Six Feet Under [Archive]

Gideon58

12-06-24, 01:56 PM

https://cdn.britannica.com/10/190810-050-9851F0F0/cast-Six-Feet-Under-Frances-Conroy-Richard.jpg

Couldn't find another thread for this show, but if there is one, I'm sure Yoda will relocate it for me. Watched and LOVED the pilot for this cringy black comedy that was created by Alan Ball, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of American Beauty. The story is about the Fisher family, who run a funeral home in Los Angeles. In the pilot, family patriarch Nathaniel (Richard Jenkins) is killed in a car accident, though he was all over this episode, and according to the IMDB, appears in 20 more episodes. Peter Krause plays eldest son, Nate, who returns home when he hears of his father's death, while beginning a relationship with a woman named Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) who is involved with someone else. Michael C Hall (Dexter) plays younger brother, David who is now running the funeral home and keeping the secret that he is gay and in love with a gay cop (Matthew St Patrick) from his family. Female sibling Claire (Lauren Abrose) is observed smoking crystal meth when she learns about her father and Nathaniel's widow, Ruth (the brilliant Frances Conroy), confesses to having cheated on her dead husband for years. A lot to absorb in a pilot, but I was riveted and will continue to watch.

nyctc7

12-06-24, 02:10 PM

SFU is a favorite. I've probably binge watched it 3 times, though it's been a while since. No spoilers here, I'll just say keep watching! It's fantastic.

I was completely fooled by by Rachel Griffiths authentic American accent, I had no idea she is Australian. I can't praise the acting enough, just fantastic all around. Great writing of course.

Stirchley

12-06-24, 02:19 PM

Stirchley

12-06-24, 02:21 PM

honeykid

12-07-24, 09:44 AM

I never finished it, but I have the boxset. It's a great show.

Gideon58

12-07-24, 11:53 AM

Gideon58

12-07-24, 01:05 PM

Ep 2 of Season One opened with the reading of Nathaniel's will and no one really being happy about it except Ruth. Was not surprised that Nate was left half of a business that he hated nor that David is not happy about it at all. There seems to be a whole lot of backstory with Nathaniel Sr and Jr that I hope will be filled in at some point because Nate freezes over every time someone mentions his father. Loved the reveal that Nathaniel Sr knew David was gay and loved the scene of Nathaniel's ghost watching David and Keith in bed together. There's something a little too good to be true about Claire's boyfriend, Gabriel, definitely something going on there we haven't been privy too either. I was shocked when David asked his ex-wife to have sex with him and then showed up at Keith's apartment, drunk and requesting the same. Was not happy that this con man's death might be costing the business thousands of dollars or that some mystery company wants to buy them out. It was kind of weird how Brenda found the bus that hit Nate Sr., but that final moment on the bus with Nate Jr and David was sweet. Michael C Hall is crushing it in a very complex role, even more complex than Dexter and he and Frances Conroy are making this show appointment television all by themselves.

honeykid

12-08-24, 08:48 AM

Michael C Hall is crushing it in a very complex role, even more complex than Dexter and he and Frances Conroy are making this show appointment television all by themselves.
David is a far more complex character than Dexter, IMO. I always found Dexter fairly straight forward. Starts off like the end point for most serial killers and works backwards, becoming more 'human/emotional' in each season (which I think is why so many people prefer season 1 over every other Trinity season) but as the MO is set, it's mainly an internal process as he still has to be Dexter and do all the rest of the stuff the story calls for.

Stirchley

12-09-24, 12:39 PM

David is a far more complex character than Dexter, IMO. I always found Dexter fairly straight forward. Starts off like the end point for most serial killers and works backwards, becoming more 'human/emotional' in each season (which I think is why so many people prefer season 1 over every other Trinity season) but as the MO is set, it's mainly an internal process as he still has to be Dexter and do all the rest of the stuff the story calls for.

Hated Dexter.

Gideon58

12-09-24, 02:19 PM

Season One, Ep 3. This episode was a little more predictable than the previous two, but no less entertaining. Both Nate Jr and his mom, Ruth are walking contradictions. Every move they make is a complete 180 from the previous one. I can't believe Nate went behind his family's business and tried to sell it to Croner and then five minutes later after a ghostly convo with his dad, changed his mind. The mystery of the bakery worker and his missing foot had a very Sweeney Todd mood to it. After what happened to Claire at school, I knew exactly what happened to that missing foot. What I didn't understand is why Gabriel just tossed it in some random field instead of turning it into the police. Very pleased with the introduction of Caroline Aaron as Ruth's BFF. Ruth really needs a friend right now. Frances Conroy was genuinely terrifying in that scene where they were going through Nate Sr's clothes, and her adventure at the track was the one element of the episode that was really a surprise to me. I'm liking Brenda less and less with each episode. She doesn't really seem to give a damn about Nate Jr and is only using him for sex. Also pleased that Claire knows about David and Keith, but I hope she keeps the reveal to herself. Loved that scene with Claire and Keith. Keith really seems to be genuinely in love with David and David is someone who really needs some love right now. Also ready to see the role of Rico beefed up,,,Freddy Rodriguez is adorable in the role.

nyctc7

12-09-24, 02:47 PM

Gideon58 It's been a few years since I watched SFU and I am really enjoying your summaries.

Gideon58

12-09-24, 02:59 PM

Thanks, I'm really enjoying the show.

Gideon58

12-10-24, 03:12 PM

Season One, Ep 4. This episode was sizzling on all four burners. Jacob Vargas was nothing short of superb as the gangbanger who gets shot and become the next ghostly customer of Fisher and Sons. The idea that he should make a connection with David (Michael C Hall) of all people, was absolutely inspired. Loved the scene of Keith (Matthew St Patrick) handling that homophobe in the parking lot was terrific, but I have a feeling that because he told the guy to file a complaint, what he did might come back and bite him on the ass. I really felt him when he was telling David what he goes through at the station every day, because David clearly doesn't have a clue what life might be like for a gay cop. I wasn't surprised that Paco came to life while David was stitching up but had to giggle when he accused David of looking at his dick. Was also surprised when he told David he should have been more supportive regarding the parking lot incident. I continue to struggle with getting a grasp of Ruth, one of the most unpredictable television character I have ever encountered. I think after she witnessed Nate and Brenda going at it, that she will never fully accept Brenda, which is OK by me. I was not pleased that Brenda ignored Nate's request that she not try to make things up with Ruth, I think she only made it worse. I'm glad that Rico agreed to help David with Paco's family, even though the way he did it was terrible. I don't know why, but I found it disturbing that none of the gang members who attended Paco's service wore a button down shirt to the service, let alone a suit. I was amused by that moment of one of the gang members showing David the various war scars on his body and David seeming to fight being aroused by it. It was interesting that the police questioned Nate, Brenda, and David about the fire, but didn't question Claire, who everybody suspected did it, and then 2/3 of the way into the episode, we learn the police have closed the investigation? Really? I think Brenda did it. Loved the prayer circle at the end where Paco's family included the Fishers in the circle, thanking them for their work, and David seeming to be unable to let go of Paco's hand. Excellent episode.

