How To Die Alone - General Discussion

[Door County Cherry]

Quote

Melissa is a neurotic fat black woman who has never been in love, but after a brush with death she refuses to settle for anything less than the life she wants, leading her to become "that bitch" no matter what.

Coming to Hulu

[AnimeMania]

How to Die Alone is an eight, half-hour, comedy TV Series streaming the first 4 episodes on September 13, 2024 on Hulu. Mel is a broke, fat, Black  neurotic 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 and become “100% That Bitch”.

Natasha Rothwell as Melissa "Mel" Jackson

Conrad Ricamora as Rory, a self-involved, boy-crazy, love-starved Rory is Mel’s well-meaning best friend. Rory loves to have a good time at all costs and is blind to his privileges — having been adopted by an über wealthy Upper East Side family. His father, the CEO of JFK, is embarrassed by Rory and his winding path in life. When his JFK crush, a bicoastal bae named Ben, shows interest in him, Rory finds himself experimenting with monogamy for the first time... and holding on for dear life.

Jocko Sims as Alex, Melissa’s current boss and former fling. For Mel, Alex is the one that got away. For Alex, Melissa is the one who unceremoniously sent him packing. Engaged to be married but still working closely with Mel, Alex can’t help but audit what went wrong in their workplace situationship as he gets closer to walking down the aisle with his fiancée Julie. 

KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Terrance, an Air Force veteran and one of Melissa’s closest friends on the tarmac at JFK. Terrance has a thirst for adventure that inspires Melissa. Their chemistry and his sense of humor keep Mel cracking up and hanging out with him on her smoke breaks. Mel is the brightest spot in his day, and he genuinely wants to help chase her dreams, but when he tries to hold her accountable, it sends her running in the opposite direction.

Bashir Salahuddin as Brian, Melissa’s holier-than-thou, know-it-all, CPA older brother. Unhappily married with two kids, he resents Melissa for her aimlessness and his mother for depending on him as “man of the house” but still finds himself helping them out, against his better judgment. It’s no wonder he needs a drink or two to help him unwind every night. 

[AnimeMania]

Elle Lorraine as Kaya

Michelle McLeod as Patti

Ellen Cleghorne as Beverly

Chris "CP" Powell as DeShawn

Arkie Kandola as Shaun

Jaylee Hamidi as Allie

Melissa DuPrey as Tamika

Michael Hartney as Josh

Glenn Fleary as Ben

Jackie Richardson as Elise

[Snazzy Daisy]

How to Die Alone Review: Hulu Comedy Struggles to Come to Life

Quote

But it often feels like Rothwell’s co-stars exist in a different show from her.

The larger problem, however, is that Mel doesn’t seem capable of pulling herself out of the funk she’s mired in. She’s also reluctant to take responsibility for making her life better, which, in turn, makes her tough to root for.