How to Die Alone

Many (if not most) recent comedies deal with depression, from Bojack Horseman to The Bear, from Fleabag to Euphoria. What How to Die Alone brings new to the table is that it’s more hopeful than these shows, or at least more hopeful than what the title would have you believe. Melissa (Natasha Rothwell) genuinely wants to get better, and the show follows her as she digs her way out of the self-sabotaging rut she’s been in for the last decade. The show is sympathetic, relatable, and comforting in how it frames Melissa and her developing sense of self, but it’s also a funny workplace comedy and a refreshingly honest look at the rockiness of adult friendships. There’s a lot to love here, in other words, and I do hope Rothwell is given the chance to showcase more of her talent—not everyone can balance vulnerability and joy the way she does—beyond eight episodes.

Mel is a broke, fat, Black JFK airport employee who's never been in love and forgotten how to dream, until an accidental brush with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living by any means necessary.