LeBoyWondeur

12-10-24, 05:02 PM

I love Brenda, I love all the characters. It's a terrific series for the fans of dysfunctional family drama.
Have you watched The Affair ?

Gideon58

12-11-24, 11:36 AM

[QUOTE=LeBoyWondeur;2516026]I love Brenda, I love all the characters. It's a terrific series for the fans of dysfunctional family drama.
Have you watched The Affair ?[/QUOTE
I LOVED The Affair…MauraTierney was amazing

TheManBehindTheCurtain

12-11-24, 11:57 AM

Watched it obsessively when it was first leaking out episode by episode, start to finish. Yes, unique storytelling concept. Excellent acting. Immersive psychological studies. The last episode was one of the few that really gave you a conclusion you felt tied everything together elegantly. (It's often cited in reviews that way.)

Stirchley

12-11-24, 12:10 PM

I love Brenda, I love all the characters. It's a terrific series for the fans of dysfunctional family drama.
Have you watched The Affair ?

I hated the Affair, but loved SFU.

Gideon58

12-12-24, 02:05 PM

Season One, Ep 5 was one of those hours of television that literally had me talking back to the screen for most of the episode. LOVED the introduction of Joanna Cassidy and Robert Foxworth as Brenda's parents. who did provided some backstory for Brenda. That was so creepy and calculated how they invited Nate to dinner without Brenda being there. Between the creepy dinner with Brenda's parents and Brenda's dismissive attitude about the whole thing I don't understand why Nate isn't running away from her as fast he can. Loved the introduction of Jeremy Sisto as Brenda's half-naked brother and I KNEW he was her brother the second he appeared onscreen, not the ex that Nate suspected. I practically burst into tears when David and Keith ran into Nate and Brenda and David took Keith's hand, basically coming out to his brother. Then I wanted to put my fist through the screen when minutes later David told Keith he couldn't go away for the weekend with him. I understand Keith's anger but I hope they can work things out with each other, I love those two and they really need each other. Everything that happened regarding Viveca the porn star...from Rico's confusion as what to do about making her breasts appear properly to Sandra Oh's hysterical cameo as Viveca's fellow porn star. It was also lovely seeing Ruth and Claire trying to mend faces, though the process is still in baby steps. Great episode, which was directed by Oscar winner Kathy Bates.

Austruck

12-12-24, 03:56 PM

Gideon58

12-14-24, 02:33 PM

Season One, Ep 6. It was so much fun watching Nate Jr learn so much about his dad that he didn't know, especially the fact that his father was proud of him. I had a feeling that scene where Nate fantasizes what Dad did in that room he rented secretly was Nate's fantasy and not what really happened there. Richard Jenkins nailed that dream sequence where Nathan Sr and Jr got high together. It was nice to see David finally give that annoying girl Tracy or whatever her name is, her walking papers, she was beyond annoying and really needs lessons in reading a room. There's some major chemistry between Lauren Ambrose and Jeremy Sisto, which led to the obligatory scene of Brenda trying to talk Claire out of dating her brother. Mr. Jones, the widower who was the Fishers' latest clients, was obnoxious but as the episode progressed and he wouldn't leave the funeral home, I realized he literally couldn't live without her. What was that thing with Ruth and the pot in the opening scene? I did love that the flirting from the florist drove her right back into Hiram's arms. Brenda continues to be annoying as she seems to want everyone to read her book and then not believe a word she wrote. Rico seemed to be the only Fisher and Sons employee who knew how to handle Mr Jones. More Rico, please. I think this might have been the first episode where Ruth cracks a smile. Loved her reaction to those photos Nate gave her.

Gideon58

12-16-24, 02:05 PM

Season One, Ep 7. Ruth Fisher continues to be this show's most mysterious puzzle piece. At the end of the last episode, we saw her put the florist in his place and run back to Hiram's arms. This episode, we see her joyously preparing for a dinner party at the house where Hiram is cooking and then the next day, she goes to the florist and asks him for a job? I was tickled by the little fantasy sequences where the Fisher siblings can't see Hiram as anything but a guy sexually violating their mother. Frances Conroy is such an amazing actress. I learned on the IMDB that she received four Emmy nominations for her work on this show and never won. Can't imagine why. I like the way that everything that happened with corpse of the week Vic and his brother Paul seemed to bring Nate and David closer together. And I can't shake the feeling that there's a real ick factor with the relationship between Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) and her brother, Billy (Jeremy Sisto). Sisto's explosive work on this show so far is reminding me of Adam Driver's character on Girls. That scene with David and Father Clark (Raphael Sbarge) crackled with sexual tension. I'm having trouble understanding why David wants to stay connected to this church which seems to have such a rampant undercurrent of homophobia among its congregation. This show continues to be must see television.

Stirchley

12-16-24, 02:32 PM

Season One, Ep 7. Ruth Fisher continues to be this show's most mysterious puzzle piece. At the end of the last episode, we saw her put the florist in his place and run back to Hiram's arms. This episode, we see her joyously preparing for a dinner party at the house where Hiram is cooking and then the next day, she goes to the florist and asks him for a job? I was tickled by the little fantasy sequences where the Fisher siblings can't see Hiram as anything but a guy sexually violating their mother. Frances Conroy is such an amazing actress. I learned on the IMDB that she received four Emmy nominations for her work on this show and never won. Can't imagine way. I like the way that everything that happened with corpse of the week Vic and his brother Paul seemed to bring Nate and David closer together. And I can't shake the feeling that there's a real ick factor with the relationship between Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) and her brother, Billy (Jeremy Sisto). Sisto's explosive work on this show so far is reminding me of Adam Driver's character on Girls. That scene with David and Father Clark (Raphael Sbarge) crackled with sexual tension. I'm having trouble understanding why David wants to stay connected to this church which seems to have such a rampant undercurrent of homophobia among its congregation. This show continues to be must see television.

I think my fave character was Ruth. Or was it Nate? :)

Interesting how some characters are bad news as soon as they appear. Billy, for one, looked like he would cause chaos.

Gideon58

12-18-24, 01:53 PM

Season One, Ep 8. I knew from that opening scene with Claire at Crossroads, that she would be gone and back home before the episode was over. That girl at Crossroads really seemed to want to get with Claire and we were supposed to believe that Claire didn't get it. That guy who kicked her out of the camp was a total douche. Loving what's going on with Ruth, Hiram, and Nicolai...her little fantasy with Nicolai dressed like Dr Zhivago was adorable. How many more men have to show up from Brenda's past before Nate realizes this woman is a sociopathic whore? That whole scene where Nate and full frontal Conner meet for the first time was ridiculous because only in the world of Six Feet Under would a naked heterosexual man be comfortable having a conversation with another heterosexual man. I like David's new boyfriend, the square dance guy, but I'm still hoping he and Keith find their way back to each other. Everything Rico did in this episode was a class act. He knew what Cronin was doing but didn't make any promises. He gave the Fishers an opportunity to counter Cronin's offer and I understand completely why he left, though I'm pretty sure Cronin will screw Rico over at some point and he'll return to the Fisher's at some point.

honeykid

12-19-24, 12:21 PM

And I can't shake the feeling that there's a real ick factor with the relationship between Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) and her brother, Billy (Jeremy Sisto). Sisto's explosive work on this show so far is reminding me of Adam Driver's character on Girls.

