As I reflect upon this captivating narrative, I find myself deeply moved by Melissa’s journey. From the scared girl on the tarmac to the fearless woman traversing the country, her transformation is nothing short of remarkable. The story mirrors the human spirit’s resilience and its unyielding desire for change, growth, and self-discovery.
In the last two episodes of the initial season of “How to Die Alone“, Melissa takes a daring leap, and Natasha Rothwell demonstrates her versatility as an actress in unexpected ways. If “The White Lotus” hinted at Rothwell’s versatility across various genres, her performance in these episodes is like a full-course meal. We’ve already admired her brilliant comedic skills — Melissa’s rehearsal monologue in the van before facing off with Alex was exceptional — and her sharp writing, but she tugs at our heartstrings in “How to Die Alone” (wasn’t everyone moved when she first took flight?). She concludes the first season strongly, offering a promising foundation for a potential second.
In the aftermath of my decision to confess my heartfelt emotions to Alex before our upcoming wedding, episode seven unfolds with me hurrying to the airport to reach him prior to his flight to Maui. Alas, I arrived too late, commandeering one of the electric carts only to find his flight already boarding and preparing for departure. Disheartened, I retreat to a Thai restaurant where I once worked. Initially, returning to this familiar sanctuary seemed like a regressive move. Yet, as the evening progressed, the series subtly hinted that sometimes, transcending your previous self and embracing the discomfort this transformation brings is an integral aspect of personal growth. The Melissa who appears at the Thai restaurant on New Year’s Eve represents a significant evolution from my former self, but I must personally witness my progress to truly internalize it, implying that there are still some lessons to be learned along the path to self-discovery.
The initial dragon Melissa must conquer on her journey towards true renewal might be the most formidable: Alex (and crab rangoon). Although her brush with death served as the catalyst for her metamorphosis, Melissa’s long-suppressed feelings for a man she found it difficult to reveal herself to, despite harboring deep affection for him, have fueled her determination to overcome her fear of flying. When Melissa spots him picking up takeout, she hesitantly invites him to share her meal after a brief attempt to hide beneath the table. It seems as if fate is intervening: Alex explains he missed his flight because he left his bag behind, his order matches what Melissa taught him, and his words are filled with warmth. He notices her missing crab rangoon and encourages her to take another chance by tasting some of his. Every conversation they have carries the weight of potential double meanings, with the appetizer appearing to symbolize Alex. (“Anything that good deserves another chance” seems like an invitation if you ask me!)
After a long time, Melissa tastes a delicious dumpling, paving the way for her reunion with Alex. She later regrets her harsh words during their breakup and acknowledges they were unfair, given he had expressed his love for her. Alex reveals he intentionally missed his flight and shares some troubles in his relationship with Julie, such as her insistence on a seafoam green tie for their wedding and her cousins planning another bachelorette party. Melissa empathizes with him and proposes a night out. However, let’s discuss the questionable actions of Alex. I would be infuriated if my partner were spending time with an ex, gazing lovingly at them, on the eve of our wedding. Moreover, if it comes down to choosing between a seafoam tie and a turtleneck for a tropical destination wedding, as Alex mentioned was his dream, it’s evident that Alex is the source of Julie’s problems. It seems understandable why Julie needs two bachelorette parties to manage him.
As they step outdoors, Melissa manages to persuade a shopkeeper to let her explore their collection of ties, seeking a better choice than seafoam green (she informs him that the turtleneck was inappropriate). Playfully, she ties a regal purple tie around his neck, causing the shopkeeper to believe she’s the bride he’s about to marry. Their destination then becomes a karaoke bar where Melissa insists on demonstrating her extroverted side by performing publicly. Overwhelmed by excitement, she cuts in line, taking someone else’s performance spot and encouraging Alex to join her in singing “Leave the Door Open.” The show, in a whimsical touch, opens the door to a captivating romantic comedy setting where time seems to stand still as they frolic around New York City. With everyone else frozen in place, Melissa and Alex proceed to the park, enveloped by twinkling holiday lights still hanging from the trees.
