Hulu’s comedy seriesHow to Die Alonehas been canceled after a one-season run.Starring Natasha Rothwell, the series followed Mel, a JFK International Airport employee unfamiliar with love, whose life changes after a near-death accident. From Disney’s Onyx Collective, the show has an impressive 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, won the Independent Spirit Award for ensemble cast in a new scripted series, and has been nominated for three NAACP Image Awards.
PerVariety,Onyx Collective has canceledHow to Die Aloneafter its first season, despite its high marks from critics and its accolades. Rothwell has released a statement to the outlet, saying she’s “shocked, heartbroken and frankly, baffled.” Sources close to the studio said that the reason for the cancelation was due to the series' viewership not being enough to warrant another season. Rothwell did indicate, however, that she is shoppingHow to Die Aloneto other platforms. Her full statement is below:
I am shocked, heartbroken and frankly, baffled that Onyx has decided not to move forward with a second season of “How to Die Alone.” This is a tough reality to accept because the show is an undeniable critical, creative and award-winning success.
This show took me eight years to bring to life, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in that time, it’s resilience. I’m not giving up. My team and I are committed to finding “How to Die Alone” a new home because stories like this matter.
Now more than ever, television that amplifies previously unheard voices, and that prioritizes hiring and casting decisions that accurately reflect the diversity of the world, is essential. Representation isn’t just about visibility — it’s about ensuring that our stories, our existence and our cultural contributions are not erased.
As Maya Angelou so wisely said, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you may know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
We are rising. And we are not done.
What This Means For How To Die Alone
Viewership Is The Lifeblood Of Television Shows
Onyx Collective first gaveHow to Die Alonea series order back in November 2022, well before its September 2024 premiere. Upon its debut, it received a hopeful critical reception and went on to win the Independent Spirit Award for its talented ensemble. However,good reviews and awards aren’t enough to ensure a series' renewal. Like how films with franchise aspirations need to do well at the box office to secure a sequel, television shows need to earn a sufficient viewership to make a second season possible.
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Hulu has a wealth of television shows and the top 30 series users should check out can be found here.
Hulu’sHow to Die Alone, unfortunately, did not measure up in terms of viewership. A look at the series' Rotten Tomatoes score from fans provides some insight. While it did score high with viewers — it has an 83% score from audiences — only 50+ ratings were submitted. For a quick comparison, another Hulu series from 2024,Only Murders in the Buildingseason 4, earned 500+ ratings. This juxtaposition possibly reflects the lack of awareness towardHow to Die Alone.Fans of the series, however, shouldn’t give up entirely, as Rothwell’s efforts to revive the series might succeed.
Our Take On How To Die Alone’s Cancelation
It Deserves A Revival
As both creator and star ofHow to Die Alone, Rothwell excels and shows thatthe series does in fact deserve a continuationof its satirical and profound exploration of life and death. The television industry’s heavy reliance on viewership and seeming disregard for shows with high potential, proven by solid critical reception and accolades, can be frustrating.
That aside,viewership does reflect and reveal just how many people are interested in an IPand provide an objective stat on how well a series is performing, so the reasoning behind such moves is understandable. That doesn’t, however, take away from the success Hulu’sHow to Die Alonesaw in its short run, so I do hope that Rothwell’s efforts to revive the series find success.
How To Die Alone
Cast
A down-on-her-luck JFK airport employee who’s never been in love and is struggling to find motivation gets a new lease on life and newfound determination after a near-death experience.
