Still Wondering About Six Feet Under

As HBO’s Six Feet Under closed the lid on its fourth season viewers definitely got some of the answers that they have long been waiting for. But now that burning questions have finally been addressed, at the last minute nonetheless, fans are suddenly burdened with one more burning question: now what?

This season Six Feet Under has slowly returned to the fine story lines, quirky twists, and stellar performances that season one had to offer. Once again it became a painstaking wait for Sunday night to approach to find out what would happen next to the Fisher clan and the other unfortunate souls around them. It felt good to laugh out loud again at the scripts and to be left in absolute wonderment at what the characters said and the choices they made. This was definitely the season that fans had been longing to see.

One of the biggest offerings of the season finale was answers in relation to the death of Lisa, Nate’s wife who disappeared at the end of season three. Peter Krause played the role of widower to the heart-breaking hilt as he trudged through such hardships as single parenthood, intrusive in-laws, and a return to the dating scene. This journey offered Krause the opportunity to take Nate in a totally new and unexpected direction. Nate’s role of father, to his daughter Maya, placed him in an interesting predicament as he was forced to face each of his obstacles head-on. He was no longer allowed to ignore his problems, or face them with reckless abandon, as in the past. It was this journey that also led to the much-anticipated reunion with ex-girlfriend, Brenda, finely portrayed by Rachel Griffiths. Viewers can only hope that Nate’s proposal to Brenda at the end of the episode will allow him to put Lisa’s memory, and the role of widower, to rest and move on to even more interesting storylines.

Nate’s brother, David, who was also dealt his share of pain and suffering in one of the season’s strongest episodes, was given the opportunity to bury some of his hardships in Sunday’s season finale. Earlier in the year, Episode 44, “That’s My Dog” was a surprise, and outrage, to some viewers as they witnessed the abduction and torture of David, already one of the show’s most tortured characters. David’s attack in a random carjacking gave his portrayer, Michael C. Hall, the chance to develop many of David’s under-developed characteristics. While in many instances he was still seen as the whiny, sniveling victim, David emerged a stronger person who was able to fight back against many of his bullies. The pain that David endured also offered him the opportunity to set boundaries and explore his relationship with his partner, Keith, whose relationship was in desperate need of defining. While David was unable to find comfort within himself, he was offered solace in heartwarming scenes throughout the season with his sister, Claire, Nate and even his dearly departed father, who made a cameo in the season finale to reassure his son that everything was going to be alright.

While season four offered the men of the Fisher family the opportunity for some deep soul-searching, it was apparent in Sunday’s episode that the Fisher women still have explorations of their own psyches to perform. In one of the most irritating storylines of the season, Ruth continued in her struggle to understand her husband, George, but finally was given some insights into his psychosis. Too bad these answers hadn’t come many episodes ago, so George could be hauled off in a straightjacket and Ruth, and her portrayer, Frances Conroy, can move on with her life and more interesting pursuits. As Claire took the opportunity to explore her sexuality, her art career, and her first orgasm this season, it was entertaining to finally witness her growth and maturity. There is great promise for actress Lauren Ambrose to continue with her outstanding performance as Claire deals with her dependence on drugs, enters into a relationship with Billy Chenowith, finds success as an artist, and even maintains the ability to connect and communicate with her family. Claire still remains the show’s most unpredictable and often, most entertaining character.

The writers and producers of Six Feet Under have much work to do in their follow-up to season four. It’s okay that they still keep viewers guessing, as long as every member of the Fisher household doesn’t end up a casualty of their own devices, as in season three. While many times the writers dilly-dallied too long in storylines this season, without giving us instantaneous results, they did give us strong scripts, vivid characterization, and tense, unexpected moments, which the show is best known for. While viewers weren’t given every answer they were looking for in the season finale, they were given enough to keep them watching, and guessing come season five.

Big Break

So this is it…my big break. If you find yourself wondering what that actually means, don’t worry so do I.
Some say that Tom Cruise’s big break came with Risky Business, David Letterman got his delivering the local weather in Indiana, and Thomas Jefferson became a big shot after penning the “Declaration of Independence”. I am unsure if the aforementioned fellows were led down the path to fame and fortune from the time and hard work they poured into the “little” things they did, or if they were just in the right place at the right time.
I recently made my big break. After 7 years of teaching English in suburban high schools in Ohio, I up and quit and relocated to Chicago. It was not an easy decision to leave my teaching career. On a daily basis I found teaching a frustration, a distraction to what it was that I most wanted to do with my life: write. But I have to admit, there are those things that I miss. As the middle of August approaches and school years around the nation begin, I can’t help to feel that little ache in my heart for preparing my classroom, meeting students on the first day of school, and pulling out my lesson plans for The Crucible; an introduction to the Puritans in my American Lit class. On the other hand there are those things I will not miss: the book bag weighed down daily with papers to grade or lessons to create, the apathy of certain students who often seem to suck the life out of the most exciting of lesson plans, and the early, early mornings or the late, late evenings.
While I left many people shaking their heads, in the wake of my decision, I also left many adoring fans ready to read anything that I write, which is quite an exciting premise and a great launch for my big break. While I want to say “Give me a couple of months” to them, I find myself thinking ‘this is going to take some time’. I left with promises of grandeur and now I wished I would have snuck off quietly, with my plans veiled in secrecy. Chicago hasn’t quite welcomed me with open arms and I find myself in a barrage of self doubt about myself both personally and professionally.
The good news is that I have come to find that this is just a part of the process. The fears and the self doubt are all a part of the risk it takes to put yourself out there in the wide open. It was safe in my classroom, on most days. It isn’t as safe out here. But I am sure that Tom doubted the way he should have delivered a line, Dave second-guessed a forecast of showers, and yes, even Mr. Jefferson went through numerous rewrites before getting it right.
So this is my big break, no promises on its size quite yet. It’s a risky business. I predict some cloudy days ahead, but there’s something nice about declaring your independence. This is my beginning, my putting myself out there, my chance at something. While I know that it will take some time, I am ready to go through what it takes to achieve something big.

This is one of my favorite sites in Chicago. It was unveiled shortly after I arrived here. I kinda like to think it was made just for me. "Cloud Gate" is one of the biggest attractions at Millenium Park, which was opened in July.

Look at me! My reflection from "Cloud Gate".