Six Feet Under: Complete HBO Season 5 [DVD]

It's hardly a spoiler to mention that 6fu's final season, though bookended by the promise of new beginnings (a wedding in episode 1 to a departure for new prospects in the 12th episode), centers around loss and a pivotal death. The scripts contain more than an occasional sense of inconsequential filler, while some of the recurring thematics seem forced (we see David continue to cope with the scars from his abduction in the previous episode via over-obvious imagery of facing his "inner demons"). Other issues receive especially compelling treatment, above all Brenda's (Rachel Griffiths) desire to have a child and David and Keith's (Mathew St. Patrick) choice to adopt. But the real strength of this season lies in several gripping performances. Ruth (Frances Conroy) touches off a complex series of reactions, simultaneously sympathetic and judgmental, transcending the tendency to appear as a neurotic caricature. The super-talented Lauren Ambrose brings off Claire's emerging self-awareness and maturity with moving touches (she's also got some of the funniest moments as she takes on a stint as a temp in scenes that call to mind the hysterics of The Office). Griffiths' Brenda for her part undergoes a parallel maturing process. And as George's daughter Maggie, Tina Holmes adds a welcome tone of contrast.

6fu, of course, has always been about the paradoxes of finality. But anyone who has developed an attachment to the show's unique tone and creative sensibility will have a tough time saying goodbye. Alan Ball outdoes himself with his script (and direction) for the finale, "Everyone's Waiting," seeding it with echoes from the pilot episode that will enchant aficionados. And the famous fast-forward visions coursing through Claire's imagination as she heads down the highway give the perfect seal to this set of characters. Extras include especially insightful commentaries, including Ball on the finale, retrospectives, and a mini-feature on 6fu's cultural impact. It's safe to say that the show leaves some pretty unforgettable impressions in its wake. --Thomas May

Synopsis
Featuring stellar writing and directing, 'Six Feet Under' boasts an outstanding ensemble cast featuring Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Rachel Griffiths, Freddy Rodriguez, Matthew St. Patrick, Patricia Clarkson, Kathy Bates, and many others. Created by Alan Ball (the screenwriter behind the Oscar-winning 1999 film 'American Beauty'), the HBO series could arguably have been called the best show on television during its five-season run. Gaining loyal fans with its complex and involving characters (many of the show's stars came from theatre backgrounds), the series also stood out for its serious themes, its dark humour, and Ball's use of surrealist imagery. The show focuses on a dynamic Los Angeles family that operates a funeral home in the lower levels of the house where they live. When the patriarch of the family dies (in the first episode), his sons are left to run the business, their shared responsibilities producing a constant tension. While the plot often veers from this premise, it always eventually makes its way back to the Fisher and Sons Funeral Home (later changed to Fisher and Diaz when Federico becomes a partner). Each week, the story behind each of their clients serves to distract the Fisher brothers from what's going on in their own tumultuous lives and those of their multigenerational family members. The fifth and final season is the show's most dramatic, exploring issues of marriage, adultery, adoption, divorce, and death. As some characters move forward in their lives, others encounter setbacks and get thrown off course. While fans of the show found the series' end hard to accept, 'Six Feet Under' attempted in its last (widely interpreted) five minutes to provide viewers with some sense of closure to the intense, real, funny, and compelling family saga that was the Fishers' lives.

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