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Saying goodbye is hard to do whether it's a broken relationship, a pet dying or something as seemingly trivial as one of your favorite television shows drawing its curtains for the final time. They all walk into your life and change you in a way that you never expected when you first invited them in. They help you grow as a person and see the world through a borrowed pair of eyes. Six Feet Under started out as the most peculiar television show in existence, feeding on the unconventional, and closed as the most cherished. The series finale was about family, which is something that was always so fundamental to these lives yet they struggled with so badly. There was always something keeping them from completely being there for one another and letting down their walls enough to show the love that was hidden in their hearts. This was also an evening of change and healing from wounds suffered so deep by Nate's sudden passing. It was a chance to make everyone whole again. |
We open with Brenda giving birth to Willa very prematurely. The new baby is immediately hooked up to breathing and feeding tubes as she grasps at life with uncertainty. Brenda becomes plagued by feelings of doom, prodded from the beyond by a finger pointing Nate, that something horrible is going to happen to their new child. Her rock is none other than Ruth Fisher. Every time Brenda threatens to bottom out with despair, Ruth takes the weight off her shoulders just long enough so she can take a breath. Unfortunately, Ruth's strength doesn't extend to herself as she becomes frayed at the seams by depression, unable to cope with giving Mya back to Brenda or losing Nate.
Claire gets a dream job at a photography agency in New York and struggles to face the next chapter in her life, which lights her on fire though staring at change cripples her all the same. Rico finds his own slice of change in the form of his own funeral home, which he can run with Vanessa and do all the things he's never been able to in the constricting partnership with the Fisher's. After briefly flirting with the idea of selling the business, David conquers his inner red jacketed demon (himself) to carry on the legacy Nathaniel left he and Nate. Keith agrees to help David to buy out Rico's share to return the business back to its rightful place as Fisher and Sons. It also allows David and Keith to finally have a house of their own — the Fisher house.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Capn Ken
The episode was decently done (the first half of the season wasn't), but I could have lived without the Claire-driving flash-forward montage.
a) It was obviously slapped together at the last minute. Every character looked 150 years old at their "death"
b) While I appreciate tying together the ultimate truth of death into each of the characters' lives, do we really gain anything knowing that Keith gets shot, Rico falls dead on a cruise ship and Claire and Ruth are the only ones to really get sick and die?
I'd have much preferred the series to end on Nate's line when Claire was taking the photo - "You can't capture this; it doesn't exist anymore" (or words to that effect).
2 - Mark Runyon
I agree with you that in most circumstances it's bad practice to play fast forward and consume a lifetime in 10 minutes. Its better to leave it up to the viewers imagination, but I depart from that usual rational for this one instance. The show revolved around life and death. To see how these characters played out their last days almost seemed an essential piece of to closing this story. Plus that last song alone added an aura around this that just made that piece work more than it probably should have.
3 - Cabot
It's Thursday night. The final SFU episode aired 4 nights ago, yet my mind continues to wander back to those powerful last moments. Of course, like any true fan, I had to watch it again Monday to fully absorb the ending and yes, I sobbed like a child. Why do so many of us feel such a loss for this fictional family? I do believe Alan Ball and his writers created characters of such astounding depth that he exposed humanity for all its beauty and inexorable flaws. However, I strongly feel that much praise should be heaped upon every actor, truly without exception. Lauren Ambrose' portrayal of Claire has always been a brilliant example of her craft, but in the final episode she delivered an almost overwhelmingly powerful performance. To me, the scene with Ruth (whom I found to be the "guiding force" of SFU) was so real, so tender. Each giving one another everything and Claire accepting and appreciating, perhaps fully for the first time, her mothers unconditional love. The raw emotion that all these actors put forth is what made it so real to so many of us. And it is why we mourn their loss so. Indeed, as many have postulated, we have these feeling of great loss because of the ending moments where each characters fate is revealed; and yes this makes us ponder our own mortality. But more than this, perhaps, is that deep down these people WERE real to us. We owe these emotions to those who so generously let us in to their world, the actors.
At the end of the second viewing Monday I realized that I don’t think I can ever watch an episode again…ever. To me these characters, as much beloved as they were, are now gone. And like anyone who has lost a loved one, and has properly grieved, they must at some point move on with their life. I accept the message that was sent and will drive on, happily into the future.
