[4]
  • Elle Lorraine as Kaya, Mel's co-worker and friend
  • Melissa DuPrey as Tamika, Mel's friend[5]

Guest

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Episodes

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No.Title [8]Directed byWritten by [9]Original release date [8]
1"Stop Living"Jude WengNatasha RothwellSeptember 13, 2024 (2024-09-13)
2"Lie and Deny"Renuka JeyapalanKristen BartlettSeptember 13, 2024 (2024-09-13)
3"Burn Bridges"Renuka JeyapalanMara Vargas JacksonSeptember 13, 2024 (2024-09-13)
4"Settle"Shahrzad DavaniHalsted SullivanSeptember 13, 2024 (2024-09-13)
5"Trust No One"Tiffany JohnsonMarquita J. RobinsonSeptember 20, 2024 (2024-09-20)
6"Let Fear Win"Shahrzad DavaniJen ReganSeptember 20, 2024 (2024-09-20)
7"Kill Your Darlings"Tiffany JohnsonVera SantamariaSeptember 27, 2024 (2024-09-27)
8"Get Lost"Jude WengNatasha RothwellSeptember 27, 2024 (2024-09-27)

Production

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How to Die Alone was co-created by Natasha Rothwell, known for her roles on Insecure and White Lotus, and Vera Santamaria.[6] Both are also executive producers along with Jude Weng and Desiree Akhavan.[6] The series is produced under Disney's Onyx Collective, ABC Signature, Big Hattie Productions, and Welcome Stranger.[6][10] Rothwell stated that she wanted "to really explore the difference between loneliness and being alone" in the series.[2] In November 2022 it was announced that How to Die Alone was picked up by Onyx Collective for an eight-episode order starring Rothwell.[11]

The cast members were announced in February 2023.[12] Conrad Ricamora, Jocko Sims, and KeiLyn Durrel Jones were announced as series regulars, and Bashir Salahuddin was announced as a recurring guest star.[12]

Release

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How to Die Alone premiered with its first four episodes on Hulu and Disney+ via Hulu Hub in the United States and Disney+ internationally on September 13, 2024.[13] The streaming service later released the remaining episodes in smaller batches, with two episodes dropping each week, leading up to the finale on September 27, 2024.[14]

Reception

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Viewership

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TVision, which utilizes its TVision Power Score to evaluate CTV programming performance by factoring in viewership and engagement across over 1,000 apps and incorporating four key metrics—viewer attention time, total program time available for the season, program reach, and app reach—calculated that How to Die Alone was the eleventh most-streamed series from September 16 to September 22.[15][16] It moved to tenth place during the week of September 23 to 29.[17]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 23 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Leveraging creator and star Natasha Rothwell's firecracker energy for a sweet and sour character study, How to Die Alone is a handy manual for relatable viewing."[8] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]

Aramide Tinibu of Variety found described How to Die Alone as "a witty and thoughtful dramedy about loneliness, accountability, and the courage to get out of one's own way" with Natasha Rothwell delivering a "flawless" performance.[4] Tinubu praised Rothwell's writing, describing the series as "beautifully relatable and introspective".[4] Tinubu appreciated the show's nuanced portrayal of airport life and its reflections on the difference between being alone and feeling lonely.[4] Cristina Escobar of RogerEbert.com wrote that How to Die Alone offers a balance of bleak subject matter and humor, with Natasha Rothwell delivering a standout performance. She praised Rothwell's ease in delivering jokes and highlighted the talents of the supporting cast. Escobar also stated that while the show has sitcom elements, it focuses on its protagonist growth beyond romance, working on her career and relationships. She complimented the tone and called Rothwell a "fantastic leading lady," expressing hope for more seasons, especially given the need for more Black sitcoms.[19]

Accolades

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How to Die Alone was nominated for Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series at the 40th Independent Spirit Awards.[20][21] Natasha Rothwell won the Producer Award for Black Cinema & Television at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Cinema & Television.[22][23]

References

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  1. ^ Kumar, Pulak (September 12, 2024). "How to Die Alone season 1: Release date, cast, plot, and everything you need to know". Sportskeeda. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Edwards, Belen (February 10, 2024). "'How to Die Alone' is Natasha Rothwell's 'most vulnerable' work yet". Mashable. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Davidson, Denton; Ford, Latasha (2024-09-05). "'How to Die Alone' red carpet premiere: Interviews with stars Natasha Rothwell, Conrad Ricamora, Jaylee Hamidi and more … [WATCH]". GoldDerby. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Tinubu, Aramide (September 13, 2024). "Natasha Rothwell's Fantastic 'How to Die Alone' Is Witty, Raw and Brutally Honest: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  5. ^ "Natasha Rothwell Finds New Life in Hulu's Winning "How to Die Alone" | TV/Streaming | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. 2024-09-13. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  6. ^ a b c d Andreeva, Nellie (July 5, 2024). "Natasha Rothwell's Onyx Comedy Series 'How To Die Alone' Gets Premiere Date, Key Art". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Hereford, André (2024-09-08). "Natasha Rothwell on 'How to Die Alone' and Her Return to 'The White Lotus'". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  8. ^ a b c "How to Die Alone: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "How to Die Alone". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "Vera Santamaria". Vera Santamaria. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  11. ^ Hailu, Selome (2022-11-17). "'Insecure' Alum Natasha Rothwell to Write and Star in Hulu Comedy 'How to Die Alone'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  12. ^ a b Petski, Denise (2023-02-23). "Natasha Rothwell's 'How To Die Alone' Sets Main Cast With Conrad Ricamora, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Jocko Sims; Bashir Salahuddin To Recur". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  13. ^ "How to Die Alone season 1 release schedule: All episodes and when they arrive". Sportskeeda. September 14, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Fuentes, Tamara (September 13, 2024). "Here's When Every Episode of 'How to Die Alone' Drops". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  15. ^ "The TVision Power Score - Week of September 16-22, 2024". TVision Insights. September 25, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  16. ^ Lafayette, Jon (September 25, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Levitates to Top of TVision Power Score Rankings". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "The TVision Power Score - Week of September 23-29, 2024". TVision Insights. October 2, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  18. ^ "How to Die Alone season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Cristina, Escobar (September 13, 2024). "Natasha Rothwell Finds New Life in Hulu's Winning "How to Die Alone" | TV/Streaming | Roger Ebert". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  20. ^ "Film Independent Announces Nominees for the 40th Anniversary 2025 Spirit Awards". Independent Spirit Awards. December 5, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  21. ^ Lang, Brent (2024-12-04). "Spirit Awards 2025 Nominations: 'Anora' and 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead Film Categories, 'Shogun' Rules TV". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  22. ^ Hammond, Pete (2024-11-07). "Regina King, Cynthia Erivo, Steve McQueen, John David Washington And More Set For Honors At Critics Choice 7th Celebration Of Black Cinema & Televison". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  23. ^ Jackson, Angelique (2024-11-07). "Tyler Perry, Regina King, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and 'The Best Man' Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee Among Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema & Television Honorees". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
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