It's interesting you say that as I hated both actors and characters, though the latter more than the former.

Gideon58

12-20-24, 12:40 PM

Season One, Ep 9. I swear a chill went down my spine when I realized the corpse of the week was going to be a little boy. My heart broke for Gabriel, racked with guilt about what happened, bringing a sensitive side to Gabriel that was very appealing and turned Claire into a puddle of water. Michael C Hall was brilliant as David's fling with the square dance guy found him experiencing ecstasy and poppers for the first Time (do guys in the clubs still do poppers? I thought that was an 80's thing). The meeting with Keith was appropriately awkward and that remark David made about the accident to the ER driver was just wrong. I hated everything with Nate and Brenda. She has never taken Nate's desire to learn the family business seriously and she proved it during this episode. What they did crossed all bounds of propriety and good taste, ESPECIALLY when she pretended to have cancer and wanted to plan her own funeral. That was NOT funny at all...that was like spitting in the face of cancer patients everywhere. I'm sorry there's just no rationalization for her doing that and I'm glad Nate got angry with her, but if she really wanted to help Nate, she should have offered to help him study for that exam. Does Alan Ball want me to hate Brenda? What was David thinking leaving the ecstasy in the kitchen cabinet? Loved that it lead to Ruth taking it though and her scene with Nate Sr (Richard Jenkins) was wonderful.

Gideon58

12-23-24, 02:02 PM

Season One, Ep 10. OK, i think I'm pretty much over the whole Chenoweth family now. I still think there's something icky going on between Brenda and Billy that has a lot more to do with him being bipolar. The behavior of Brenda's mother at the gallery was disgusting especially when she accused Brenda of keeping Billy to herself. Loved Illeana Douglas as Angela, the replacement for Rico. I knew once she outed David, that her days at Fisher's were numbered. And what was with all of David's fantasies, they came on a little strong with that stuff, especially the song from Bye Bye Birdie. Needless to say, I was disappointed at the way things ended with him and Keith. What the hell is really wrong with Billy? did he really think a painting of Nate pissing on a wall was appropriate? He keeps telling Brenda that he doesn't want to interfere with her relationship with Nate but his every action says exactly the opposite. I'm concerned about Gabriel. He seems to be suicidal. It's nice to see Ruth at least being honest with herself regarding her feelings about Nicolai, even if she's not being honest with anyone else. Frances Conroy played that scene where Angela outed David to her brilliantly because I couldn't tell if she didn't know about David, or if she knew and had been in denial and now had it confirmed for her.

Gideon58

12-24-24, 04:31 PM

Season One, Ep11. First we have a six year old kid as the corpse of the week and this week we have a three-week old baby? Jesus, what does Alan Ball have against children? Watching that young couple being completely incapable of accepting their baby's death was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen. I'm glad Gabriel is all right and whether not he believes what he did was a suicide attempt, that's exactly what it was. Anyway it sure has brought him and Claire closer together. Loved Ruth going to flower arrangin class after being demoted by Nicolei...didn't even know therer was such a thing as flower arranging classes. Mary Gross was very funny as the instructor. The whole idea of a funeral directors' convention being held in Las Vegas just smacked of cliche but I went with it. I almost burst into tears when I realized that David called Keith when he was in his jam, but heartbroken when Keith bonded him out and walked away. Well, I guess my suspicions were correct regarding Brenda and Billy...and yet, Nate still doesn't want to walk away from Brenda, I don't get it. Couldn't believe Amber the stripper outed David to all those other funeral directors. Freddy Rodrigues was absolutely brilliant in the scene where Rico's second son was born via C-Section.

Gideon58

12-25-24, 09:00 PM

Season One, Ep 12. Jeremy Sisto deserved an Emmy for his powerhouse work in this episode as Billy's relationship with his sister and Nate came to a boil. I was on the edge of my seat from the moment he showed Brenda the bloody back tattoo. I like what's happening with Gabriel and Claire, but the sexual tension between Claire and her guidance counselor is off the charts, I'm fascnated to see where this is going. The scenes between Ruth and Nicolai's assistant, Bobby (Joel Brooks), had me on the floor. I was a little uncomfortable with Rico for the first time as his scenes with David today indicated there might be a bit of a homophobe on him, which I never expected in a million years. Maybe I misinterpreted the scenes. The conversations between David and corpse of the week Marcus were wonderful as was the long awaited conversation between David and Ruth regarding his sexuality...Michael C Hall and Frances Conroy just about brought me to tears. Great show.

Gideon58

12-26-24, 01:55 PM

Season One, Ep 13. Most of what happened with Brenda was a hot mess. She insists Nate accompany her to see Billy, then tells Nate to wait outside, for what was basically a throwaway scene that revealed some sort of mystical hold Billy has over Brenda. Then she starts pressuring him about marriage, though I did like that the accident twisted around to reveal a life threatening illness for Nate...brilliant twist I didn't see coming. And why was he seen running near the end of the show after doctor told him specifically not to run until he ran more tests? Father Jack is a dick. I've known that guy was gay from his first scene on the show and then he tries to throw David under the bus. Everything that happened between Nicolai, Ruth, and Hiram seemed a little contrived and convenient. I did like Ruth telling Nicolai that she will be his lover, but will never marry him. Really starting to like Ed O'Ross, the actor who plays Nicolai, he's really starting to grown on me. My heart sank a little when Gabriel robbed that convenience store. And did the corpse of the week have to be Tracey's mother? i thought we were rid of this character. I'm glad to see David and Keith talking, but Keith is definitely making it clear he no longer wants a relationship with David which makes me sad.

MovieMeditation

12-26-24, 01:57 PM

How are you liking it so far after the first season?

I watched 2/3 of season one and actually liked what I saw but never finished it or returned to it.

nyctc7

12-26-24, 02:17 PM

Season 1 is in the books! Cool!

Austruck

12-26-24, 06:15 PM

Gideon58

12-27-24, 11:49 AM

How are you liking it so far after the first season?

I watched 2/3 of season one and actually liked what I saw but never finished it or returned to it.

I am thoroughly enjoying it. Michael C Hall and Frances Conroy are brilliant

Gideon58

12-27-24, 12:33 PM

How are you liking it so far after the first season?

I watched 2/3 of season one and actually liked what I saw but never finished it or returned to it.

Was ep 13 the season finale?

MovieMeditation

12-27-24, 04:31 PM

Was ep 13 the season finale?
As far as I can see. Yes.

Why? Was it unfulfilling or weird for a supposed end to a season?

