Six Feet Under
Photo by mdumlao98.
I was going to just throw up a video of the ending of Six Feet Under, but even the poster frame image is a gigantic spoiler, so I’ll resort to linking to it, for those of you that have already run the gamut through this fantastic TV series.
Typically, when I go back to watch an old series, I do so continuously and get through it in a month or two at most. It’s a funny thing with Six Feet Under; I’ve never had any TV series hit me so deeply, with so much ferocity. So much so, that I started watching the series probably close to two years ago, and only finally got through the last (fifth) season today. There were periods where I gave it up for months at a time, but always came back to it.
I’m not alone in that, either. Just about everyone that I speak to about the show either gave up on watching it, or is slowly making their way through it still. You have to take it in small doses, because it has this exceptionally real feeling to it, like no other show I’ve experienced on television.
What I took away from the show is, excuse the expletives, life is too fucking short. Be who you want to be, do what you want to do, be with who you want to be with and go where you want to go. More than anything, don’t be afraid to do any of these things or give a shit about what people think of you for doing so. Many other shows try to express this, and ultimately fail miserably, where Six Feet Under smacks you right in the face with it, repeatedly and unrelentingly. It often does it so fiercely that you start to examine your own life as well, for better or for worse.
It’s difficult to describe the quirkiness of the show for those who haven’t seen it. It’s dysfunctional, there’s no doubt about that, and perusing the IMDB comments about the series reveals a lot about it, “to watch these characters struggle through some of their problems (which usually make mine look like a day at the beach) and let us come along with them to learn about their weaknesses and fallibilities and humanness is a lot like therapy for me” writes one. “For a show that’s basically about death, this is full of life,” writes another.
After hearing so much about the series finale, I thought surely it was going to be a disappointment in the face of all the hype. The truth is that it hit me like a ton of bricks to see it come to an end. All of the characters have their moments where they completely come apart, shockingly so (for television) at some points, and this makes the experience all the more visceral for the viewer. Supposedly, exec producer Alan Ball was inspired to write the series after losing his sister, and it shows throughout the series. It’s about mourning, loss, and moving past those things to discover what we’re really capable of. What we desire in life, and how we’re blessed to be able to pursue those things.
It’s sad to see the show go, even though it was off the air well over two years ago, probably around the time I first started watching it. That being said, I’m delighted to see the stellar cast go onto other projects, most recently having caught performances by Peter Krause (Nate) in The Lost Room, Michael C. Hall (David) in Dexter (second season starting soon!).
I’m in the midst of rediscovering old and great shows, slowly but surely, so if there’s anything you’ve seen that you’d recommend, leave a note in the comments.
Comments
[...] can’t just use a song like Sia’s Breathe Me, one which played along one of the most emotional moments in TV history a mere 20 minutes into your series where the audience feels little to no connection to your main [...]
I watched the whole show all at once this fall during the hours where I couldn’t sleep. I was in the process of losing two loved ones..they both passed away this fall and that show was both therapy and torture which was perfect for me. I’m one of those people who like to submerge myself into my emotions. That was by far the best tv show I’ve ever seen and I just loved the cast. Also, the music…sometimes a good score can take a show from being good to being spectacular. Six Feet Under did an awesome job with that. “Breathe Me” by Sia has kinda become my theme song for this horrible year that turned out to be my finest and I listen to it all the time….it’s even my profile song on Myspace.
P.s. I checked out your music and you have incredible taste. I’m impressed.
Thanks for the comments Jennifer.
It’s definitely a show that preys on your sense of attachment to things, as well as your view on life as a whole. In that way, I suppose, it’s pretty disarming.
I sometimes go back and watch those “last 10 minutes” clips of the show on YouTube just for kicks, and it still hits me just as hard as it did the first time.
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Adam lives in Toronto, Canada and likes to make cool stuff. He sometimes even gets paid to make things for the Web.
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I watched the seasons continuously for two months straight and am still affected by it today. I dated a funeral director and I found that the show was so accurate. From watching it I was able to have conversations with professionals about what happens behind the scenes in a funeral home. Although I find that this series, much like Family Plots or Family Business numbs the reality of death and takes the seriousness out of situation. However, I like how they make death into something humorous and not something to be feared. After watching the series I am not afraid to die or even visit a funeral home.
I loved the show but was disappointed with how they ended it. Nate was the protagonist through al the seasons and at the last moment he was reflected as the antagonist. I found this sudden change in character to be unjust. I don’t remember Nate as a loving father, brother and son but rather as a indecisive cheater.