My New Favorite Show Stars a ‘White Lotus’ Cast Member & Has a 92 Percent on Rotten Tomatoes

At the start, my interest was purely surface level: For one thing, the series stars Natasha Rothwell (i.e. Belinda, a character I adore from White Lotus, who has one of season three’s best story arcs). Additionally, it’s set at an airport (JFK to be exact). Maybe it’s a continual after-effect from watching The Office, but I love any show that’s workplace-set. Finally, it’s a comedy, but one that skews a bit modern rom-com. Let’s just say my spouse was out and I was left interested enough to stream the pilot.

But reader, the plot! How to Die Alone follows Mel (played by Rothwell, who not only stars in the series, she created it), an airport worker that spends her days shuttling passengers around JFK to destinations that, alas, she has never ever been to. (In fact, that’s the kicker: “I work at an airport, but I’m afraid to fly,” Mel laments in episode one.) But when her birthday approaches and she finds herself without plans, a near-death experience with crab rangoon causes her to re-examine her life choices—especially after realizing she has no one to call to come to the hospital and pick her up, womp. Maybe she will throw caution to the wind and hop that flight to Hawaii to watch her ex-boyfriend get married to the woman he dated for practically zero time at all. (As you can see, it’s complicated.)

Still, this is where the series shines and also spotlights the talents of Rothwell, who is downright endearing in this role. Let’s just say her decisions in many (many) cases are questionable, but not so questionable that you’re yelling at the TV. On the contrary, Mel is quite relatable and someone you definitely want to root for as she navigates relationship bumps of all kinds (not just romantic, but with friendships and family, too).

Ultimately, that’s what makes How to Die Alone such an enjoyable watch. Yes, Mel lacks main character energy (exactly what she’s working on!) and has her flaws, but she’s pretty damn special as a human being. (The interactions with her colleagues result in some of the best scenes.) And while the plot could seem a hair familiar, each new episode—there are eight in total—is full of surprises. Like when Mel finds herself courting a new self in episode seven and a karaoke bar performance gives way to a suspension of reality and musical stroll through a winterized NYC. (BTW, Rothwell can sing, in case you didn’t know.) Not only is it inventive, it’s fun.