4 - Billy Bob
THOSE FISHERS SURE SMOKED A LOT OF DOPE! THE FINAL EPISODE OF SEASON 5 WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. I FELT THAT THE MONTAGE WHILE CLAIRE WAS DRIVING WAS ALAN BALL'S SIGNATURE TO AN AMAZING LETTER THAT TOOK HIM 5 SEASONS TO WRITE. AND THEN THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT NATE'S LAST ACT ON THIS EARTH MAY HAVE LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND(I.E. MAGGIE TALKING ON THE CELLPHONE TO RUTH IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE). LET'S HOPE ITS A BOY!
THANK YOU MR. BALL FOR SHARING THIS LETTER W/ THE WORLD.
5 - Joseph Noble
Just watched the finale of Six Feet Under here in the UK! Was, overall, up to the award winning standards of the entire show - moving, excellently acted (the casts strong theatre background), observational, quirky, under-played, subtle - in the way American screen acting does so well - and, having lost family members myself, deeply truthful. One slight gripe, as we do so well here in the UK (!), is with the last montage as Claire is driving to her new life. As a European I think we would have treated this last segment - seeing the main characters grow old and die - differently. Just have a slow motion montage of their finest moments in the show followed by that stark white print up of the year they were born and then died, fade in and out to next character - same treatment, and so on. Let us as an audience do the work, as we had become accustomed to doing, and imagine how Ruth, for example, may have spent her last moments. Dispense with the "old" makeup!! It cheapened it a little for me, and after the wonderful dead bodies throughout the series, did not help the make - up department's excellent contribution. Memories of an ageing Bette Midler in "For The Boys"!! It, sadly, lost some hard earned integrity that the entire show up to the final episode so excelled in - and we may even say over here it was "a little too American," but the idea was genius and very unique, and better than alot of British TV concepts!!!!!!! Therefore, overall, it was well and truly worth the wait to say goodbye. I cried, I'm male, say what you like!!!!! Boo hoo!! London, UK
6 - Sue Tabbitt
Well, a bit late to series 5, we watched the grand finale last night, and I have to say 2 things: (1) this has been a rollercoaster ride I don't think I will ever forget or even get over - the best TV ever, I am utterly convinced. So mature, so insightful, so rich and multi-dimensional - every difficulty in life exposed, but so understatedly. But (2) whoever approved that ending should be sacked. It made a mockery of the entire series, and was so unnecessary. Why couldn't they have ended with the 'May he rest in peace' from David? It was so utterly perfect until that point. But blimey, the series was so very very good. I feel bereaved now they have gone. Sue Tabbitt, France.
7 - Nicole
We just saw the final episode of season five here in Australia, on Monday at 12am!!! That's how poorly it was treated here, but it was well worth the wait because I have to agree I really loved the final montage, the song is amazing and I can't think of any other way to end a series that has been so firmly grounded in death. I liked that Claire kind of replaced Nate as the 'main' character and there is something hugely hopeful about her living for so long, with all her photos of the long and eventful life she has lived surrounding her.
The 'aged' make-up was a bit dodgy at times I admit, but that is the only flaw, and I've watched that episode twice already. I agree that Nate probably did get Maggie pregnant though. Trust Alan Ball, ey?
8 - Natalie
I loved the ending of the show and the montage at the end was great! I love knowing how their lives play out rather than being left to the imagination. I thought the entire series was written more beautifully than anything I have ever seen on television or film. Congratualtions to Alan Ball and all of the actors who brought this great series to life, I am very sad to see it end.
9 - Mario
I LOVE THIS SHOW AND IT WAS VERY GOOD, AMAZING, THIS SEASON WAS AS GOOD AS THE FIRST ONE. And maybe someone would like to know the names of the songs played in "EVERYONE'S WAITING" (the final episode of SFU):
Song 01: At Ted's place, Claire and Ted listen to his music.
Lifehouse : Empty Spaces
Song 02: Olivier sings this French nursery rhyme to Baby Willa.
: Sur Le Pont D'Avignon
Song 03: At Brenda's house, the Fishers and Chenowiths mingle.
Arsenal: A Volta
Song 04: Rico and Vanessa have champagne and celebrate their new life.
Kim Weston : Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)
Song 05: At Sarah's Topanga house, Ruth, Bettina and Bettina's daughter make their future plans.
Jackson Browne : Doctor My Eyes
Song 06: Claire receives a message about her job. Nate tells her to go to New York anyway.
Sarah Blasko : Always Worth It
Song 07: The Fishers celebrate the Funeral Home's new look.
Lyrics Born: I Changed My Mind (Stereo MC's Rattlesnake Remix)
Song 08: In the Fisher dining room, all reminisce and make a toast to Nate.
Nat King Cole : What'll I Do
Song 09: Claire has a dream of Nate singing as her clock radio plays.
