AMMAN: HBO’s drama “Six Feet Under” arrived in the summer of 2001 and ran for five seasons. The series follows the lives of the Fishers — a fairly regular family (with all the drama, love and fury that implies) except for the fact that they run a funeral home. Every episode begins with a death — sometimes weird and shockingly funny (for example, someone being crushed by frozen waste dumped from an aircraft), sometimes horrific, sometimes sad. Like death is.
In the first episode, the death is that of Nathanial, the Fisher patriarch. And for the rest of the show’s run, the Fisher’s are not only dealing with death in practical terms (the show unflinchingly shows the preparation of corpses for the funerals), but also dealing with their own sense of loss.
“Six Feet Under” arrived in the summer of 2001 and ran for five seasons. (Supplied)
Show creator Alan Ball made “Six Feet Under” about tackling mortality. He has spoken of losing his sister when he was a child and of growing up surrounded by death. For many viewers, “Six Feet Under” was a powerful aid in dealing with real-life grief. The realism of the dialogue, the characters’ sometimes wildly unpredictable reactions to trauma… it all struck a real chord with its audience.
Death is the heart of the show, but surrounding it are all manner of themes — big issues like addiction (of several kinds), adultery, the ‘purpose’ of life, but also everyday joys and sorrows. It is often hilarious, often surreal (Ball makes heavy use of fantasy scenes), often poignant, and often heartbreaking.
“Six Feet Under” is made by Alan Ball. (Supplied)
The ensemble of characters is, almost without exception, beautifully drawn. Matriarch Ruth is a smart blend of deference and defiance; older brother Nate a complex mix of duty-doer and frustrated rebel; younger brother David, neurotic and tightly wound; and little sister Claire a self-obsessed teen who evolves into a sensitive, artistic young woman. The core family members are complemented by a compelling cast of regulars too.
Beautifully shot throughout, with a stellar soundtrack, “Six Feet Under” is one of those rare shows where it’s worth watching every episode (even though some are far better than others). And, unlike so many ‘great’ series, they even nailed the finale.