Gideon58

12-27-24, 05:01 PM

No just curious…didn’t feel like a season finale

Gideon58

12-28-24, 02:04 PM

Well, the second season opener seemed to suffer from a little sophomore-itis. Nate's doctor is a jerk. I was hoping when he lunged out and started choking the guy that it was real, but I knew it was one of those cutaways. And it didn't even occur to me when Nate went to the cabinet for aspirin that David might have left some of that ecstasy up there. Why would he do that? Loved later on when Nate asked him if he could get more. Ruth's dinner party with Nicolai and Nate high as a kite had me on the floor. I didn't get that scene with Brenda throwing her clothes out of the closet and stomping around the room, what was that about? The movie scene from corpse of the week Rebecca's movie "Whack Job" reminded me of the opening scene in Scream. I'm also not sure why they waited an entire season to reveal what Brenda did for a living, with another pointless scene with that jerky client of hers, who didn't even get dressed before he left her house. Shawn Hatosy was hysterical as the boyfriend of the corpse of the week. His singing at the funeral reminded me of Jim Cummings in Thunder Road. Poor Ruth, she was so cute reading that book about understanding your gay children, though she definitely went a little hard on David. His blind date ending the date so abruptly because there was no "spark" caught me a little off guard too. I guess David is going to remain the romantically-challenged character on this show, though I do appreciate his subtle efforts to come between Keith and Eddie, which aren't working now, but Keith seems to be thawing a bit, otherwise when he realized David was on the phone, he would have hung up the phone immediately. Gabriel is all over the place right now, he's starting to scare me. He needs to be arrested for robbing that store, that will wake him up. I get this feeling that Rico is trying to push one of the Fisher brothers out of the way so that he can work his way to partner and I don't think he cares which one. That cutaway of Nate talking to his dad, that guy who played Heather Locklear's boss on Melrose Place and the big black lady made no sense to me. I guess it was a manifestation of his ecstasy high, but it didn't work for me. And now that he actually passed the funeral director's exam, Nate doesn't seem to be interested anymore. And that cutaway of him walking into the ocean reminded me of James Mason in A Star is Born. A little shaky for a season opener.

Gideon58

12-30-24, 01:08 PM

Season Two, Ep 2. Several familiar faces popped up in this episode in guest shots. Loved Julie White as Mitzi the Queen of Krohner. Used to love her as Nadine on Grace Under Fire Her scene with the Fisher Brothers was excellent...they better not sleep on her. Loved Lonny Price as the casket wall salesman. He was great in Dirty Dancing as the weasel trying to compete with Johnny for Baby. Nice to see Tuc Watkins as Trevor, yet another visitor from Brenda's past...he apparently has a lot of dirt on Brenda and her brother that he's sitting on, making a concerted effort to keep it from Nate. Loved Watkins on One Life to Live, Desperate Housewives, and in the recent remake of The Boys in the Band. Glad they have given Keith a family, even if they troubles. His family troubles might be an impetus for he and David to get closer. Keith didn't even mention Eddie at all during the episode. That was Ricardo Antonio Chavira playing Rico's brother, who some might remember as Carlos on Desperate Housewives. Everything with Ruth, Robby, and "The Plan" was weird, though it was wonderful seeing Julianna McCarthy, who I loved on The Young and the Restless. I was about halfway through the episode before I figured out why the corpse of the week was following Nate around and loved the way it led to that lovely final moment with David and Nate. Rico was working my last nerve in this episode. I understand his need for a new house with a new baby, but if you have to borrow $11,000 in order to buy said house, maybe you're trying to live a little above your means? He has a family to think of and he should be grateful that his sister-in-law wants to lend them the money and shut up. Gabriel is working my last nerve and I'm glad the writers haven't forgotten that he was caught on camera robbing a convenience store.

Gideon58

01-01-25, 08:54 PM

Season Two, Ep 3. Another episode directed by Kathy Bates. My jaw literally dropped with what happened at that traffic stop with Gabriel and Claire. It seems like Gabriel is being written into a corner from which he will be unable to be extricated, which is a shame, because Eric Balfour is a powerhouse actor. Alice Krige is appropriately creepy as the leader of "The Plan", a storyline that gets more unsettling with each scene and I'm really uncomfrotable with the way Ruth is getting sucked into this and Robby's loyalty to Ruth seems to change from scene to scene. Wanted to slap Brenda when she kept challengng that teacher. It would have been different if she had actually read the teacher's book, but she was out of line challenging that teacher and not having read her book. It was obvious this teacher, as arrogant as she might have been, just wanted her students' lips attached to her ass, but Brenda shouldn't even have tried taking that class, where she seemed like this was the answer to the problems with her and Nate's sex life. Matthew St Patrick was superb in that scene where he was questioning Claire and trying to convince Claire that she was doing the right thing. I hope Claire can get out of this thing without being charged as some knind of accomplice to Gabriel. Frances Conroy nailed Ruth's meltdown at the Plan meeting, but I still don't like where this storyline is taking Ruth. It would have been nice to see the lovely Mare Winningham used more as the widow of the corpse of the week. Winningham is one of those actresses, like Toni Collette, who you never see "acting." Also enjoyed Nate and Rico's disussion about sex and marriage.

Gideon58

01-06-25, 02:03 PM

Season Two, Ep 4. As the opening scene began, I thought the bus was going to be in an accident, killing all the passengers. Loving the slow burn between Claire and her guidance counselor. I laughed out loud when it was revealed that the corpse of the weed didn't want to fly. Why does Keith's mother enable his sister? That line Keith's niece had about him stealing her stuff was stupid on so many levels. This not flying the corpse of the week was silly. Ruth cracked me up grilling David and Claire about their love lives. "I'm tired of being the architect for this family, it's high time you drew your own blueprints." Why did Nate keep asking Brenda about Seattle over and over? That was weird. Why do I get the feeling that everything Nate told Claire about Lisa was a lie? Very happy with the casting of Lili Taylor as Lisa...powerhouse actress. If she's trying to "draft a new blueprint for herself", why would she call Hiram? Frances Conroy nailed that phone call. Loved that message she left to her sister too. Who was that actor playing Keith's partner? He looked really familiar. There was all kinds subtext going on with that phone call between Keith and David. Interesting watching Lili Taylor play such a laid back character, not her comfort zone. Taylor is a brat who acts like a brat in front of everyone except her Uncle Keith. She's got him totally snowed. If I had talked to an adult the way Taylor talked to David, I would have gotten a whipping when I got home. I agree with Claire...Lisa still has feelings for Nate which didn't make sense since Nate and Claire are already heading home, what was the point? If Brenda's father was really having an affair, why would he allow her to leave her cigarettes on the dashboard? The reveal of Branda's parents having an open marriage wasn't the shock they thought it was going to be. David's patience with Taylor is astounding. Glad Nate was honest with Claire about his illness. Brenda calling her mother a narcissist? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Joanna Cassidy was funny as hell confronting hubby's mistress. Did find the reveal that Brenda's parents are both psychiatrists interesting. Great work by Joanna Cassidy in that final scene with Brenda. After her dinner with Ruth and David, I hate Taylor, she's way hard to take. Somebody must have really burned Lisa somewhere in her past. I was right that was Grant Show in the previous episode. Not happy the way she so simply forgot she was with Nate. Why would Lisa want one of Nate's old shirts? The ego on that guy. It looks like "the Plan" is just making Ruth stick her nose where it doesn't belong and David seems to have recognized that.

