So I’ve been watching the “Six Feet Under” tapes Rob sent, and I have to say, the show is a real kick. I’m just not sure if it’s a fun kick or a kick in the ribs. I’ve never seen so many neurotic people in my life, and I come from a family that specializes in all the important neuroses (like my dad, this past week. Oy! The man is the master of the “poor me” guilt trip. Comes by my room towards the end of the week, “I don’t know if you remember me, I’m your father”. As if I hadn’t spoken to the man all week and gone out to meals with him and everything).
I was reading reviews of “Six Feet Under” on Netflix and someone says in there, “I don’t know why Nate is with that high-maintenance Brenda”. And I’m like, “Um… have you seen all the sex he’s getting?” Now that I’m a little further along, I’m beginning to wonder, too. OK, so I’m a big sucker for the serialized drama (we do not call them “Soap Operas” anymore!) I have to know what’s going to happen next in on-going relationships between people.
The only thing that drags me down with SFU is the way someone always dies at the beginning of each episode. If it was mostly the elderly/natural causes or leukemia patients going quietly in hospitals with family at their side, I could deal with it. But it’s invariably someone young-ish and healthy who doesn’t see it coming. Accidents. The episode starts, and you’re thrust into a scene with some characters you don’t know going about their lives, and what you DO know is, someone’s going to kick it tragically by the end of this scene. I’ve started fast-forwarding through these because it’s not my idea of hang-on-the-edge-of-my-seat suspense finding out who and how. Bleah.
Well, I guess I’d better get back to work. I’m still recovering from my vacation and a Benedryl hang-over (Bennie used as a sleep aid, not as an allergy medication).
Author Nancy E. Shaffer 
Guh. I’m so tempted to try the show (especially if I get a Netflix subscription) because I’ve heard so many good things about it, but the bit with the death is a little turn off. I mean, I’m paranoid enough! I don’t need more things to spur my imagination on what could happen to all my friends and loved ones!
It’s worth checking out
I recommend renting the first DVD or tape of Season 1 and giving it a try. You either become hooked on the storyline, or you don’t. The bit about the dying at the beginning of each episode is a “dark humor” thing. The show is about a family that runs a funeral parlor, after all. But they do take the deaths seriously enough on the show.
But what it’s worth watching for is the lives of the characters, not the deaths of their clients. A good show is about good characters, interesting characters who do interesting (if sometimes screwed-up) things, and this show has that.
Re: It’s worth checking out
“The bit about the dying at the beginning of each episode is a “dark humor” thing. The show is about a family that runs a funeral parlor, after all. But they do take the deaths seriously enough on the show.
But what it’s worth watching for is the lives of the characters, not the deaths of their clients. A good show is about good characters, interesting characters who do interesting (if sometimes screwed-up) things, and this show has that.”
Agreed. This is, IMO, the best non-supernatural character drama on television ever. I happen to be a huge fan of dark humor and the character moments, so it’s perfect for me. But even if you don’t enjoy the opening death sequences, the show still has much to offer. And the opening deaths aren’t always funny, either. There have been quite a bunch of genuinely tragic ones, especially as you get farther into the show. Possibly involving some familiar faces, he said cryptically. ;o) The best episodes usually have that opening death introduce a theme or symbol that recurs throughout the episode. I will say no more.
OK, so I’m a big sucker for the serialized drama (we do not call them “Soap Operas” anymore!)
Abso-freakin’-lutely! ;o)
Rob
Re: It’s worth checking out
Oh, and Masq, if you do need a small spoiler tease at any point to help you through, I’d be glad to help ya out! ;o)
Rob
Rob!!
Now, when did you get here? lol!
RAH!!!!!!!!
Just got here today! I’ve been going crazy responding to everything!!
Great to see you, Rah! :oD
Rob
Re: It’s worth checking out
Possibly involving some familiar faces, he said cryptically. ;o)
I saw the one with the actor who plays the doctor on “Enterprise” last night. Oof! His wife thought he was boring?
Of course, I just started the ep that began with the SIDS baby. That made me think “The fast-forward button is my friend”.
Re: It’s worth checking out
That made me think “The fast-forward button is my friend”.
Yes, that one was definitely not fun. In fact, that and Gabe’s younger brother are two of the biggest downer deaths the show has ever done. If it makes you feel better, they haven’t done a child death since. I think they probably figured it was just too much. Just so you know, the final death of season 1 is…well, actually pretty amusing if you’re up to watching it. ;o)
Rob
Well, more than one of them has been “amusing”
In that “dark humor” sense. Not the first time through, but in later re-watchings, after you know it’s coming, and you’re not bonded to the characters that die because you’ve never seen them before.
Still, if the day comes when any fictional character’s death, even after repeated re-watching, makes me chortle, I will start to wonder about myself.
I take fiction much too seriously. It’s from being a TV/movie/novel enthusiast and a novel writer myself. “But they’re not real” doesn’t mean much to me when I’m under the suspension of disbelief.
Re: Well, more than one of them has been “amusing”
I find myself laughing when the death is amusing or funny mostly because if I didn’t laugh it off, I’d be really scared my entire life about all the things out to get me! And that’s basically the major attitude of the show. The death scenes aren’t put in to be disrespectful or just funny, but basically to show that even in L.A., the land of eternal (sometimes plastic) youth of all places, death happens. And if you don’t laugh about it sometimes at least, you’ll cry. Luckilly, a lot of these deaths I’m sure at least wouldn’t happen to me, such as one of my favorites, the lady-sticking-her-head-out-of-the-limo squash-eroo. Note to self…Don’t do that! Check.
Rob
I hated that one
the lady-sticking-her-head-out-of-the-limo squash-eroo
Mostly because she was very attractive and partying with her friends to laugh off a husband that left her for a younger woman, one of my MAJOR pet-peeves. I really identified with her, and didn’t want to see her smooshed. The one that amuses me in retrospect is the guy with the pyramid scheme, because he’s so bloody arrogant right before he buys it.
Re: It’s worth checking out
I definitely will give it a run… as long as I can rent it ^_^. I saw a DVD set of it in a store once at a very very high price. Sigh. I wish my TV shows weren’t so expensive… still saving up for Buffy S4.
Re: It’s worth checking out
I wish my TV shows weren’t so expensive… still saving up for Buffy S4.
I know! I don’t know when I’ll own any of the “Star Treks” or “X-Files”. They’re like 100 a pop, and that’s on sale. Buffy is at least half that price, but still a lot.
Re: It’s worth checking out
Just so you know, the final death of season 1 is…well, actually pretty amusing if you’re up to watching it. ;o)
I’m not sure… is that the one where the lady who runs Kroener kills that woman accidentally with her golf ball?
Someone needs to sue the pants off of her!
Re: It’s worth checking out
I’m not sure… is that the one where the lady who runs Kroener kills that woman accidentally with her golf ball?
Yes, I am. Drat, for a second you almost think she’s gonna get a heart attack, then THONK! she clocks poor Tracy’s aunt on the head.
Someone needs to sue the pants off of her!
As to whether or not Mitzi gets her comeuppance, I’m not at liberty to say. Or, um, you might clock me. ;o)
Rob
Tease…
Finally, the Fisher boys have ammunition! Now if they can just figure that out…