Six Feet Under... What do you think?

[+ Axiom2001]

For three seasons I've watched with a sense of wonderment the series Six Feet Under and have found the program to be overwhelmingly thought-provoking and dazzling. There is outstanding direction, production, and characterization, but presently I am perplexed when it comes to the character of the mother. She seems to be love-starved in a sense; her relationship with the intern mortician and her latest fling with the older man have left me completely baffled! Last Sunday the only thing that I could do is lol and begin to think: she's unbelievable.

Who, in this real world of ours, would go for the men to whom she has been driven? What do you guys think who are avid viewers of this program?

[Will]

Like you, I have been a big fan of SIX FEET UNDER since the first episode. I could hardly wait for the third season to begin, but I have been so disappointed that I forget to watch. (By contrast, last season I taped every episode so that I wouldn't run the risk of missing a minute.)

 

I think you're right about the mother, although I also think she's probably the strongest actor in the cast. But I also think that your dilemma with her is characteristic of what I perceive to be the problem with the whole show. That is, none of the members of the Fisher family ever seems to learn a damn thing from the messes they get themselves into. That may be because none of them will take the tiniest smidgen of responsibility for his/her own misery.

 

For instance, I've never understood what Nate saw in either of the two awful women he's been involved with; and I am completely baffled by his current Angst concerning Lisa, whom he doesn't love. David, by the same token, is stuck with that angrily smoldering, boring former cop Keith, who never does anything but criticize David and feel morally superior to everybody in sight. Clare has got herself pregnant -- big woo -- and of course Brenda the Spoiled Slut is there to the rescue.

 

The only character I can watch now -- the Latino couple is just too boring and middle-class for me -- is Brenda's crazy brother. He is actually an INTERESTING PERSON. The best thing that could happen on that show would be for Billy to realize he's gay and fall in love with Nate. Nate, of course, would not reciprocate; but David would be there, as usual, being helpful. Then Billy would realize that David is the Man of his Dreams and they would both strip off and have X-rated sex right there on HBO. How's that for a scenario?

 

It would be a good idea if: (a) Mama would grow up; (b) Nate would grow up; © David would punch Keith's lights out and go fuck himself blind; and (d) Clare would stop pouting, looking bewildered, and waiting for everybody on the planet to take care of her.

 

I hope one of the writers of SIX FEET UNDER is gay and hires escorts and hangs around M4M. And I cannot believe that I, of all people, have just written this huge critique of a soap opera!!!

[chrismac]

I agree with just about everything that Will and Ax said about the series - and I'm hooked too. But I think David's behavior at Keith's parents' home two or three episodes ago was out of line. He really should have stayed out of it.

 

And, for once, Keith actually seems to be the calm, collected one - and seems surprised by David's erratic behavior. But Keith can be a real asshole, so I suppose he deserves to be left, even the catalyst wasn't his fault.

 

I think the whole family is totally messed up - but I guess that's the point of the show. It wouldn't be interesting otherwise. If they were a real-life family, I'd do all possible to stay as far away from all of them. Except perhaps for the mother (who's clearly crackers), the rest of the family members are real losers, in every sense I can think of. Especially Nate and Claire.

[Guest Kenny021]

As far as I'm concerned, THIS IS THE BEST SHOW ON TV and I can't wait to see each episode.

 

Everybody's comments are very legitimate and that is exactly why the show is so good. " It would be a good idea if: (a) Mama would grow up; (b) Nate would grow up; © David would punch Keith's lights out and go fuck himself blind; and (d) Clare would stop pouting, looking bewildered, and waiting for everybody on the planet to take care of her"....