Gideon58

01-08-25, 02:12 PM

Season Two, Ep 5. Pretty sure that was Christine Estabrook playing corpse of the week Emily. Loved her as Martha Huber on Desperate Housewives and as Joan's mother on Mad Men. Now Brenda's writing a book? This is woman is so full of herself. "I'm tired of helping other people express their feelings, I need to express my own." Love Claire trying to play it cool when her BFF talked about sexing up Gary the guidance counselor. LOVED Brenda's computer talking back to her saying everything she needed to hear. So sad that Emily wasn't found for a week after she died. Claire seems to be genuinely concerned for Nate, which I think is very healthy for her. Really liked Adam Scott as David's blind date. Wasn't Ben the name of Adam's character on Parks and Recreation? "No, I'm coming out of a bad celibacy." I know it's considered politically incorrect these days, but Taylor needs a serious spanking. Keith has the patience of a saint. Ruth's little nightmare in the empty house, what was that about? Why would Brenda want to have lunch with one of her massage clients? Why do I have a feeling that Brenda is going to write her book about this prostitute? Why was Nate jumping on the landlord for being unable to attend Emily's funeral? I can't believe that guy was actually going to shoot Keith. Ruth seems to be developing some kind of connection with Emily, but I don't have the foggiest idea why. That was weird when David pulled away from kissing Ben and decided that was the time to tell him the truth about what he did for a living. Loved David trying out he and Ben on paper just as Keith arrived. Wow, just as David is finally ready to move on. Freddy Rodriguez nailed Rico's meltdown. Keith is a lot more messed up than I thought. I wonder if he will ever tell Eddie what happened. Now Brenda wants to be a prostitute? Claire's not mad at Parker for cheating on the SAT's, she's mad because she thinks she's having sex with Gary. My jaw dropped when Gary actually brought up the sexual tension between him and Claire. It was too funny hearing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not going" being played on a church organ. I cannot believe Emily didn't have a single person show up for her funeral, how pitiful is that? "Basically, all I know about her is that she kept Wheat Thins in her refrigerator." Frances Conroy was wonderful with Ruth's speech to her children in the scene after Father Jack left. Ruth is genuinely terrified of ending up like Emily. Asking Nate to be her wife...another example of how self-absorbed Brenda is. I can't stand her. I cannot believe he said yes. My heart aches for Ruth.

nyctc7

01-08-25, 02:23 PM

Who was that actor playing Keith's partner? He looked really familiar.I checked IMDb for that episode and he is credited, appropriately enough, as "Keith's Partner." Eric Bruskotter, while he has been in a few movies that I have seen, his face doesn't really ring any bells with me.

Gideon58

01-08-25, 05:31 PM

Season Two, Ep 6. I'm guessing the drunk is going to be the corpse of the week. Still cannot believe Nate is going to marry that nutburger. Glad to see that David hasn't driven Ben away yet. You could have knocked me over with a feather when Victor was at the breakfast table. OMG, I love Harriet Samson Harris! Great choice to play the widow of the corpse of the week. Why do I have a feeling that the widow Collins is going to end up not paying the Fishers? Great to see Patricia Clarkson playing Ruth's sister. Maybe she'll frighten Ruth out of "The Plan." Sarah seems to be making a connection to Claire pretty quickly. Poor Rico...these troubles with his house are the last thing he needs. Nicolai and Sarah getting drunk together, no good can come of that. Sarah's greeting of David was kind cringy. "She needs feedback even if she needs to ignore it." The issues between Ruth and Sarah are definitely beginning to bubble to the surface. I love that Sarah keeps calling Brenda Linda. Ruth has spent the last few episodes being confrontational with everyone in her family, but can't stand up to Sarah. Thank God Ruth's hatred of Brenda is keeping her a little humble. Loving drunk David, more please.

Gideon58

01-10-25, 02:28 PM

Season Two, Ep 7. After everything that happened with Nate and Brenda in this episode, I don't understand how these two can still be considering marriage. Everything that happened between David and Keith was totally frustrating, especially after the very convenient breakup between Keith and Eddie. Joanna Cassidy was a lot of fun during her scenes with Rachel Griffiths. I've seen a lot of Cassidy's work over the years and I don't think I have ever enjoyed her as much as I have here. Aunt Sarah and her gang of aging hippies were kind of all over the place. I'm glad that Ruth might have finally seen the futility of "the plan." My jaw dropped when Rico caught his brother in that compromising position, did not see that coming at all. What was Nicolai's little temper tantrum about? The corpse of the week reminded me of Robin Williams' son in World's Greatest Dad. I don't believe the guy meant to kill himself either. Glad Rico didn’t say anything to his sister-in-law about her husband. It really wasn’t his place.

AgrippinaX

01-10-25, 03:06 PM

Is this worth watching? I’ve tentatively added it to my list.

Stirchley

01-10-25, 08:36 PM

Is this worth watching? I’ve tentatively added it to my list.

Hell, yes. One of the very best tv shows ever. Seen it 3 x so far.

AgrippinaX

01-11-25, 06:42 AM

Hell, yes. One of the very best tv shows ever. Seen it 3 x so far.

Thank you for the rec! Will get on with it then.

Gideon58

01-13-25, 01:05 PM

Season Two, Ep 8. Christmas with the Fishers. I saw the corpse of the week's accident coming, but weren't those kids at the bus stop a little too old to actually believe that was Santa Claus Love the actress who played Jessie the widow. I remember her from The Perfect Storm and North Country. The big reveal in this episode for me was that Billy and Claire had been corresponding via email while he was in the hospital. I didn't even know Billy and Claire knew each other. He looked lobotomized at the Christmas party and I was surprised that he didn't flip out at the news of Nate and Brenda's engagement. Speaking of which, has proposing marriage to Nick brought out the inner tramp in Brenda? That scene in the department store turned my stomach. I liked that each of the central characters were given a flashback with Nate Sr (Richard Jenkins) the Christmas before he died. I especially liked Rico and Claire's flashbacks. Nicolai's accident that resulted in two broken legs and putting Ruth in total Clara Barton mode...something stinks there, there's something he's not telling her, evidenced by the fact that he has not reported what happened to the police. I was beginning to think Claire's new boyfriend, Toby was a little too good to be true until he read her the riot act about being such a negative person. I was a little confused when Nick had his seizure in the middle of sex with Brenda because I thought he had already told her about his illness. That scene of Nate and Jessie bonding over whiskey was lovely and that was so cool that she gave Nate her husband's motorcycle. Rico's brother-in-law had a lot of nerve beating up Rico for his wife finding out about him. He made his own bed there and blaming Nico was wrong because he should have known that Nico would tell Vanessa and that she would tell her sister. Guessing we've seen the last of him. Excellent episode.