Rare Earth : I Just Want To Celebrate (Mocean Worker Remix)
Song 10: Claire leaves for New York. Everything Ends.
Sia : Breathe Me -Available on Six Feet Under Volume 2 - Everything Ends
10 - Ryan
They just NOW aired the series finale over here in the Caribean. I watched it for the second time tonight and after watching it, and crying like I haven't in ages, I just had to check for comments about it online. I agree with alot of them, but bottomline, the last minutes of the show needed to happen...imagination is necessary with alot of shows in the series finale. But I couldn't imagine not knowing what came next after Claire started that car. It was heartbreaking watching these fictional characters pass away just like that in a matter of minutes. But it's and ending, and a spectacular one for a memorable show. And I don't think there will ever be another one like it! Movies change my perspective on things, a tv show never had, until now....
11 - Nikhi Sheth
Just saw the whole of Six Feet Under i.e. series 1-5 in under a month on DVD. That's how much I loved this show and a reflection of the boredemn that has engulfed me in the past month.
The finale without a doubt proved what I had been thinking ever since the first episode of this show. And that was that this is probably one of the greatest masterpieces in film and television history to be created. Ever. Stressing just how powerful it was will do no justice to it unless you watch it.
I am really really really REALLY going to miss this show. I will definitely be giving back these DVDs to my friend and buying them all for me. Every week was a one hour movie. 63 of the best movies ever made.
Say what you want about the final montage scene - seeing these characters die as they would have provided necessary closure and was indeed necessary i feel for the series to fully end itself.
The makeup is irrelevant. I can't stand it when people pick upon and criticise the most irrelevant details. It wasn't about the death looking real. Clearly they were all acted out nothing like they would have occured in some form of 'reality' (apart from Claire's). The episode started off with the birth of Willa and ended with the death of Claire. Full circle. Finished.
12 - Canadian Girl
I'm up in Canada and just saw the final Six Feet Under episode a week ago. I stayed up until 3 in the morning to tape it when it re-aired so that I could watch it again -- especially the final ten minutes.
I, too, was slightly aghast at the make up job in the final montage sequence, however I was grateful for the fast-forward to everyone's death. Not because it provided such complete closure (although it certainly did do that!), but because it was so incredibly life-affirming and bestowed hope upon me -- for both the characters and my own little life. See, as I was watching Claire drive off into the unknown, I had an intense feeling of this being the end. The end of Claire's life as she had known it. The end of the Fischer family as we had all come to know it. And the end of my favourite television series. Then, when Claire's dates flashed across the screen and I realized she died at 102, I was suddenly struck with the realization that this was just the beginning. This young face driving into the vast unknown had 80 years (approximately) left to LIVE -- more than a lifetime for many of us. This young, angry, confused, cynical, funny, beautiful woman was just starting her life. And that's what the series left me with. Life. Oodles and oodles and oodles of it. And it was all so very fitting, because isn't that what death gives us at the end of the day? Life. So my favourite series about death turned out to really be a series about life. And in watching the final episode, I wasn't watching an ending, but witnessing a beginning. That, for me, was brilliant.
13 - CHEATINGDIAZ
Hi All, I'm really pleased to have stumbled across this site as I was keen to see if anyone else was as moved as I was by the final episode. Clearly I'm not alone :)
It has been great discovering this show over the last few weeks. Watching the episodes on DVD back to back have been a real treat... it really allows the viewer to bond with the characters when you can take in the story several episodes at a time.
The final episode sequence was one of the best I have ever seen in a drama. At the end of it, I was left speechless feeling like I had just lost my whole family in 10 minutes. As I was alone at the time, I was able to sob tears for quite some time after my viewing... then I re-watched Claire's departure 3 times still sobbing each time. It was upsetting yet rewarding at the same time. ;)
Thanks for letting me share my two cents, I feel good now!!!
14 - Milton
To be honest I started to watch this show because of Dexter. I love Dexter's show, which by the way I already watched all the three seasons. When I first saw Michael C. Hall as a gay, I thought to myself: "WTF!? Killer and gay... interesting"... Anyway, I kept watching and I ended up loving it ( not David and Keith, but the show itself :) ) And It's unbelievable, 'cause it looks like most of the people watched the last episode of SFU for more than once! And of course, that includes me. One thing stills keeps on my mind, though: Did Claire imagine all that stuff, or it really happened all that? That was the only thing that was not so clear to me, but even if she just imagined, oh.. what a nice ending anyway! Congrats to Allan Ball! That was the best ending EVER!
