(Season 3, Episodes 8-11)
Season three of Six Feet Under is quickly (more quickly than I would like) drawing to an end. Oh boy, what an end it is shaping up to be. I don’t usually get shocked by TV shows, with the possible exception of Lost, but I can honestly say that I was shocked with the turn of events in this group of episodes.
I’ve been enjoying the bizarre, head-rubbing relationship between Arthur and Ruth. It looks like it may be over before it even began, but I’ve enjoyed it nonetheless. I’ve also appreciated the story line with Rico and his depressed wife. I usually fail to mention Rico in these diary entries, not because I don’t like the character, but because he usually takes a back seat to the Fishers. I thought it was nice to see him get a little bit more of a story in these episodes.
“Tears, Bones, and Desire”
Gay paintball was easily the funniest moment in Six Feet Under so far. It was a perfect moment, and really served to illustrate the differences between Keith and David. This show doesn’t have a whole lot of funny moments, so when a plot like this comes along I think it really shines. Of course it couldn’t be all fun and games; with Keith and David ending up in a three way with another paintballer, I foresee some problems for them.
Claire and Russel and Olivier. What can I say? Maybe I can steal from New Order for the only appropriate comment: bizarre love triangle. I love how this show is so high on the quirkiness yet somehow remains very real. I don’t think that is easy to pull off, and is a real testament to the makers of the show.
“The Opening”
It’s amazing how much a little communication can do. Take Nate and Lisa for example. Their relationship has been going down the tubes since the beginning of the season, but all it took was a frank discussion inside a big plastic pyramid to slightly redefine their relationship and bring them both some happiness and relief. It was nice to see them happy again, even if it was super awkward with Brenda sitting right there. I don’t think she will ever be out of their relationship. I did love the little confrontation between Lisa and Brenda in the bathroom, with Brenda calling out Lisa for being “stalkerish” when she scheduled a massage and didn’t tell Brenda that she was Nate’s wife.
I continue to worry about Keith and David. Keith seems a little too eager to bring more people into their bedroom when David is clearly not comfortable with it. I still wonder if these two are really meant for each other. At times they seem to really care about each other, but at other times they just seem like a terrible match. It is definitely a complex relationship.
“Everyone Leaves”
Well, this was a long time coming I guess, but I wasn’t really expecting Billy to make a move on his sister. Yowza. Poor Brenda. I do have to say that she has been a much more likable character this season after she has gotten help for herself. I hope she doesn’t return to her nutjob form that we saw in seasons one and two.
It seems that just about everything was coming to a head in this episode (as the title implied), as it included Russel’s confession that he and Olivier “fooled around” when Claire was gone. I’m glad that Claire isn’t putting up with any of that shit. I just wish that girl could find someone who is worth her time. I think she had it better than poor Ruth though, who loses patience with Arthur when he refuses to have sex. Keith and David also had a huge fight, catalyzed by a visit to Keith’s family. Frankly, David should have known better than to butt in to Keith’s family business.
“Death Works Overtime”
So here comes the shocker: are they really killing off Lisa? I figured that Brenda was going to get in the way of their relationship and eventually break the two up. I was not expecting Lisa to disappear off the face of the planet. I can only assume that she is dead at this point. Poor Nate has the shittiest luck in the world. Truly. The acting in this episode was really superb from top to bottom. Peter Krause continues to impress as Nate, but Ruth breaking down in the arms of a perfect stranger, and Claire’s reaction and behavior after discovering that she was pregnant was top notch.
I think the highlight of this episode for me though was the back and forth between Claire and Olivier in their final grading session. Claire was fiery and impassioned in tearing apart her previously inspiring professor. I loved that at the end she gave herself an A. “Unearned,” said Olivier. “Unimportant,” she replied. Brilliant.
It was also a really sweet moment when Claire and David showed up at the beach to be with Nate as he waited for news about Lisa after her car was discovered. She has to be dead, right? I just can’t imagine that she killed herself. The last time we saw her, she was looking plaintively into the ocean, but could she really leave her baby behind? What the heck could have happened?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jun 06, 2009 @ 15:14 EST5EDT
oh Lisa and Nate : it’s just heartbreaking.
When i saw this storyline for the first time i cried i cried i cried…even now when i heard about it i am sad.
The reactions are so moving and real.
Six feet under is a masterpiece.
I cried, too! Can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it in previous comments, but I watched Six Feet Under during a particularly difficult time when I lost a bunch of people all around the same time. After I got done watching the final episode of Six Feet Under, I immediately sold the entire DVD set on eBay for a ridiculously low price. It was like I just couldn’t take it any more and had to purge myself of their existence!
At the same time, I loved the series and sort of wish I’d just put the DVDs in the basement out of sight until I wanted to watch them again. I still haven’t reached that point, but might some day.
Will Lisa’s disappearance be solved? Well, I won’t spoil that for you, but will say that Alan Ball never takes the easy way out.
Keith and David are definitely one of the most complex relationships ever to appear on TV, but also one of the great love stories.