In the much awaited return to television, Gina Rodriguez plays the lead role of 37-year-old Nell Serrano, a woman whose life is by definition a catastrophe, in ABC’s Not Dead Yet. She breaks up with her fiancé in London after five years of dating, returning to California to resume her successful journalism career.
The issue arises when she realizes that, in order to become an obituary writer, she must start from scratch. Fortunately, she has Sam (Hannah Simone from New Girl) and Dennis (Josh Banday) as lively pals at the newspaper. She also has some new objects in her orbit that are causing some resistance.
Her new boss Lexi (Lauren Ash of Superstore) is the office snob who frequently puts Nell down, and her new roommate Edward (Rick Glassman) is picky and brutally honest. Regretfully, they are a package deal because she is also Sam’s close friend.
When Not Dead Yet made its debut in February 2023, it was met with some mixed reviews. Critics didn’t seem to be very impressed with it, with many believing that it lacked the emotional resonance and comedic skill to establish itself as a reliable addition to the weeknight schedule. But as the season went on, the show started to find its own unique voice.
The eccentric ensemble cast’s members all demonstrated themselves to be essential members of their respective groups, and their eccentricities were gradually revealed to soften their exaggerated personas.
Not Dead Yet has demonstrated in its 13-episode first season that it can hold viewers’ attention, and with a second season renewal, there will be even more exciting storylines to follow. However, what occurs in the Season 1 climax? Let’s review.
Ending Explained
Nell’s world has completely changed, but her sudden ability to communicate with the dead is the largest adjustment she has had to make. She’s been able to see and converse with the subjects of her obits ever since Dennis gave her the first assignment. Nell gives them each one episode, which is the amount of time it takes her to finish her write-ups. They are by her side all the time until she presses submit.
She quickly adjusts to her new friends, learning to confide in them and use them as a sounding board for her own issues. However, they also put her in the difficult situation of needing to keep her gift a secret from those who matter most to her.
Nell meets Monty (Martin Mull) for the first time, and it is through him that she is unintentionally introduced to his widowed wife, Cricket (Angela Gibbs). As Nell and Cricket forge their own special bond, Nell is frequently troubled by her guilt at being associated with someone who Cricket adores and misses so much.
The main advantage of Not Dead Yet is its emphasis on a selected family. Nell has made great progress in her efforts to start over by being open and honest with her friends about the pain that lies beneath her careless or occasionally downright rude behavior.
She learns from those around her that she is not an island and that not everyone will leave her just because one significant relationship didn’t work out.
In the two-part finale, Nell’s ex-fiancee Phillip (Ed Weeks), who has returned to town unexpectedly and wants to make apologies, is finally introduced to the audience as the person who initially set off her train wreck.
It is at this point that we discover Nell was not totally blameless in their messy breakup. This character consistently demonstrates her avoidance of uncomfortable emotions at all costs. She discovers, however, that she can no longer truly get away with that behavior because ghosts are watching her every move.
She always has a literal angel on her shoulder holding her accountable, for better or worse. She has the confidence to reciprocate Phillip’s candor after receiving guidance from the spectral guest Rhea Perlman, and this leads to a rekindling of their relationship.
After a few weeks, Nell and Phillip have all but formally reconciled, and she has undergone a noticeable transformation, appearing more composed. Nell’s current spiritual friend, a former professional organizer, may also be to blame for this.
She constantly exhorts Nell to sort through her chaos and design her dream space. Although it appears that Phillip is assisting her in doing so, Nell sacrifices essential aspects of herself in his company in addition to her messy appearance.
