Blog Master G

“There’ll be two dates on your tombstone/ And all your friends will read ’em/ But all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em…”
– Kevin Welch

After four years of death, darkness, and the entire range of human emotion, it was obvious in last night’s series finale that Six Feet Under is a show about life. It reinforced that without death, there is no life. No matter how gloomy or depressing life may seem at times, it goes on. And it’s all about happiness. I’ve watched the show since the beginning and last night confirmed what I’ve always said: It’s one of the best shows on television with the best writing, intriguing stories, and superb acting. The last few episodes leading up to the series finale were a bit darker and gloomier than others, but I’m glad they pulled out of that darkness to wrap up the series.

The show might have ended with the final Fisher dinner scene wherein everyone recalls happy times with Nate and toasts him. But it didn’t. Most of the show’s bonus 15 minutes were used by a musical collage fast-forwarding through the lives of each of the shows main characters and transposed against Claire’s journey to New York City to begin her new life. At first I questioned the decision to show us what happens to each of the characters many years in the future, but as I thought about it — and talked it over with Jen and my dad — I think it was an excellent decision. How could a show about the completeness of life — one that begins with death in every episode but this last, which began with life (Willa Chenowith’s birth) — not show us the highlights of the lives and deaths of its main characters? We know how and when each character dies — many years in the future (Claire lives to be 102; she lives from 1983-2085) — so it was a nice feeling of satisfaction and completeness.

It’s up to us to fill in the blanks.

Falling woman.

Yesterday at the track I lost $21 and Jen won $12. For the season, we’re now up a combined $41.50.