| Posted by | Message |
OBUDan 
LSU Fan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
37943 posts
| Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 8:39 am)
Finished a couple weeks ago, but my god, the misery.
There is absolutely zero optimism in this show. It's just an endless shite slide downward into death... for everyone.
Even the ending (which I thought was superbly well done), which is probably the height of optimism in the show, is basically just a "well they were sorta happy once and then they all died."
The show does have a more "real-life" dynamic to it, than most family dramas. I will say, a show like Parenthood (which I like), will often veer into the "everything is fine, everything works out, everything is cool" sort of happy, optimism, Six Feet Under countered that with an almost unbearable bleakness, "everything sucks, everything is terrible, nothing works out."
Overall, it's a good series with particularly strong performances from Michael C. Hall. But I thought it trended too far into the pessimism to be a great series.
|
| Back to top | Share on  |
nicholastiger
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2004
3961 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 8:55 am to OBUDan)
Really good show though especially the early seasons
The next to last season it wasn't as good but one of best finales ever
|
| Back to top | |
Sandkhan 
Alabama Fan
Hells and Wilderness, Northeast MS
Member since Jun 2009
3287 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 9:44 am to OBUDan)
While watching the show I would often think "God, I hate all of these people. They're all a-holes" and then I realized they were real, and half of the things I hated them for I had done or thought about doing myself. GREAT show. Only character I didn't care about was the Mom. She was a waste of time. Everything else was boss. I cried my eyes out while watching the ending. This show and "Reign On Me" are the only shows/movies that have ever made me do that
|
| Back to top | |
Baloo
LSU Fan
Formerly MDGeaux
Member since Sep 2003
41100 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 10:38 am to OBUDan)
I do feel that a lot of bad things happen, and it is a show about death, but I do think it's a hopeful show. Sure, we all die, but that's not depressing, really. It's a reminder to live.
That's why the final scene is so powerful -- sure, it shows death, but people die as they remember to live their lives. Experience life, immerse yourself in it, don't hold it at arm's length. The Fishers are dead inside when they are failing to live life to the fullest.
And I would so go to dinner at Ruth's house. Something awesome always happens.
|
| Back to top | |
TexasTiger05
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2007
26639 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 10:39 am to Sandkhan)
quote:
While watching the show I would often think "God, I hate all of these people. They're all a-holes" and then I realized they were real, and half of the things I hated them for I had done or thought about doing myself.
Absolutely, I'd think the same thing. The only person I didn't fully hate at one point or another was Keith.
quote:
She was a waste of time.
the mom added to the dysfunction of the family and was a reason why they weren't a huggey lovey family.
and her and George getting it on  Gross
Easily one of the best shows HBO has ever done.
Great episode ending of Don't fear the Reaper
quote:
And I would so go to dinner at Ruth's house. Something awesome always happens.
I loved it when Ruth would start yelling at random and you couldn't understand what she was saying.
This post was edited on 11/9 at 10:41 am
|
| Back to top | |
OBUDan
LSU Fan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
37943 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 10:41 am to Baloo)
Yeah, the ending is definitely about as optimistic as you'll ever get from the show.
I appreciate a more "real" approach. Just thought it maybe ventured into the darkness too often (unless a lot of people live really shitty, miserable lives).
quote:
And I would so go to dinner at Ruth's house. Something awesome always happens.
|
| Back to top | |
Baloo
LSU Fan
Formerly MDGeaux
Member since Sep 2003
41100 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 10:42 am to Sandkhan)
And don't talk crap about Ruth. She was awesome. Her relationship with Claire is perhaps the best mother/daughter relationship in TV history. Complicated, loving, yet also full of bile and acrimony. Watch the show from Ruth's perspective and it's kind of amazing. She is a hard yet giving woman, who's been left behind by the world. Yet she tries to keep up.
|
| Back to top | |
davesdawgs 
Georgia Fan
Georgia
Member since Oct 2008
10990 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 10:57 am to OBUDan)
quote:
Finished a couple weeks ago, but my god, the misery.
It's a surreal depiction of our world outside the matrix. And yes, the outlook is about as grim as it gets. We are evolving. Homosexuality is being normalized. Drug use will become just another freedom like alcohol that should be managed responsibly. Religion will be passe'. Sanctity of marriage will be a thing of the past.
Nate's smiling spirit offers some hope of life after death but we all know it's just a fantasy. What we are left with is the stark reality that regardless of our enlightened society, it all ends the same way with death. The moral of the story, if in fact there is one, is that life is what you make it. It's all the time you have. Your only memory is the legacy you leave behind which for most of us is destined to fade away.
This post was edited on 11/9 at 11:01 am
|
| Back to top | |
lsuwontonwrap
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2012
4418 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 3:39 pm to davesdawgs)
I think the whole show is a good metaphor for life. I dug it, but yeah it was a bummer. I mean, every episode starts with a death, so there's that.
|
| Back to top | |
stapuffmarshy 
Syracuse Fan
lower 9
Member since Apr 2010
12905 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 3:57 pm to OBUDan)
quote:
There is absolutely zero optimism in this show. It's just an endless shite slide downward into death... for everyone.
that's kind of the point
we're all just ticking days off till then
one of the most "real" shows I've ever seen. One reason I enjoyed it so much.
The world isn't a beautiful place 24/7
wish more "programs" got that actually
|
| Back to top | |
buddhavista
Member since Jul 2012
3543 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:02 pm to stapuffmarshy)
I really enjoyed the entire series, although some of the story lines got a little stupid.
But that finale, wow, its fricking amazing. Hell, I just got misty eyed thinking about it, and I watched it like 5 years ago!
what I find interesting about the series, is at some point in time all the siblings were my favorite characters and at some point in time I absolutely hated them. But its not like their personalities changed, it was their situation.
What show can pull that off?
Wish there were more tv shows like that.
|
| Back to top | |
RileyTime
LSU Fan
Olympia, WA
Member since Oct 2008
2981 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/9/12 at 4:09 pm to OBUDan)
I started watching Dexter first... I couldn't handle seeing Dex gay so I couldn't watch it anymore haha
|
| Back to top | |
OBUDan
LSU Fan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
37943 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/14/12 at 2:51 pm to stapuffmarshy)
quote:
we're all just ticking days off till then
I understand that.
But I would like to think there is some positive moments and joy in those moments as the clock ticks.
|
| Back to top | |
stapuffmarshy
Syracuse Fan
lower 9
Member since Apr 2010
12905 posts
| re: Six Feet Under is the most Depressing Series I've ever Watched (Posted on 11/14/12 at 3:04 pm to OBUDan)
quote:
But I would like to think there is some positive moments and joy in those moments as the clock ticks.
they had those but they were subtle
maybe it was the mom seeing a trinket her husband gave here which brought back a wonderful memory etc...
it wasn't hit you over the head this is happy this is sad....which I crave in my viewing situations
but I get your point. It's all about how YOU view the world maybe. I could understand where their view was coming from more than not
|
| Back to top | |
