Well, my friends...it's an end of an era.
Last night was the series finale for Six Feet Under, a wonderful series that HBO brought us in 2001. And I really must say, I'm sad. Truly. However, in a way, I'm glad they didn't get a chance to ruin a really good series by taking it too far, or hanging on for too long.
The last few weeks have been brutal, however. So the end is almost relief, sort of like waiting for a loved one, so sick and in pain, to finally pass on so that their pain, and in turn ours, can be over. Or at least so you can get on with the healing.
After Nate died a few weeks ago, Brenda has been haunted by his presence (is it his ghost, or her conscious? you decide - I think the jury is still out on this one, though I usually go with conscience), and he is relentless in his digs at her, her life, her situation, her family, everything. When the end comes, he backs off and allows Brenda to get on with her new life with a new child.
Claire has been going back and forth between completely wasted, being furious with herself for not getting to know Nate better, and still trying to figure out what the heck she wants to do with her life.
David has completely lost it, cracking under the many years of pressure of consoling the clientele of Fisher and Sons (er Fisher and Diaz), seeing his kidnapper/attacker from last season that really did a mental job on him.
And speaking of Rico...he's been going out, behind everyone's back to find a place that he can call his own, therefore solidifying security for he and his family. We got a glimpse of what life after Fisher and Diaz might be when Vanessa helps him out with a funeral, and it looks like it might be a reality when Rico asks David to buy him out.
When the dust settles, Nate's death gives everyone an excuse to move on and get on with their lives.
Claire gets a job offer from a photo house in NY, which then gets pulled out from under her at the last minute. However, Nate advises her to get out anyway and start fresh in a new city. It's her drive away from her old life that sets the stage for us to see a montage of "what happens to..." which could have been really awful, but instead is a nice tribute to the characters and helps close the door, putting bars and locks and chairs against it, never to be opened again.
Mom (Ruth) finally lets her hair down (I think for good), and starts a new business with her friend, Bettina.
David and Keith move into the house and give it an overhaul, because, as Keith says, "it doesn't have to be [depressing]."
Rico and Vanessa have bought their new business and are working on getting it up and running.
Brenda, Maya and new baby Willa seem to be doing well, even with Brenda's mom and Billy still lurking about.
We then get to see how each of the main characters passes away, my favorite being Brenda who, even in her old age, has to endure Billy's whining and droning on about his pathetic life...I think she actually passed away from boredom...heh.
A truly wild ride it's been, and while I don't foresee any reunions or follow-ups, or spin-offs, it will stick with me for a long time, I know.
Thanks, again, HBO!
-Myles-