Television Series Review: Six Feet Under

“Six Feet Under” is the best television series I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched a number of major television series over the years and none touch the quality of this series. It still amazes me how real, how funny, how true the writing and acting is for this series.

“Six Feet Under” is the story of a dysfunctional family that runs a funeral home in L.A. How do you make death funny? How do you make it bearable? The writers have succeeded in this fashion and beyond. Having dealt with a number of my immediate family passing away by the time I was thirty I understand this topic well. I can tell you the words scripted for the actors talking about death and the way people experience it in this series is very true to my own experience. Late in the series there is a line that says “people die and everything continues”…and that is how it is, the world goes on around you while you grieve. This series gives viewers the chance to take a peek at death without fear and learn about living in the process.

The final episode of the series is simply amazing with the last few minutes of “Six Feet Under” breathtaking, the perfect ending for this series.

The entire show, from secondary to major roles are a group of outstanding actors and perfectly cast. The writing is searing, funny and so real. The four main actors playing the family of Ruth Fisher (Frances Conroy) and her sons Nate (Peter Krause), David (Michael C. Hall) and daughter Claire (Lauren Ambrose) are exceptional in their performances. Other standouts in major roles are Brenda (Rachel Griffiths ), Rico (Freddy Rodríguez), Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) and Billy (Jeremy Sisto).

There are a number of very talented actors who guest star throughout the series, including Kathy Bates (who also directs a few episodes), Patricia Clarkson, James Cromwell, Lili Taylor, Ben Foster, Rainn Wilson and many more. The direction is taken over by a variety of different directors, all capable of maintaining the style of the show. There are various writers for the episodes throughout the series, including Alan Ball, the creator of the show.

Throughout the entire series the writing, direction and acting were of highest quality with one small exception. There were three episodes in season three that seemed slightly off mark in comparison with the rest of the episodes, which seemed to be more of a writing problem than anything else.

If you haven’t seen “Six Feet Under” it is must see television. The series shows death can be touching, inspirational, even funny…and entirely mesmerizing.

HBO 2001-2005. Created by Alan Ball. Starring Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Lauren Ambrose and Frances Conroy.

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