Well, if that were the case, there would be no reason for the show. Each character depicts REAL LIFE people....everyone has problems similar in one way or another to the above characters and basically, we don't change dramatically. We may react in different ways to events which occur in our lives and that is exactly what the Fishers do. I feel all of the actors are exactly on target in depicting the characters. I won't start analizing each one but, in my opinion, each has evolved considerably from where they started. Just one example is David, who was an uptight closeted male who now is quite open in his gay life, member of the gay chorus and much more "in tune" with who and what he is. The other characters are going thru similar experiences....the mother who is quite a free spirit obviously was just the opposite while married. Now, she feels compeled to experience what she didn't because she was married.

 

Of course, sometimes I wonder why they bring in such stupid characters as the "funeral intern" or the "art teacher". On the other hand they also have very interesting characters like Brenda's mother and the "Kathy Bates" character earlier this season who now has disappeared. But in spite of those flaws, the show, in my opinion is just wonderful.

[tedbear]

.the mother who is quite a free

>spirit obviously was just the opposite while married. Now,

>she feels compeled to experience what she didn't because she

>was married.

 

I didn't get to watch the first season (didn't subscribe to premium channels back then), but I thought I'd read that the kids found out that Mom was having an affair back before Dad died.

 

I do like the show quite a bit. I am somewhat disappointed in the current season, but I still watch every week.

[eastbayguy]

Hi,

 

>I agree with just about everything that Will and Ax said

>about the series - and I'm hooked too. But I think David's

>behavior at Keith's parents' home two or three episodes ago

>was out of line. He really should have stayed out of it.

 

This is television. If people did what they were supposed to do, we'd be watching an awful lot of commercials. David's outburst, and Keith's reaction were probably necessary to persuade David that he really is in the wrong relationship.

 

A very interesting program, and a very interesting crop of characters. I agree with you that were I to encounter this band of merry neer-do-wells in real life, I'd avoid most of them entirely. My biggest problem with the show, and a topic that intensely fascinates me, is that I watch the show yet I don't find a single character in the show likeable. Meanwhile, I remain totally addicted and dare not miss a single moment.

 

--EBG

[Guest Bitchboy]

This is about the only TV show I do watch. Of course, it's true the characters are unnerving and need to grow up. But they don't learn from their mistakes just like many of us don't learn from ours. Often people seem "doomed" to recreate their errors, and the Fishers are certainly no exception. Yes, the mother slept around before she was widow. In season one she practically had a breakdown admitting that to her children. Nate drives me crazy with that pain-in-the-ass "wife" - I doubt the kid is even his. David should smack the shit out of Keith and I love that he slept around last episode. I ADORE Claire. She is so vulnerable and out of the loop. I want to hold her and tell her everything will be all right. I thought the conversation she had with her mother about men (a couple of episodes ago) was priceless. It they were my family, I'd move away quickly, but, thank God, they're just on TV and I can enjoy them in the confines of my own home. Then when the program is over, I can feel so "normal." :o LONG LIVE THE FISHERS!!!

[foxy]

I don't subscribe to HBO so rented the first season which is now on DVD. I watched it for two nights straight and loved it. It's fun to watch a show like this and really get into it. Can't wait to see the second season when it's out and do the same thing. I thought it was terrific. Sorry to hear the 3rd season is a disappointment but appreciate that someone is trying to write a show that's more inventive than all the usual crap that's on tv.

[Guest LAbuyer]

I"m another that is totally addicted to Six Feet Under. I don't think the 3rd season has been a disapointment. I continue to be completely into it and think the acting is the best. I will admit that it seemed they couldn't find a storyline for the mother at first, but they could have her do anything and she makes it interesting. I think the dissapearance of Nate's wife is great. Not often that they leave you hanging like this, and I think the character of Nate has been incredibly acted during it. I'm a huge fan!!!!

[Guest HDTV267]

My interest in the show had me from the promos. I remember seeing the ads on the trains and such with the gloved hand applying lipstick to a corpse and the tag line " this is what you're life leads to" Watched the show and fell in love with it. The 2nd season though was well just wierd. My feeling is that they believed thier own hype and tried to be " too cool".