15 - SASHA
The desire to watch 'Six Feet Under' came from the brilliant actor Michael C. Hall-the star of 'Dexter'. I love watching 'Dexter', so I wanted to see Michael in another role-hence David Fisher in 'Six Feet Under'. I purchased the series a season at a time and couldn't wait until the next season would arrive. This masterpiece of humanity, family, love, sex, drugs, dependency, depression, compassion..... changed my own personal beliefs about certain subject matter that was portrayed openly without prejudice in such a loving-heart-warming manner. This series was the 'BEST' writing and acting I've ever seen on T.V.! I will cherish the lives and the adopted lives of the Fisher family forever. I am forever grateful to Alan Ball for his brilliance and foresight in writing such mastery. My tears display my sadness to see it end.
16 - Nick
i have just watched the last episode of SFU, after watching the whole series over the last year. It is truly an amazing show, and an ending befitting of it's brilliance. Like others who have written above, I too have watched the last montage a few times and it profoundly effects me. It is good to know it does the same for others. I thought I was loosing my mind and a little obsessed! but it seems that this show has moved others the same as me. The last episode touched on something very profound i think, and it is hard to let those thoughts go once they start!! Thanks Alan Ball! Here's to art which covers humanity in all it's glory and to the actors for expressing the things we sometimes can't...and to the viewers, who loved it, it means you are alive, amen.
17 - laura
I began watching this series when it was originally aired, and unfortunately had to stop during the third season as my mother was dying. I resumed watching it over the last few months on TMN, each week anxiously awaiting the next four episodes. This is one of the most creative shows that I have ever watched, and I was very sad to see it end. Personally I was blown away by the montage...brilliance!!! One of the first series finales that impressed me. The song was very powerful, and was fitting with the images. Seeing the final moments of the main characters lives left me feeling sad but satisfied. It offered closure and seemed appropriate considering the theme of the program. There were enough moments during the final 10 minutes that left me wondering what may have occured in between the deaths. My imagination can still fill in some of the blanks.I watched that montage 3 times, and wept like a baby. What a series,creative, dark and witty, the best combination in my mind.
18 - Alicia
Wow, the first comment about the finale of Six Feet Under was almost five years ago, and people are still commenting. I'm from Australia and although SFU aired here it was on at crazy late hours while I was in high school so could never really catch onto it. My sister-in-law had every season on DVD and highly recommended it to me, I was also intrigued because it stared Michael C. Hall (who I'd loved watching as Dexter Morgan). I didn't expect much from the beginning, just thought I'd give it a go. All I remembered was that it was a pretty twisted series and they did drugs a lot. Wow, was I in for a ride. This series and every character was so truly honest and raw and complex, just as life is. I loved that they never glamorised anything or made life too look easy. It showed that people do make mistakes and that they are not always forgiven, or healed, like a nicely wrapped gift. I think the reason why everyone admired these characters so much is for that reason, because we can identify with flaws and life errors.
I didn't always like Nate but I was drawn to him. I don't know if I can picture anyone else in that role. Claire, trying to find her way through the series, I was always so grateful they never cast someone classically beautiful, she was a regular girl, but to me beautiful all the same because she was unique. And Ruth, on the surface she was plain and dowdy, but underneath a strong woman.
I was expecting something big to happen in the end (as my sister indicated to me that she sat there in front of the TV for 10minutes after not moving) but I didn't expect what I saw. Like man others I feel like the ending deeply effected me and will continue to do so for a long time. I was happy to see how they died, it does give you a sense of closure. It seemed utterly appropriate after the 5 season ride I was on with the Fishers. All their lives were centred around death and to see them all pass was so intimate to me. I couldn't stop the tears and I also watched the ending a few times! To be honest though, it made me uncomfortable. The fact that life is short and that before we know it our time is up. But that wasn't a bad thing, because ultimately, I wasn't watching SFU to feel all warm and gooey inside.
To finish off I want to thank Alan Ball for giving me the opportunity to be part of the Fisher family, and that amongst life's ugliness, hardships and sadness something as simple as a laugh or a sibling or human connection makes it all worth it. Will sadly miss the show!
19 - Ryan
I don't see how anyone could not like the ending of the finale! The emotions running through you during the last 10 minutes feels incredible! There was a meaning and purpose to the last montage and it did exactly what it was trying to do. I didn't think I was going to cry by the last episode but I eventually gave in. The song was perfect too. I always want to know what happens to the characters once a series is coming to an end. Every death they showed didn't need to have a meaning, it just showed that it can be completely random and instantaneous. Plus it goes with the theme of the whole series: Death. I'm so glad I decided to watch this series.
