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Six Feet Under's finale vs all other endings

posted 9 years ago by fisher_and_diaz
24 replies | jump to latest

This is more of a question rather than a statement, but why do most TV shows seem to drop the ball when it comes to crafting their ending? The Good Wife is the latest example of a show that dropped the ball. But why is that? The show ran for 7 seasons, and in that time they could have mapped out a story arc in the final season for the closing moments of the show. They didn't, and now the show will forever reside in the television pantheon for mediocre endings.

So my question is, what are the intangible qualities that have separated the really good finales from the really crappy finales? The only other television finale that I feel that's in Six Feet Under's league is Breaking Bad. Few shows are ever given the chance to bow out on their own terms, but the ones that do are given this rare opportunity to go out in style.

I know alot of people who loved Six Feet Under's ending tend to focus on the closing moments, but for me, what really puts that show's finale over was the craft and care that went into the final season. Even if SFU had not ended with their montage, I would have still considered its ending to be superb. I'm no expert in television writing, but I can sum up the winning strategies used by Alan Ball and his writers:

-- The writers kept the main story linear, focusing mainly on Nate and David's journey. They weren't saddled with 15 new angles to resolve by the end of the series.

-- Much of the dangling plot threads from the previous season were reasonably addressed and moved out of the way by the time they were approaching Nate's death. Claire and Billy's relationship wasn't dragged out longer than it had to and wound down earlier than I had expected it to. What's more was how Nate's death served as the catalyst to George's partial redemption -- as least as it related to his turbulent dealing with Ruth that season.

-- Speaking of dangling plot threads, there were practically none to speak of in this series, and the questions that did go unanswered were done in service to the storyline rather than to stoke the ego of the showrunner, or out of laziness, arrogance, or incompetence on their part. I really admire Alan Ball and his team for that. I really think that The Sopranos ushered in this trend that ambiguity = edginess. I personally find it lazy if the moments isn't earned, and given how uneven The Sopranos got in later season, I just didn't feel that moment the way David Chase did, or other showrunners for that matter, when their endings didn't match up to the hype.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] coldnaps 9 years ago

well said

[–] kcroyals 9 years ago

Six Feet Under's finale is the best of all the series programs I've seen. First of all, the series was brilliantly written, the characters were always interesting and the acting was superb. I remember my first viewing of the finale. Not only was I moved to tears, I bawled my eyes out for at least fifteen minutes. I think everyone who has lost a loved one could relate to it. Seeing one by one, all the main characters take their last breathe in chronological order starting with who died first to the haunting song "Breathe Me" by Sia, was simply stunning. It was intriguing to take a look into the future, and the symbolism, cinematography and editing were beautiful. From day one, an episode started with a subplot character losing their life, at times because of a freak accident or for whatever reason, and then their name would appear with the years they lived like a grave marker. During the final minutes, the supers appearing like markers after viewing the main characters who just passed away was a great way to continue this common theme. It tied everything up into a neat package which was one of the most emotional and memorable endings of a series I can remember. Since the family business involved people dying, it made perfect sense to approach the ending this way. It reminded you that death is everyone's finale. I'm often disappointed with series finales. I find them predictable, rushed or uninspired. It's like the writers don't know how to wrap it up. This was not the case with Six Feet Under.

[–] fisher_and_diaz 9 years ago

I'm often disappointed with series finales. I find them predictable, rushed or uninspired. It's like the writers don't know how to wrap it up. This was not the case with Six Feet Under.

Yes. I feel that Six Feet Under's final season was more linear and streamlined than its previous 2 seasons. They kept it crisp, and didn't encumber it with fifty different subplots, or shoehorning new characters into the mix. Maggie and Ted were basically the only new additions to speak of, and their inclusion into the story didn't come at the expense of the main cast. Thus, a very crisp and and confident final season. They concluded most of the storylines from the previous season early on so that they were able to press forward with their concluding story arc of Nate's death and aftermath.

In alot of finales, it's almost like showrunners try to resolve everything they should have resolved earlier in the season in their final episode. Dexter and Lost are prime examples.

Few shows are given the chance to bow out on their terms, and for whatever reason they can't seem to hit that mark. I would say Six Feet Under and Breaking Bad are the few exceptions to the rule.

