I Binged This Entire Show in a Week & I'm Still Not Over It Getting Canceled

Based on Alexandra Potter's Confessions of a 40-something F**k Up, the sitcom revolves around Penelope "Nell" Serrano (Rodriguez), a woman whose life takes an unexpected turn after she splits up with her ex-fiancé. Thanks to her best friend, Sam (Hannah Simone), she lands a gig writing obituaries at her local paper, SoCal Independent. But there's a twist: She can see (and communicate with) the ghosts of dead people she has to write about.

These range from famous TV personalities and teachers to her high school nemesis—and they don't hesitate to pitch in for her assignments or offer personal advice. But Nell opts to keep this giant secret to herself, which makes her job and everyday life all the more challenging.

I should note that I'm immediately drawn to feel-good comedies that smartly tackle serious topics with humor. (Think: Abbott Elementary, The Good Place and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.) I personally find them even more compelling if they're not heavy on the swearing and sexual innuendos, and I can tell you that Not Dead Yet checks all these boxes. Rodriguez is so compelling as Nell, whose bizarre circumstances remind me a bit of Jane Villanueva—Rodriguez's charming Jane the Virgin protagonist who deals with unique challenges while trying to establish a writing career. I especially love the laugh-out-loud scenes (like when one ghost, a deceased mom of 16 kids, warns Nell to "save your vagina!"), and there's never a dull moment between Nell and her BFF, thanks to the genuine chemistry between Rodriguez and Simone.

What I enjoy most, though, is how the series tackles loss and grief. Yes, there are emotional moments, but it never feels too morbid. It explores death and the possibility of an afterlife in such a thoughtful way, while also maintaining a hopeful and lighthearted tone.

For example, Nell's first ghost, Monty, cleverly connects her with his widowed wife, who offers plenty of insight into the kind of man Monty was and the impact he had. And in another episode, Nell peacefully parts ways with an old rival after highlighting her biggest strengths in her obituary. As someone who has dealt with the loss of loved one, I can honestly say that watching these episodes has helped ease the burden of grief. And it turns out I'm not the only one.

Lauren Ash, who plays Nell's boss, Lexi, told Forbes, “Personally, I lost someone very close to me a couple of years ago, and it really changed how I looked at death, and I think we don’t talk about death as a part of life, which it absolutely is. I think what [this show] really does that’s unique is that we see these ghosts get one more chance to make [something] right or impart knowledge and there’s a real beauty to how we’re approaching that.”

Even Garrett, who plays Lexi's dad, Duncan, said, “We all struggle with grief. And I think [this show] almost gives grief hope and that it’s okay. I think [we offer] some closure with that.”

Sadly, ABC confirmed in May that Not Dead Yet isn't returning for another season. Per Deadline, it was ABC’s most-watched comedy debut in four years, but since the ratings dropped in season two, the network nixed the show.

Still, Rodriguez has hinted at what would've been explored in season three, after Duncan vaguely recalls communicating with Nell when he almost passed. She told TV Insider, “[Their interactions indicate Nell's abilities are] less a breakdown and more something that she intuitively has,” since she was “able to touch Duncan when he was essentially not breathing.”

Rodriguez added, “That was an evolution of her being able to talk to those that are passed on. He wasn’t quite passed on, but he was in this in-between place. And if she can meet people at the in-between place, what else can be done? What other kind of intervention can she do?”

I'm almost certain that countless theories will occupy my mind for weeks on end...