Gideon58

01-14-25, 01:13 PM

Season Two, Ep 9. Interesting episode. Since the first episode, Keith (Matthew St Patrick) has been one of the show's most level-headed characters, but he was all over the place in this episode. This guy is going into a serious meltdown which I think has a lot more to do with that shooting than he cares to admit. One thing he is definitely clueless about is addiction. He really wants to help his sister, but he doesn't understand that no one can help an addict get clean or stay clean, they have to do it themselves and I'm not convinced that his sister really wants to get clean. That little scene with daughter Taylor after getting off the phone was a definite clue that she is concocting some sort of scam. I'm completely over the Chenoweth siblings...these are two of the most narcissistic and self-involved people I have ever seen who seem to think that everything that is wrong with their lives is somebody else's fault. That first scene with Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) and Billy (Jeremy Sisto) was beyond cringy. Billy is scarier now that he's back on his meds than he was before. I was hopeful that his relationship with Claire was over until I saw her reaction to the photos he emailed her and now I'm not so sure. Lisa (Lilli Taylor) all of sudden showing up in town carrying Nick's baby just felt like overkill to me. Maybe they're trying to give Nate an excuse to walk away from Brenda, but it just came off as the last thing Nate needs right now. I was right about there being more to Nicolai's accident than I thought, but I'm not happy that he might be putting Ruth in danger. Loved the twist in the opening scene. I thought one of those construction workers were going to fall off the scaffolding and I loved Dina Meyer as the hypersensitive widow of the corpse of the week.

Gideon58

01-16-25, 01:34 PM

Season Two, Ep 10. This was another one of those hours of television that had me talking back to the screen. I really hate what's happening between David and Keith. It seems moving in together is just pulling them further apart. It looked like the end of Nicolai and Ruth, but I hope I'm wrong. He has worked so hard to get Ruth to loosen her bun, but I'm hoping he is doing this to protect her from these criminals who are after him. Wanted to slap Claire when she got an attitude with her teacher...she didn't do the assignment, it was a written assignment and she should have written something instead of just doing what she wanted to do. After watching everything that happened between Brenda and her mother, I just now realized Brenda is just like her mother and she might be aware of it and the thought of that terrifies her. There seemed to be a bit of a spark between Ruth and Brenda's dad (Robert Foxworth) until he decided to diagnosis Claire for her. Lilli Taylor was superb in this episode with Lisa's shameless manipulation of Nate trying to get him to step up by initially pretending that she wanted him to have nothing to do with the baby. And despite her stomping off in her final scene, I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of Lisa. No surprise when Taylor narced on her mother's hit and run and then had the nerve to be upset when Keith had Carla arrested. And when did Taylor and David get so tight, they were thick of thieves in their first scene together,

Gideon58

01-17-25, 01:26 PM

Season Two, Ep 11. This episode was dazzling, this is the episode they should have submitted to the television academy that season. My jaw dropped when Ruth gave that Russian thug $87,000 in cash and I completely understood Nicolai's anger with Ruth because now they might think he has a bottomless pocketbook with which they can extort more money from him. Nate and Brenda...OMG, these are the last two people on the planet who need to be getting married. I was surprised when he told her about Lisa's pregnancy but I couldn't believe her getting all judgmental and holier than thou on him.. And after getting so angry with him, she goes out and has a threesome with a couple of teenagers. Loved Kim Coles as Vanessa's co-worker and I was shocked that the result of the investigation into he death of the corpse of the week, the result was Vanessa losing her job? That was wrong. James Pickens Jr was excellent as Keith's father, who tried to swoop in and take Taylor away from him. I was very touched that David already considers Taylor his daughter. That scene with Michael C Hall and Harriet Sansom Harris...wow! They both deserved Emmys for that scene alone. That lawsuit really didn't have any legs anyway. She demanded to see the body and everything David said to her was correct. Claire and Parker on shrooms was hysterical as was Ruth's visit to the guidance counselor. Loved the way Ruth bristled when he suggested that she might be the one who is depressed. Liked the return of Julie White as Mitzi, still intent on buying out the Fishers, though I really don't get why it's so important to her to put them out of business. This episode was appointment television. Bravo!

nyctc7

01-17-25, 01:51 PM

Season Two, Ep 11. My jaw dropped when Ruth gave that Russian thug $87,000 in cash...
I remember that really pissing me off.

Gideon58

01-25-25, 12:54 PM

Season Two, Ep 12. Solid hour of Fisher family drama. I was pretty much cheering when Nate and Brenda finally had it out. Loved her justifying what she did by countering with Nate's baby with Lisa, unfortunately, she learned about that after her threesome if memory serves. It was also nice seeing Peter Krause reunited with Glenn Fitzgerald, who played that AIDS patient. Krause and Fitzgerald played half-brothers on the ABC series Dirty Sexy Money. Freddy Rodriguez had several strong moments during the hour as well. I loved his opening monologue about the corpse of the week and his relationship with her. Thrilled that she left Rico and Vanessa $149,000 in her will, but the only way she would leave that kind of money to them is if Rico or Vanessa were a blood relative and I think that's going to be revealed at some point. Michael C Hall was so funny in that scene with the social worker interviewing him and Keith regarding being foster parents for Taylor. And though I agree with Taylor that the guy was guy, I still think he's going to reject them as foster parents and the charges that will be filed against Keith for that domestic scene are going to seal said rejection. Ruth was adorable when she left that theater, walked to the theater Nicolai was in, broke up with him, and walked back into her theater. I do think her learning that she is now a grandmother might have kept Ruth from going over the edge. She wasted no time in getting to her grandchild. Not happy that the guidance counselor got fired, was really looking forward to something happening with him and Claire. This has now left her vulnerable to Billy, which scares me because ever since he got out of the hospital. he's been all over the place and pretty difficult to gauge. I hope Keith can get out of his trouble, somehow, because technically, when police are called on a domestic, someone is going to jail. He should have just arrested the guy instead of beating the crap out of him.

Gideon58

01-27-25, 01:21 PM

Season Two, Ep 13, the season two finale, which had me riveted to the screen. Though I understood Claire's nerves regarding the art school interview, the fantasy homage to Flashdance didn't really work for me, but it's just about the only thing in this episode that didn't work for me. Very pleased with the return of Grant Show's character, but the way he came back was a bit of surprise. He seems a lot more dedicated to his rehabilitation than Brenda is. He could be very helpful to her, but during their lunch together, she just seemed to be undressing him with her eyes. I was a little alarmed with the speed in which Nate's illness is progressing but it seems to be bringing him closer to his family. Getting to know her granddaughter seems to be having a calming effect on Ruth. The final scene between Peter Krause and Glenn Fitzgerald was very powerful. I'm glad that Nate got to meet his granddaughter but it still feels like Lisa is trying to manipulate him through her. Keith is clearly crushed that his parents took Taylor and he seems to be taking it out on David. Loved that fight scene between the two and saw exactly where it was heading...what was that Keith picked out of his teeth? That scene with David and Nate planning Nate's funeral almost ignited the tear ducts for me. So happy that Rico found something to do with some of that money, even if he isn't a full partner, he has some say in the business now. Nicolai killed me when his first installment of paying Ruth back the $87,000 was $62. Larry Drake was beyond creepy as that inspector, I remember him as the mentally challenged Benny on LA Law. The scene between Nate and Brenda right before his surgery was quite powerful. Couldn't determine where Brenda was headed when she jumped in that car afterwards. So glad that Claire and David joined Ruth at the hospital. Not sure what Nate's out of body experience at the end meant. except for the fact that he's going to be all right.