I personally felt that Ecotone was the show's true conclusion, and that the subsequent 3 episodes that followed it served as the show's epilogue.

[–] tornado2449 8 years ago

I personally felt that Ecotone was the show's true conclusion, and that the subsequent 3 episodes that followed it served as the show's epilogue.

Agree with that.

It was really interesting to see too.

Breaking Bad sort of did a similar thing. Ozymandias was the true finale with the next episodes being the epilogue.

[–] kcornelg 9 years ago

Watching parts of this weekend’s marathon on HBO, I was reminded of how much I’d liked the ending of Six Feet Under. Among TV shows I’ve watched often, it’s up there with the endings of M*A*S*H, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, St. Elsewhere, Newhart, Cheers, Breaking Bad, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.

It also reminded me of how disappointed I was in the endings of Seinfeld and The Sopranos, despite how memorable and controversial they were.

If it is what it is, what is it?

[–] Not_Afraid_of_snakes_or_spiders 9 years ago

The only way the finale could have been different would have been if David would have driven a boat into a hurricane and ended up a lumberjack.

"There is no reason to bring every cotton pickin book you own into this dadburn gym!"-Fall 1987

[–] Jennie_Portrait 9 years ago

Ugh--- Dexter--- worst finale--EVER.

___________________________________
Never say never...

[–] someonesmart21 9 years ago

totally, they could have made that much better.

Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken -Tyler Durden

[–] slidell333 9 years ago

I wonder how his lumber jacking career is working out...

[–] someonesmart21 9 years ago

probably waiting for spin off !

Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken -Tyler Durden

[–] slidell333 9 years ago

As you are probably aware there's lots of rumors of a re-boot/spin-off possibly in the works. Supposedly, it would be another series about Dexter only...nothing with Miami, etc.. I'd rather see them fix the crappy ending!

[–] someonesmart21 9 years ago

Yeah that's exactly what I'm hoping for, I'm really intrigued to see Dexter as a lumberjack and how he's killing of serial killers.

Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken -Tyler Durden

[–] Jennie_Portrait 9 years ago

They owe us fans, big time. I don't know a single person who liked the ending of Dexter. There are three types of endings: Happy, Sad, or Ironic. The ending of Dexter left everyone scratching their heads.

___________________________________
Never say never...

[–] slidell333 9 years ago

IMHO it's such a great finale because it captured the message and essence of the premise of the series so accurately and emotionally. Without any added on nonsense or lingering questions about the fate of some character - because there is only one true fate. So they had that going for then up I guess! But still it was a great finale.

While you have to realize it's hard to please everyone is a series Finale, they are more often than not stinkers. I put Seinfeld right up there...I thought Breaking Bad's was pretty good! I don't get all the hate...

[–] coolest_saint 9 years ago

It was definitely the most wonderful and satisfying finale I have ever watched - the team behind it did such an excellent job.

[–] slidell333 9 years ago

Just rewatching the series and the finale hit home even more so because look how fast it's been since it aired! I remember the first episode. And thinking about that - I can't help but think about Nate's line "they're already gone" when she snaps the picture. Gosh time flies by. Scary.

[–] sawfan1414 9 years ago

I haven't watched the finale since I first watched the show about 5 years back, but I do remember being emotionally wrecked on the inside from Nate's death until the close of the finale. I'm getting ready to rewatch the series and thankfully I remember only the closing moments from the show. My favorite scene has always been when Claire is saying goodbye to her family, goes to take the picture and Nate says "You can't take a picture of this, it's already gone." Love that scene.

I'm currently rewatching all of my favorite shows and this one is next. So far these are my favorite finales...

SFU - Everyone's Waiting
The Shield - Family Meeting - This one as of now is likely my personal favorite, it couldn't have ended any better.
Justified - The Promise - One of the more satisfying endings I've seen, everything about it was excellent.
Cowboy Bebop - Real Folk Blues - Ignore the fact that it's anime. It transcends the genre. This show is hands down one of the greatest pieces of fiction ever made, regardless of the medium or genre.

I didn't care for Breaking Bad's ending, they played it way too safe in the finale, not terrible but I wouldn't exactly call it great. How I Met You Mother and Dexters are up there for the worst I've seen.