20 - James
I started watching SFU last fall and watching the finale last night. I was reading other opinions and found this thread - still going after five years.
I think to appreciated the end you had to have watched it in entirety from the beginning. I found it as powerful as any TV show or movie could be - and then some.
I absolutely loved watching Ruth through the series. Her finding herself in later life, her old-fashionedness mixed in with the modern world - she brought love and humor to this great show.
I avoided any spoilers while watching it - and only knew that would give the main character's deaths at the end. I had no idead it would be done like that.
I'll miss this show and its characters.
james...
21 - Connor
I watched season 1 and half of season 2 in 3 days, bought the Collector's Edition of all 5 seasons and watched the next half of season 2, all of 3, 4 and then 5 over the last 6 days, and finished 5 last night. The only other time I've cried at a TV show was at the end of season 2 of Grey's Anatomy, but SFU had me weeping like a baby. I sat there after it for I don't know how long just crying. And I don't cry at TV shows!
And I couldn't sleep last night because I was so wrapped in thought about SFU, life, death and all the things in between. It's been five years since it was made, and it was the best piece of television I have ever witnessed. I feel that in a deep time in my life, this show has offered me something that has deeply effected my emotions.
Claire, ultimately, started out as a character who was part of the ensemble, then evolved into this transcendent core of the programme who deeply effected me - I am also a teenager who's growing up, and Claire really connected with me - especially in the last 2 seasons.
David was my favourite character though. The first well-portrayed gay man on television, with no two-dimensional pieces at all in his character. To see a realistic gay romance and a realistic gay character on TV when I myself have been growing up gay with no realism of homosexuality on TV really touched me.
Brenda - genius. Rachel Griffiths, you are legendary.
The closing ten minutes were somehow so poignant, so beautiful that anyone who had watched the show from episode 1 that didn't cry had not connected fully with the brilliance of this show. I bawled. BAWLED.
Best piece of cinematography in history. I know I'm hyping a lot, but it is so totally and utterly deserved. Nearly 24 hours later, I still get the same emptiness I found when it ended. With each character death, it is like another piece falls away from you. You connect with these characters on an emotional, philosophical and spiritual level. They are not just characters - to me, they represent the spectrum of life that cannot be described.
22 - Lorraina
this episode was the saddest, most riveting, and most genius television I've ever seen in my life. I don't see how there could be even one person who didn't cry at one point or another during the episode. The montage was made even more touching with the song playing in the background. I had to replay the last 10 minutes to fully process what happened.
The happy moments were so moving and made me as emotional as the sad moments. Every event was EXTREMELY moving. I was so glad that Claire and Ted got married and had a happy life together. Keith didn't deserve to die the way he did! I don't know if a time will come where I don't feel like crying when I think about the ending. But in the end the family got to be together as a whole once more. For once a show gives full closure about what happens to the characters later on. It was a bit too honest for me but it was the truth. I just wish it wasn't so harsh.
23 - Pod
About season 2-3 I thought "This reminds me of American Beauty" so I checked the back of the case and there it was, Alan Ball.
I enjoyed the show very much, although it got tedious for me towards the end. But overall a great experience, lots of memorable moments and quotes I'll look back on for years.
24 - isa
I am a big fan of Six Foot under each character at tgimes I loved and others hated, but to me the acting was sublime and I congratulate every one who made this series.I rate this with the Sopranos and Seinfield
25 - MJ
I just finished watching the entire series in the space of a month, and I know the people who have already posted comments here will understand how I effectively put my own life on hold to reach the end of the SFU journey... I have never before been so deeply moved by a TV series and that can only come down to the brilliant acting and writing. Although I had my favourites (David and Ruth), the journeys each character undertook were, in turn, rivetting and emotional. I like that people have had varying resposes and reactions to the final montage of the last episode. Personally I thought it worked, though I too was momentarily distracted by the make-up. For me, I needed to know the final outcome of each character's life, as their death was as important and as necessary a feature of their whole story, as their life. I was lost for words after it ended and I know the entire story of SFU will take some time to process in my mind and in my heart. I feel I am grieving a real loss at the moment - the loss of the ongoing story of the Fishers, the loss of characters who became very real to me, and the loss of ingenius writing and performances, the likes of which I have yet to see again on TV or indeed, in film. I too, would like to thank the writers and the actors for giving me the gift of SFU and congratulate them for delivering something so powerful and moving. I know this whole SFU experience will stay with me for a long time.