• Network: HULU
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 13, 2024
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14

Critic Reviews

  1. Reviewed by: Aramide Tinubu
    Sep 13, 2024
    90
    [Natasha Rothwell's] first solo effort as a creator, is skillfully crafted, anchoring important themes and conversations in comedic musings. The humor in the show is almost shockingly authentic. Mel says ugly things to herself and others, but these jabs are woven impeccably into hilarious one-liners. .... The series is also beautifully relatable and introspective.
  2. Reviewed by: Richard Roeper
    Sep 11, 2024
    88
    The supporting ensemble in “How to Die Alone” is terrific, including KeiLyn Durrel Jones as an Air Force veteran who works as a supervisor on the tarmac and is one of Mel’s closest friends, but this is Natasha Rothwell’s showcase, and she is nothing short of magnificent.
  3. Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Sep 13, 2024
    80
    Shows like How To Die Alone completely depend on the charm of the star and the cast. And Natasha Rothwell is definitely charming. But she has also built a cast around her that we want to see more of.
  4. Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Sep 13, 2024
    80
    Cliffhanger endings are a defining trait of streaming series, so this is not the worst sin, especially since the prevailing feeling of “How to Die Alone” is of wanting more.
  5. Reviewed by: Cristina Escobar
    Sep 13, 2024
    80
    All in all, watching “How to Die Alone ” is a pleasurable experience. Melissa is easy to root for, and the show’s light play with genre makes it feel unique.
  6. Reviewed by: Angie Han
    Sep 12, 2024
    80
    Clichés tend to become clichés because they ring true, and the best uses of them can make them feel fresh and comforting all at once. If the cliffhanger-y season finale is any indication, Mel’s still got plenty of growing to do. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to watch her keep doing it.
  7. Reviewed by: Joy Press
    Sep 12, 2024
    80
    With a title like How to Die Alone, you might be expecting either a self-helpish comedy crammed with #grateful #blessed platitudes or a harrowing existential drama. This new Hulu series from creator and star Natasha Rothwell actually blends both of these possibilities into an eccentric, uplifting dramedy with a real voice at its core.
  8. Reviewed by: Taylor Gates
    Sep 9, 2024
    80
    At its core, it’s about how loving yourself goes hand-in-hand with the power of community. It’s not a stretch to say How to Die Alone is one of the most joyful, honest, and hopeful shows of the year. It’s also the type of heartwarming series we could use more of now and always. May it go on for many more seasons.
  9. Reviewed by: Saloni Gajjar
    Sep 9, 2024
    75
    How To Die Alone is clearly at its best when it’s about Mel’s quest to be free of her fears so she can finally feel alive. And luckily, Rothwell injects her performance with enough pathos, making any infrequent turbulence worth it.
  10. Reviewed by: Hannah Giorgis
    Sep 24, 2024
    70
    Thankfully, How to Die Alone doesn’t present a management-training program as her ticket to happiness, or even to self-actualization. Instead, the series spends considerable time exploring the unexpected sources of support around Mel, and nudging her to invest in the people who have always seen more in her.
  11. Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Sep 12, 2024
    70
    The show, which has something of the air of an extended indie film, is a spectrum of styles, from slapstick to straight drama, with person-on-the-street interviews introducing each episode. It can be sentimental to the point of corn, though it is smart enough to undercut the corn with a subsequent dose of chaos.
  12. Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Sep 12, 2024
    67
    Mel is a great friend. She’s smart, funny and has a great personality but her insecurities lead to bad choices that make “How to Die Alone” less fun and enjoyable than it could be.
  13. Reviewed by: Nina Metz
    Sep 12, 2024
    63
    [Airports are] a rich setting for a workplace comedy. If travelers are often at their worst, what is that like for employees? “How to Die Alone” doesn’t fully take advantage of those opportunities, but that may not be where Rothwell’s interests really lie. Fair enough.
  14. Reviewed by: Diedre Johnson
    Sep 9, 2024
    58
    Hulu’s How to Die Alone is a dark comedy that is perhaps a little too dark.