At the park, Melissa mentions that there are no fireworks for New Year’s Eve yet, which was also my assumption regarding her relationship with Alex. Despite his gentle assistance in helping her cross the frozen pond for a better look at the fireworks and reminiscing about their shared moments like undoing her braids (which seems inappropriate given their upcoming marriage), Alex doesn’t reciprocate the romantic feelings when she initiates a kiss. This kiss enrages Alex, who subsequently storms off when Melissa declares that she still harbors feelings for him. As he attempts to hail a taxi, Melissa pleads with him not to go through with the marriage. However, when Alex asks her to express her love openly and directly, Melissa is unable, citing fear as the reason. Yet, it’s possible that her inability to confess her love isn’t solely due to fear of rejection. Instead, she might genuinely not love Alex. Rather, he represents the missed opportunities she failed to seize due to inaction. Now that she’s prepared for new beginnings — both literally and metaphorically — she has outgrown him; however, it takes another significant event for her to fully comprehend this.
The final episode begins with Melissa nervously preparing to embark on a plane to Maui, despite Alex turning her down. She reconciles with Rory, who wonders if Melissa really loves Alex, but she’s resolute about flying. Unfortunately, the flight is oversold, and the airline offers a passenger a $1000 voucher for a later trip. As the value of the voucher increases to $3000, Melissa sees it as a sign from the universe providing her an escape from the humiliation of attending a wedding she wishes she could be partaking in herself. The flight attendant asks if she wants to swap her first-class ticket (which was charged on Elise’s credit card) for multiple layovers and a coach seat, but when Melissa explains her predicament – wanting to avoid going to the wedding of a man she envisions herself marrying – the attendant is more than willing to accommodate. As a result, Melissa now has a travel itinerary with stops at four different destinations across the country, guaranteeing she won’t reach Maui for at least 48 hours.
With a collection of boarding passes in hand, Melissa is prepared to take off on no less than four flights – quite a change from the timid Melissa who once stood frozen on the runway, watching others live their lives with enthusiasm. As she walks towards her plane, she catches sight of her former self huddled outside, leaning against a luggage cart, recalling the opening scene. She finds herself seated in the middle between an elderly married couple, who make her feel at ease as they settle into their seats and the plane takes flight. Not long after, the aircraft encounters some turbulence, causing Melissa to panic. The concerned expression of a flight attendant only intensifies her fear. It’s later discovered that the plane struck a pair of birds, and the other attendant is simply known for having a “resting worried face” due to receiving budget Botox injections. This flight attendant then bestows Melissa with first-time flyer wings to pin on her shirt, commending her courage for making it through a challenging ordeal.
Following Melissa’s successful landing in Charlotte, conquering her greatest fear gives her the resolve to press on. Melissa contacts Terrance, revealing she won’t be attending the wedding since she chose to embark on her maiden flight instead of revisiting the past. Instead, she alters her ticket for Chicago, where she finds herself at a restaurant featuring Elise in an old photograph. There, she encounters the owner who was one of Elise’s former lovers, and they honor Elise’s spirited essence. Melissa confesses to stealing Elise’s money, but he forgives her upon receiving the vintage photo as collateral, vowing to forget about the deceit. Heeding his advice to live a life that would make Elise proud, she embarks on an unforgettable solo adventure, ultimately taking the plunge in frozen Lake Michigan during winter.
As Melissa returns to JFK, she unexpectedly encounters Angie, a colleague from O’Hare who operates airport carts, much like Melissa did a few months back. Angie, filled with ambition but fearful of applying for the management training program, mirrors Melissa’s past situation. Melissa, now wiser, shares her experiences with Angie. Just before taking off again, Melissa receives an email from a Swedish furniture company, confirming a $17,000 settlement due to her previous wardrobe incident. She informs Brian about the settlement, jokingly suggesting he’ll have one less dependent, alluding to his past romantic indiscretions. Brian shares this message with his wife in their presence.
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2024-09-28 06:54