(Season 1, Episodes 1-3)
That’s right, I’m back! After venturing through the mean streets of The Wire, I’m ready to tackle my next show: Six Feet Under. I had heard lots of good things about it, and I was curious. American Beauty is one of my favorite movies, so I was interested to see what Alan Ball (the writer of the movie) would do heading up a TV show.
I’m only three episodes into the show, but I’m enjoying it. It really does have a lot of the same feeling as American Beauty. I love the bizarre fantasy/dream sequences, the screwed up characters, and the family drama. At this point I’m a little concerned that the characters are all so flawed that it might get a little daunting. We’ll find out….
“Pilot”
I thought this episode was a very dramatic way to open the series, however it also seemed very fitting for a show that will, presumably, be dealing with death on a weekly basis. I really enjoyed the way that Mr. Fisher was haunting the rest of his family, bringing out their guilt and insecurity. It’s amazing what facing your own mortality can do to you. Case in point: Ruth admitting to having an affair with a hair dresser while Nathaniel was still alive.
I was reminded, just a bit, of the opening episodes of Twin Peaks, when the mourning of the Palmer family and Laura’s friends seemed to overtake the entire town. Grief makes for interesting, if not difficult to watch, television.
“The Will”
Man, it’s almost hard to believe that a big company like Kroehner Service International would be putting the hard press on a little outfit like Fisher and Sons so soon after the death of Nathaniel. I mean, the creepy rep for the company showed up at his funeral? Seriously? I suppose if you prey on people’s grief for a living as Kroehner obviously does, then how would this be any different?
Brenda seems like trouble. I’m concerned about her character already. I’m wondering if she’s married. If not, what is her relationship with Jeremy Sisto’s character? I’ve only seen a brief appearance by him at this point, but I’m curious. Plus, she has the name “Nate” tattooed on her butt. Is she crazy enough to do this after just meeting Nate Fisher, or is it some other Nate? Time will tell….
“The Foot”
I love how the show opens each episode: a brief death scene of the main cadaver of each episode. I hope that’s something that stays consistent through the life of the show. There has also been a lot of dark humor in the deaths so far which I’m enjoying too. I’m curious to see if that will keep up, or if we will see some boring old people just passing away in their sleep.
Poor Claire. You have to feel bad for her in this episode when her boyfriend (?) manages to spread the word that she pleasured his foot during their sexplay. That’s just low, and to top it off, she clearly wasn’t that into it as he had to beg her to do it. I’m not sure what role Claire is going to be playing in the series as it moves along, as she seems to be outside the main drama of the funeral home. It will be interesting to see how that develops. I do enjoy how they are mixing up heavy drama and dark humor though.
With the house that Kroehner built across the street burning down in this episode, I have to believe that Brenda was behind it. This does not bode well for her mental stability. I am definitely going to be keeping an eye on her.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Apr 25, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
I am just returning to the series myself after nearly watching it straight through 3 years ago. Have been watching it with a few friends who are also Six Feet Under virgins. I, too, thoroughly enjoyed the dark humour involved throughout the series. It will be fun to hear your musings on each episode as you work your way towards the excellent series finale.
I notice you didn’t mention David once in your thoughts of the first three episodes. I find him to be one of the more interesting and intriguing characters as the show progresses. When I first watched the show, I chalked him up early as another token gay character but Alan’s use of the speaking corpses and hauntings from Nathaniel Sr. give fresh insight into his struggles to come out of the closet. Plus, he is just so pathetic and whiny sometimes, you can’t help but love him and hate him.
From the first episode I was helplessly, hopelessly hooked.
“My father’s dead, my mom’s a whore, my brother wants to kill me, and my sister’s smoking crack. I think I win.”
Peter Krause became my hero.
Degon – I’ve been waiting all week for this to post, so I could comment. “Six Feet Under” is absolutely one of my favorite TV shows of all time, even though I wept my way through most of the series.
I think you really nailed it when you said “Grief makes for interesting, if not difficult to watch, television.” I don’t normally go for really emotional TV, since as humans, we get enough of that in our real-life worlds. But by the time I was a few episodes into “Six Feet Under,” I was irrevocably hooked. And as the series evolved and got more and more emotional, it was like a train-wreck from which I couldn’t look away or a drug I couldn’t stop taking.
Alan Ball is a master at creating beautifully flawed characters, and he never ever takes the easy way out. It’s a show about death, after all, and he stares it down like a cheetah eyeing its prey.
I look forward to reading your thoughts as the series progresses, and can’t wait for Ball’s “True Blood,” returning with Season 2 on June 14.
I watched the whole series in about 3-4 weeks earlier this year. It’s one crazy ass ride with twists that you will never see coming. Plus it also has the best ending in TV history!
Six Feet Under is a fabulous series and one that will make an impact on you and keep making an impact long after you’ve finished watching.