A discussion of Six Feet Under

[Elmo Oxygen]

I posted in the last topic with the intention of discussing the show, perhaps with a fan who would be willing to debate me on the subject. The topic was quickly closed before any discussion took place. I have no idea if the reasoning behind it was my post, I only received one response, which told me to not take the show so seriously and just enjoy it for what it is.

http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...six+feet+under

I assumed this was a board for discussion rather than simply stating how ecstatic you are that a particular DVD you wanted to come out is being released on a certain date.

I will paste my post here with the intention of having all sides heard on the subject, not because I want to be considerded right.




I just rented the first seven episodes from Tower Records and I was thoroughly underwhelmed. It was like reading a Village Voice article. At first it seems like it might be fascinating and then you start reading it, and about halfway through you lose interest but you finish reading because you bothered to put in the effort.

The characters are all based on Alan Ball's version of irony, nobody is as they seem, but in really obvious ways. The bug-up-the ass brother is so straightlaced, so let's make him gay. There is zero chemistry between him and his boyfriend, it's hardly a believable relationship. Compare his relationship to a very similar one on "The Shield" between Julian and his lover, which was fascinating.

The mother (whom Ball stole from himself, Chris Cooper's wife played by Alison Janney in "American Beauty" is identical, think of the scene in 6FU where the mom is staring at the pot as each family member walks into the kitchen), is easily shocked, and so she's the one who had an affair, becaue that's so ironic. And of course, she has to make sure she tells everyone over and over, so we can watch characters get shocked over and over, which of course, shocks us as well.

The father had a life that his sons had no knowledge of, he smoked pot (gasp!), and oh my, he liked to listen to records and drink in a private room that nobody knew about.

And is anybody else tired of characters declaring their complaints about their "shocking" situations, which just screams out to the audience "isn't this wacky?" For example how many times had Lauren Ambrose's character said something like "I can't believe this situation, my dad just died, and I'm high on crystal meth... etc"

And why does every character revelation have to be so "on the nose"? There is not nuance or subtlety in the entire show. People always say exactly the right thing to make it clear to someone about their problems. Like the episode with the old black man who's wife died in her sleep tells the mom that her problem is that she needs to get laid. And all those cutesy appearences by the dead people telling each character how to change their lives. And I won't get into Rachel Griffith's mishandled character (or her consistently slipping accent, which seems to change like Mickey Rourke's hair color in "Year of the Dragon") who seems to do this in every scene.

And who will discover the stolen foot? Why a dog of course, in a bit stolen wholesale from "Ginger Snaps."

To me, the best character, is the one least explored, the guy who plays the expert reconstructionist in the funeral home who is often entertaining offers from a competing firm. He often points out how nobody asks him about his life
and I ask the same thing, why can't we find out about him?

Maybe I'm being hard on the show because pretty much everything else produced by HBO tv wise (apart from the excreble "Arliss" and the no longer produced "Dennis Miller Show"), is excellent and doesn't feel the need for it's characters to have learned a valuable sitcom lesson at the end of each show. Maybe the show gets better after the 7th episode. But I felt I was fairly patient, and if I did enjoy it by then, then I never would.

[BrainofJ]

I've only watched the first 4 episodes but so far I'm hooked. I think it's great and can't wait to finish up season 1. Maybe it's just not your type of show. Everyone loves Oz, but it just wasn't my type of show.

[Master Gandhi]

Everybody Loves Oz (starring those wild and crazy inmates. coming next fall to HBO. check your local listings for dates and times)


Personally, I think the show (back on the Six Feet Under topic) deserves the credit it's received. You can't deny the high caliber acting or the daringly downbeat tone it maintains. Sure, it's not for everyone, but what show is? Elmo Oxygen, the points you brought up beg to be cross-examined by someone with some firm viewpoints about the creative side of this program.

I can see how you would perceive this show as contrived or unoriginal, but in the same turn another person could say that that's purely subjective (and I know you're aware of that). I won't insult you by saying 'calm down', because I partially agree with your stance on things. I rarely look at films and television in terms of their entertainment anymore. I'm always analyzing the writing, directing, and obviously the performances that the actors are giving.

I'm sure someone will soon respond to this thread with as much contempt for this show as you, but it seems that others have chosen to bow out and remain in hiding. I'd love to debate with you about the quality of the main characters' personalities and back-stories, but unfortunately I'm no expert on Six Feet Under. I'm just your average film and television fan with dreams of someday working in showbiz, who often frequents this message board, among others.

Please don't feel offended by my remarks or the lack of responses you're grappling here. Hopefully the moderators will decide to let this topic live on and perhaps someday spawn new topics that have been inspired from these words you, me, and all the other posters have laid out.

Babbling is a sign of weakness, so I shall depart you now.

[Morticia]

FYI, and as the Mod who closed the thread, Elmo Oxygen's (and Master Gandhi's) discussions are exactly what we want to happen here in Software.

Carry on, you're doing well.

[billyslits]

I think an important factor to keep in mind while watching any boxed set of a television series, particularly one with a 13-episode season, is that they were not meant to be watched back-to-back in one sitting. They were written and produced with the idea that they'd be on weekly and that, in order to maintain viewership, certain points have to be repeated and little concessions have to be made.

On top of all of that, this is the first season of Six Feet Under and first seasons are traditionally slow-going. There's a lot of hand-holding and redundancy because each episode could be the first episode for a new viewer. Usually things loosen up and get more complex as each season is produced.

Six Feet Under isn't Alias or 24, there is one main plotline but each episode almost stands alone as its own piece. In that way, Six Feet Under is more like a traditional sitcom than any other dramatic cable series I've seen. Maybe the reason you feel the situations are so played out and the revelations are too pat is because you are watching them consecutively as opposed to how they were initially aired.

Imagine how frustrating it would be if nothing happened or was resolved in an episode and the audience had to wait another week for something, anything to happen. I think you're watching this show and criticizing it as if it were one giant 13-hour movie.

Part of the appeal of these full-season boxed sets is the fact that you don't have to wait a week for the next episode but you shouldn't let that convenience determine or undermine a show's worth.

[TwistedByDesign]

I heard the package and stuff is really neat and stuff, can anyone take some pictures of it?!

[Dean]

i also do not understand y the original thread was closed


can someone tell me the difference between complaning and questioning???
cause apparently i dont know?

[RealmRider]

I watched the first eight or nine eps and totally lost interest. I tried to watch the complete first season but couldn't bring myself to do it. I love other HBO fare (Oz, Sex and the City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm) but I just don't care for these characters or their lives. Sad too, because I loved American Beauty.