Alright, let's dive into the fucking masterpiece that is the finale of "Six Feet Under," because clearly you need a refresher on what quality TV looks like. This isn’t just any old series wrap-up; this is a gut-wrenching, beautifully crafted send-off that makes other finales look like total shit. So, buckle up.
Leading up to the finale, "Six Feet Under" always had this knack for delving deep into the messy, emotional turmoil of life and death, right? The show revolves around the Fisher family, who run a funeral home, making a living out of death while struggling with their own fucked-up lives and relationships. Each episode kicks off with a death, setting the tone for a show that’s constantly mingling the everyday with the existential.
Now, the last season ramps up the emotional stakes big time. The Fishers face a series of personal crises: Nate’s tumultuous relationships and health issues (the guy has a fucking arteriovenous malformation that’s like a ticking time bomb in his brain), David’s struggles with PTSD after a horrific carjacking, Claire’s pursuit of meaning through her art, and Ruth’s ongoing quest for love and fulfillment. Everyone’s a mess, but in a way that’s relatable and deeply human.
The final episode, “Everyone's Waiting,” is an absolute punch in the guts, emotionally speaking. It starts off right after Nate’s death, which, if you followed the show, is both shocking and somehow expected given his health shitstorm. His death catalyzes the finale, pushing each character to confront their own lives and mortality. The real kicker, though, is the last sequence—fucking television gold.
Here’s the breakdown: Claire is leaving LA to start anew in New York. As she drives away, the show launches into this forward-flashing montage where we see how each main character ends up biting the dust. It’s set to Sia’s “Breathe Me,” which, by the way, complements the emotional slaughterhouse of the sequence so perfectly it’s almost unbearable.
David sees a vision of his beloved, dead brother Nate, right before he dies of a heart attack. Keith, David’s husband, gets shot in a robbery—brutal and sudden. Ruth dies peacefully in bed with her dogs around her. Claire, the youngest Fisher, lives until old age before she passes away, her life’s moments flashing before her as she goes. This sequence isn’t just showing us how they die; it’s fucking slamming home the point that despite all the shit they’ve been through, they lived, they loved, they suffered, and then they ended—just like we all will.
What makes this ending so emotionally potent isn’t just that we see the characters die; it’s the way it underscores the show’s overarching theme: life is transient, death is inevitable, and what matters is the in-between. The whole sequence is a masterclass in storytelling—no extra fluff, no cheap tricks, just raw, unfiltered human emotion.
So, there you have it: a finale that doesn’t just close a series but also gives a profound commentary on life and death. It’s rare to see a show manage to be so fucking poignant and tactful, leaving viewers wrecked but enlightened. “Six Feet Under” doesn’t just entertain; it makes you contemplate the big, existential questions, which, let’s be honest, is a hell of an achievement for any TV show.