If I had to pick any one show to universally recommend to the public, it would be Six Feet Under.
I know that a lot of people wouldn't watch it. Reading through some of these reviews, you can see the people who didn't understand the show, who were offended and dismissive of the characters, their decisions, the "extreme" content. People say the show is too slow, too dry, too boring, "nothing happens", and the characters are "unlikable".
To those people, and to anyone who may be reading this, I just want to provide my perspective and urge you to consider it.
Six Feet Under is a character study, particularly in relation to death, and grief. It is very much character driven versus plot driven. You will need to have these expectations in place going into the show; don't hate it for not being something it was never trying to be. What you will find is one of the most intricately written- beautiful, flawed, loveable and detestable, and above all else strangely vulnerable and relatable, sometimes at the most unexpected moments- cast of characters in any series. They have different races and ethnicities, genders and sexualities, political and religious views, ages and financial statuses. They make poor decisions. They start doing better. They fail. They get back up and keep trying. If you truly give these characters a chance and look at them with empathy, even if at times you feel frustrated and disappointed in their choices and actions, in the end, they will move you. Simply put- they feel REAL and personal on a level a TV show rarely reaches.
THAT is what outstanding writing is (in conjunction with some of the most talented actors of our time). When watching this series, it won't spell everything it's trying to say out for you all the time. It is very encouraging of self reflection on your own life and relationships, to find your own answers, and these are not easy answers. If you're not up for that kind of thing, SFU probably isn't your show right now. But I would recommend trying again, maybe at a different point in your life, because this show could change your life.
I know that a lot of people wouldn't watch it. Reading through some of these reviews, you can see the people who didn't understand the show, who were offended and dismissive of the characters, their decisions, the "extreme" content. People say the show is too slow, too dry, too boring, "nothing happens", and the characters are "unlikable".
To those people, and to anyone who may be reading this, I just want to provide my perspective and urge you to consider it.
Six Feet Under is a character study, particularly in relation to death, and grief. It is very much character driven versus plot driven. You will need to have these expectations in place going into the show; don't hate it for not being something it was never trying to be. What you will find is one of the most intricately written- beautiful, flawed, loveable and detestable, and above all else strangely vulnerable and relatable, sometimes at the most unexpected moments- cast of characters in any series. They have different races and ethnicities, genders and sexualities, political and religious views, ages and financial statuses. They make poor decisions. They start doing better. They fail. They get back up and keep trying. If you truly give these characters a chance and look at them with empathy, even if at times you feel frustrated and disappointed in their choices and actions, in the end, they will move you. Simply put- they feel REAL and personal on a level a TV show rarely reaches.
THAT is what outstanding writing is (in conjunction with some of the most talented actors of our time). When watching this series, it won't spell everything it's trying to say out for you all the time. It is very encouraging of self reflection on your own life and relationships, to find your own answers, and these are not easy answers. If you're not up for that kind of thing, SFU probably isn't your show right now. But I would recommend trying again, maybe at a different point in your life, because this show could change your life.