Six Feet Under is a critically acclaimed and popular television drama produced by HBO. It first aired in 2001 and is due to be concluded at the end of the upcoming fifth season in 2005. [1]
The show, created by Alan Ball, stars Peter Krause as Nathaniel ("Nate") Fisher, the son of a funeral director who becomes a partner in the family funeral business with his brother David, played by Michael C. Hall. The Fisher clan also includes mother Ruth (Frances Conroy) and sister Claire (Lauren Ambrose). Other regulars include mortician and family friend Federico Diaz (Freddy Rodriguez ), Nate's girlfriend Brenda Chenowith (Rachel Griffiths), and David's boyfriend Keith Charles (Mathew St. Patrick).
The show revolves around the world of Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home, a ficticious mortuary set in present day Los Angeles, California (2001-2005).
On one level, the show is a conventional family drama, dealing with such issues as relationships, infidelity, homosexuality, and religion. At the same time, it is a show that is distinguished by its unblinking focus on the topic of death, which it explores on multiple levels (personal, religious and philosophical), rather than treating it as a convenient impetus for the solution of a murder. Each episode begins with a death - anything from drowning or heart attack to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - and that event in turn usually sets the tone for each episode, allowing the characters to reflect on their current fortunes and misfortunes in a way that is illuminated by the death and its aftermath.
In November 2004, series creator and executive producer Alan Ball announced that the upcoming fifth season will be the show's last. The producers and writers feel that after 63 episodes they will have told their "story", and the show will finish in late 2005.
Setting
Six Feet Under, being a show about death, is also a show about time; each episode is set in a particular month in a "contemporary universe" that spans the period from 2000-2004 (as of Season 4). Nathaniel Fisher dies in the pilot, which begins on December 24, 2000. The next episode is set in January 8, 2001[2]. Some of the deaths in the series have occurred in other periods e.g. the 1970s; in these cases, the story is brought up to date so that the plot revolves around the ramifications of the death, rather than the death itself.
The show devotes considerable attention to continuity. Sometimes six months passes between each episode; on other occasions, a day. In all cases, the story carries on from where it left off in the previous episode.
Characters
Major characters
Nathaniel "Nate" Fisher - played by Peter Krause, the son who returns to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve to learn his father has died. It could be argued that Nate is the "main character" of the show since the series began with his return home from Seattle. Nate assumes responsibility after his father's death and joins brother David in running Fisher & Sons (later Fisher & Diaz)
David Fisher - played by Michael C. Hall, the other son who is co-operator of Fisher & Diaz and is in a homosexual relationship with Keith, a police officer.
Ruth O'Connor Fisher Sibley - played by Frances Conroy, the widower and mother of three who had an ongoing affair with a hairdresser while her husband was alive. Since then, she has remarried to George Sibley and started a friendship with Bettina, played by veteran director and actress Kathy Bates.
Claire Fisher - played by Lauren Ambrose a rebellious art school student, who is heavily into drugs, sex and bad relationships. She is the most creative in the family.
Federico "Rico" Diaz - played by Freddy Rodriguez , the extremely skilled restorative artist who is an asset to the Fisher's, father of 2 and also is a partner in the business. He was extremely close to Mr. Fisher who supported him through college.
Supporting Characters
Vanessa Diaz - played by Justina Machado , Federico's wife and high school sweetheart; she works as a nurse. His moods and decisions outside of the home are often closely affected by her advice and attitude. In recent times, Federico's infidelity caused the couple to separate and consider divorce.
Nathaniel Fisher - played by Richard Jenkins , even though he is dead, he is still a presence in most of the Fishers and lives on in their hearts as a guide and advisor to the surviving members.
Brenda Chenowith - played by Rachel Griffiths, the girlfriend of Nate who could possibly be described as the most psychologically interesting character in the show. Her parents are wealthy psychiatrists while her brother is a successful bipolarphotographer.
Keith Charles - played by Mathew St. Patrick, David's tempestuous lover, who has anger issues. He was a police officer before moving on to work in private security.
George Sibley - played by James Cromwell, Ruth's new husband, who has had 6 wives and a past unknown to his new spouse.
Aunt Sarah O'Connor - played by Patricia Clarkson, Ruth's younger artistic sister who left Ruth alone to deal with sick relatives. Years ago, Sarah baby-sat Ruth's sons and they got into trouble; Ruth resents Sarah for both of these reasons.
Bettina - played by Kathy Bates, Sarah's caretaker with whom Ruth begins a friendship.
Lisa Kimmel Fisher - played by Lili Taylor, Nate's old friend from Seattle who becomes pregnant by him. They later marry after the birth of their daughter, Maya. Not long after, she goes missing and is eventually found dead by drowning.
Billy Chenowith - played by Jeremy Sisto, Brenda's younger brother who is a bipolar artist and often has violent and scary episodes due to not taking medication.
Margaret Chenowith - played by Joanna Cassidy , Brenda's dysfunctional mother and a psychologist.
Olivier Castro-Staal- played by Peter MacDissi , Teaches Form & Space at LAC-Arts, former teacher of Claire, Russell, and Billy Chenowith. Olivier is also bi-sexual, who has had flings with Russell and Billy and is now living with Billy's mother, Margaret.
Russell Corwin - played by Ben Foster , Claire's classmate at art school and one-time boyfriend.
Edie - played by Mena Suvari, A free-spirited lesbian artist who becomes a friend and one time lover of Claire.
Anita Miller - played by Sprague Grayden, Claire's best friend and roommate. The two met at art school and have developed a Laverne and Shirley-like relationship.
Carol Ward - played by Catherine O'Hara, Lisa's former "quirky" boss, who annoyed Lisa with numerous jobs and wants. She was also very hostile to Nate about parking situations and living arrangements.