 

However, the 3rd season has just been awesome. Im really happy to see the way that David's character has progressed and finally told keith off. I like the intern. He's added a much needed bit of wackiness to the show. One big disappointment though has been the absence of the father character. His logic was always welcome.

 

June 1st will be an interesting show and one to savor. I was on the board for this show at HBO's site and rumour has it that they won't be back until June of 2004 with season 4.

 

ACK!

[Guest bighugbearphx]

I became aware of the show at the end of season 1, from one of those days where HBO played all of the episodes over the course of one day, which I taped. I was scratching my head with bewilderment for the first couple I watched, but was "hooked" by the third episode, and watched every episode since.

 

I believe the attraction to the show isn't that different from why people look at car crashes. You KNOW that someone will die within the first five minutes of each episode. Beyond that, the Fishers are THE posterchildren for dysfunctional families everywhere, so there is no wonder that they each have the failings that have been pointed out here. And it isn't difficult to believe they are that messed up, as dysfunction breeds dysfunction in real life. They just carry it as far as possible, while believing they are as normal as everyone else.

 

The earlier episodes made it clear that Ruth married her boyhood sweetheart, who later became emotionally distant and had his secrets (such as the room he rented in the back of that restaurant, where he'd smoke pot, listen to classic rock and - it was hinted - may have had female companionship at times.) Ruth did have an affair, but broke it off when her husband died, obviously feeling guilty about it. It took her some time to get over that and realize that she has her entire life ahead of her, and she is obviously making up for lost chances before her marriage. I agree that the character probably needs counseling.

 

Claire is also my favorite character, and had one of the best lines out of the three seasons. When she was caught after putting a severed foot (stolen from the embalming room in the basement of their home) in her boyfriend's locker (to get back at him for telling others that she had sucked his toes, at his request), and she was told "It's not normal to steal a foot and put it in someone's locker", she replied "It's not NORMAL to live in a house where it is even POSSIBLE to find a severed foot!" Tells a lot about why they may be the way they are.

 

I'll admit Season 3 isn't as enjoyable to me as the first two, and I'm real sick of the "Lisa is missing" storyline. I am curious what the finale' will resolve.

[Guest Dan]

Just curious: how many of you would even have sampled Six Feet Under if there weren't gay characters in the show?

 

Personally, I'm a Sopranos man and I think that this last season was the best so far and a great improvement over the previous one.

 

Dan Dare

http://male4malescorts.com/reviews/dandarela.html

[OneFinger]

Prior to watching the first show I had no idea there were gay characters. I would watch it even without the gay themes.

 

However, I have seen a degradation in the quality of the writing and the scripting. I haven't found it as interesting as the first season. But it's still a show I don't miss (without regard to whether there is a gay character).

[VaHawk]

Well, just how would we have known that there were gay characters in Six Feet Under, before "sampling it"?

 

I like the show, and would watch it, regardless of whether there were gay characters or not. Are you trying to say that gay men only watch/like tv shows/movies/plays that have gay characters???

 

Besides, I have found that most, if not all, the gay characters, scenes and situations on Six Feet Under, play out to all the stereotypes! Let's ponder: big, butch Black Cop with a wimpy white boy bottom lover; gays cheating on their lovers for a quickie; gays who can't deal with being gay without the benefit of drugs; gays hiding who they are from their families; gays picking up the "hitchiker" in a moment of lust and being gay bashed. Did I leave any stereotype out?

 

Not to mention the stereotypes of lesbians via Claire's friend at school and Brenda's escort friend, or the stereotypes of the confused bisexuals via Brenda's brother, the art professor, and others.

 

I also like the Sopranos, but this past season, at least imho, totally sucked! Too much damn artsy fartsy psychobabble!

[jackhammer91406]

Dan,

I sampled Six Feet without knowing of the characters, and I make it a point to never miss an episode. I am saddened that the upcoming shortened season will be the last.