A dead cert to entertain (Six Feet Under)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Six Feet Under
Date:	17/02/09 (48 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: different

Disadvantages: not for the squeemish

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
When Nate Fischer's dad dies, he goes home for the funeral, and his life is never the same again. Unlike most people, his dad's body is staying at home, because the family home in a mortuary, and the family business is an Undertakers. The show focuses on the bizarre lives of the family, and the work that takes place in a mortuary. It ran six seasons, and is now available on DVD.

WAS IT ANY GOOD:
This is probably the oddest show I have watched from start to finish, at times making me wonder why I was so intrigued by it, but intrigued I was. The answer comes in three parts:

1) The unconventional storylines - this show is truly unique, which is a good thing in itself. You know that when you watch it you will not be able to say "seen this before a hundred times" because the show strives to be different. From characters to storylines, it's a quirky, bizarre program, and the freshness of the content keeps it impelling and unpredictable.

2) The characters - well developed, complex characters fill the show. Every member of the Fischer family has their own complexities, and the show rises and falls between arcs for each character. I suppose growing up around dead people would make you a tad bizarre, and bizarre they are. I won't give anything away, but there's a nice mix of storylines you can relate to (family issues such as the loss of a loved one, boyfriend/girlfriend break-ups, parenting etc) and some which are less conventional, such as the gay couple in the show applying for adoption.

3) The mortuary aspect of the show is a big draw - almost every episode features a random death and the subsequent work on the dead body. Whether it's a decapitation that needs work, or a bruised and battered body, it's all shown in often stomach turning detail, which adds something original to the show.

4) The finale, at the end of season six, is just mind-blowing. I've watched a lot of shows right to the end, and this one is extremely powerful, to the point of being something I remember vividly to this day, a couple of years later.


IN CONCLUSION:
A bizarre drama that gains momentum and power with each series, culminating in a mind blowingly powerful finale.

Summary: watch it