Gideon58

01-29-25, 02:03 PM

Third Season Opener. On a show like this, an out of body experience for Nate was a no brainer, but this one was a little more complex than it needed to be. Too much waffling between the past and the future, I would have preferred to have it focus on more on the future, but that's just me. It was unsettling how blissfully happy Nate and Lisa seem to be. I thought it was interesting that the first visit on Nate's journey was with his father (Richard Jenkins). Loved that scene of David helping Nate regain his speech with the flashcards, made all the more powerful by Nate watching it. That stuff Nate Sr was eating was disgusting, it looked like spinach. Not sure I understand why everyone at Nate's service was in zombie mode, it might have been a lot more interesting to see the guests genuine feelings about Nate being gone. He really had a fantasy of having a baby with Brenda? She's too self-absorbed to be a mother. Loved that first Xmas dinner flashback but the second one was unnecessary. The actress on fat Nate's TV show was Kimberlin Brown, who played one of daytime TV's most psychotic characters, Sheila Carter on Y & R and B&B. Was Nate really expecting a direct answer to his question about being dead or alive? At the end of the out of body experience, we seemed to experience a time jump but it wasn’t made clear how long the jump was. I remember the blonde astrology hippie girl from a shot on Two and a Half Men. "The only drawback is my sweat smells a little like maple syrup." LOVED David and Keith in couples counseling with Arye Gross as their therapist. Impressed that their relationship is important enough to them that they would even go to couples counseling. It's a little scary though the way it was implied that sex is the only thing that is keeping David and Keith together. Why did David lie about having friends? David doesn't have any friends. The only characters on this show that have friends are Rico and Claire. Something very creepy about Claire's classmate, Russell. Loving the way becoming a grandmother has just re-energized Ruth, was approaching suicidal mode before learning of her grandmother. Catherine O'Hara as Lisa's boss...FABULOUS! She should have gotten an Emmy nomination for this performance. And I never thought I would say this, but Rico was really out of line with Nate, just because he owns part of the business doesn't mean he gets to talk to Nate and David anyway he wants, he only owns 25% of the business, he needs to get over himself. Nate talking about his baby's poop was beyond adorable. Claire using the word "dithering"...seriously? Could have lived without scenes of Claire drawing circles. There was no reason for Rico to be so rude to Claire either. What does it matter who delivers a corpse to the crematorium? I like the crematory guy, Phil. Lisa admitting to being tired all the time felt like foreshadowing a possible fatal illness for the character? Love when Carol told Lisa to stop looking at her and Lisa just bowed her head. Loved David and Keith using therapy technique to deal with the cooking issues. "I love you, are the carrots ready?" If I haven't mentioned it before this, the chemistry between Michael C Hall and Matthew St Patrick is off the charts. Love Ruth talking to her granddaughter. OK, got a clue in that last scene with Nate and Ruth and a scene with David and Nate. that the time jump from season two was about a year. Loved David's pre-sex prep. Wow, Claire slept with Phil already? How cool that David is auditioning for the Gay Men's Chorus? Lisa way overreacted with the peanut butter but she should have told Ruth all that when Ruth first started caring about the baby. Is Lisa trying to cut Ruth out of Maya's life? Wow, Michael C Hal can sing, who knew? And I love that song he sang, anyone know who wrote it? "I don't like knowing my whole existence is an accident." Apparently David isn't as happy with Lisa as he has appeared to be.

Gideon58

01-30-25, 03:33 PM

Season Three, Ep 2. Kathy Bates ruled the screen, as always, as the caregiver (at least I think that's what she was, they didn't make the relationship clear) of Ruth's sister, Sarah (Patricia Clarkson), who was revealed to be trying to withdrawal from her addiction to vicodin (big shock). It was odd that Ruth seemed to know nothing about this, I thought it might have been one of the reasons she and Sarah weren't close. I was amused that Bates actually talked Ruth into taking her first vicodin. I think there was a real missed opportunity by the writers when David couldn't make it to therapy and the therapist (Arye Gross) suggested he and Keith talk without David present. They barely scratched the surface of what's going on with Keith and would have been nice to see him really open up and talk about the fact that he will never be the same until he gets back on the police force. Was impressed with the explosive presentation of four corpses of the week instead of one. And I hate saying this, but Rico has turned into a total jerk since becoming partner. He seems to be great at the embalming part of the work but he really sucks at dealing with the families. Lisa (Lili Taylor) is becoming really annoying with this "earth mother, everything has to be organic and natural" thing. I also have a hard time believing that a flushing toilet can wake a baby. I think Nate is becoming just as annoyed by Lisa as I am, but he is really trying with all his heart and soul to make it work. They also threw me with these two new guys in Claire's life. Russell is turning out to be this grounded, insecure charmer and Phil is just counting Claire as another notch on his bedpost.

Stirchley

01-31-25, 12:12 PM

Gideon58

01-31-25, 01:16 PM

Season Three, Ep 3. Quirky episode loaded with surprises. The presentation of Callie, the corpse of the week, was very odd. Why would those guys do that if they knew her and why wouldn't they have identified themselves or helped her when she stepped out into the street. Is it me, or is Ruth developing a crush on Kathy Bates character? If she is, I have to wonder if she is rethinking it now that she witnessed the woman shoplifting. Catherine O'Hara rocked the scene where she drove Lisa to quit. Even though Lisa and Nate moved out, I hope we haven't seen the last of O'Hara. She's such a fantastic actress who brings every scene she does to a whole new level. I was impressed when Rico actually admitted to Nate that he has problems dealing with the families of the deceased. Love Claire's new teacher and the actor portraying him. I also like that Claire seems to be becoming teacher's pet. Also relieved that she came to her senses regarding Phil, even with her failed attempt to change him into what she wanted. The tension in that scene where Nate was watching TV and Lisa was bombarding him with requests and commands could be cut with a knife. LOVED everything that happened with David and Keith, with the possible exception of that cutaway where all the poolside guests were calling them names.

honeykid

02-01-25, 10:12 AM

I also have a hard time believing that a flushing toilet can wake a baby.

The wind changing direction outside can wake a baby. They could equally sleep through a hurricane. They're a law unto themselves.

Gideon58

02-05-25, 01:47 PM

Season Three, Ep 4. I am loving the effect that Bettina (Kathy Bates) is having on Ruth (Frances Conroy). She is much more relaxed, she actually is smiling most of the time and seems to be really enjoying her life for the first time. Loved the opening scene of the corpse of the week, his lover, Kevin, and their gay pals playing Rocky Horror with The Bad Seed. David got really defensive with Rico, who seemed to be revealing a bit of homophobia during this episode. Was that Evan Handler playing Claire's art teacher's long lost BFF? They were really funny together. The scenes with Russell (Ben Foster) and Claire are making me cringe because there seem to be some serious issues under the surface with Russell that are just beginning to boil to the top. It was weird the way he had to explain to Claire that he's not gay. He seemed a little disappointed that Claire didn't think he was gay. The operatic funeral was lovely, but did we really need to see a pierced penis? Seriously?

Gideon58

02-07-25, 01:08 PM

Season Three, Ep 5. Really liked the idea of the corpse of the week being discovered 25 years after his death. How weird it must have been for his son, who doesn't even remember him. I should have seen the return of Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) coming as the tension between Nate and Lisa is building to a fever pitch. I can't believe Nate thought having a drink with Brenda was a good idea nor do I believe Brenda's only agenda was to apologize, especially since the 9th step is not about apologizing...the 9th step is about saying "This is what I did to you and how can I make it up to you?" Rainn Wilson seemed to be channeling Anthony Perkins in Psycho with his Fisher funeral apprentice, Arthur. That thing with him and Ruth and the mousetrap was so creepy. Loved Michael C Hall's solo on "Good Thing Going" but didn't care for the choral arrangement for that song or for "June is Bustin' Out All Over". The whole thing with Keith and Dion Carelli was weird...I initially thought something sexual was going to happen with him and when it didn't, I didn't understand the point of the whole scene, unlike David running into his former encounter in a Sears bathroom. And is Claire just a magnet for psychotic men? I don't which one is crazier, Olivier or Russell.

Gideon58

02-11-25, 02:25 PM

Season Three, Ep 6. I remember the actress who plays the corpse of the week from the movie Air Force One. She played the press secretary who gets shot by Gary Oldman. That's so weird that Arthur actually keeps a handkerchief. I haven't seen anyone use a handkerchief since the 1960's, except to decorate a lapel pocket. Arthur is just a little too acquainted with Silent Running. What is Claire doing to her hair and why is Russell doing it? "My hair was raised with dead people." "It's not like harassment, more like a comment on harassment." It is a little weird that Lisa only brought one six pack for four people. Gary seems more whipped than Nate is. It's weird that have just established this terrific relationship between Ruth and Bettina (Kathy Bates), and now she's just vanished and she is now attaching herself to Arthur. That was so funny when Silent Running ended and the porn came on. Even though I think she's aware, Lisa is in denial about the fact that she and Nate are only together because of Maya. I think Gary and Dana are more similar to Nate and Dana than presented. It was so stupid that Nate beat the hell out of that snake and that he got chastised for it. Didn't get the point of that scene with the nutty art teacher blathering on about elephants and termites. I like Claire and Russell together, but sometimes it feels like she's "poking the bear." I still see some kind of major explosion coming with Russell. I have to confess they fooled me with that Brenda fantasy on the mountain. I really thought she had followed them to the campsite. I loved the way she kept saying her friends were right behind her, but they never appeared. Peter Krause and Rachel Griffiths nailed that scene though. I don't understand how that corpse fell. Loved Ruth recognizing Russell, that was funny. Rainn Wilson was funny as hell in that scene. Ruth's growing attachment to Arthur is very strange to me. That little scene with Nate and Lisa after Gary and Dana left was so creepy and so classic Six Feet Under. Ruth and Arthur's handkerchief...beyond cringy. Loved Claire's monologue about hankies. Arthur's sock and underwear drawer...not too OCD. Loved that David thought Russell was gay and how much it enraged Claire. Lauren Ambrose was great in that scene. Funny how Nate and Lisa think one sexual romp atop a rock is the answer to their problems.

Gideon58

02-14-25, 12:32 PM

Season Three, Ep 7. It was initially jarring to learn that the corpse of the week was a character we had already been introduced to but it was all right since the Fishers didn't handle the service, which would have been really awkward for everyone, especially Nate. When Margaret (Joanna Cassidy) burst out laughing during the eulogy I had a flashback to the "Chuckles Bites the Dust" episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Of course, Billy and Brenda, who didn't have a kind word for their father when he was alive, were devastated at the funeral. I'm still bamboozled by Ruth's fascination with Arthur. And was it my imagination, or when Arthur was running in the park, was the entire crotch area of his sweat pants soaking wet? Loved that fantasy cutaway of Arthur screaming at Ruth about stalking him and was Rainn Wilson really playing the organ in that scene with Ruth? Didn't really get the point of Claire and Russell and the $50 tube of paint. That leading lady game at David and Keith's party was vicious...Gretchen Mol? Seriously? I wouldn't have gotten that in a million years, the only thing I've seen Mol in was Boardwalk Empire. I completely understood Nate not wanting to leave Maya with Vanessa (Justina Muchado) because she looked completely stressed out. I guess I understood Lisa's outrage at Nate taking Maya to the funeral, but if he had explained to her about Vanessa, she might have been a little more understanding. And why would Bernard (Robert Foxworth) appear to Nate and tell him not to worry about Brenda? And what made him think that Nate was happy?

Gideon58

02-15-25, 06:45 PM

Season Three, Ep 8. A polygamist for the corspe of the week...just genius. I wonder if that was the inspiration for the future HBO series Big Love. That was really creepy when the youngest daughter gave Nate that gift. And why was she so insistent that Daddy was not her Daddy? Didn't really understand the point of the gay paintball game until I realized it was Keith's revenge for the leading lady game, even if Keith denied it which I knew he would. LOVED Sarge and the actor who portrayed him. I originally thought he was attracted to David or Keith and wanted to come between them, but he really wanted to "come between them" and I have to admit to being a little surprised that David and Keith actually agreed to it. I was amused by the fact that when David came into the kitchen for breakfast he expected Sarge to be gone already. That scene where Lisa came to Brenda for a massage was very strange. I couldn't tell whether or not Brenda knew who Lisa was or why Lisa didn't say anything about who she was or why she was here. Loved that scene with Ruth and Mama Eve. The scene where Rico chewed out Vanessa about the head lice was absolutely superb. My jaw dropped when Ruth actually kissed Arthur, I don't understand this storyline at all. Ruth was a lot more interesing with Kathy Bates, who I'm assuming just became unavailable to do anymore of the show. Olivier is beginning to show his true colors with Claire and Russell. I'm not sure if he is really in love with Claire or if he just wants to mess with Claire and Russell's heads. That final moment with Ruth and Arthur was kind of sweet...it reminded me of Beldar and Primaat in Coneheads.

Gideon58

02-20-25, 12:55 PM

Season Three, Ep 9. This episode was burning on all cylinders. Excellent work by Lili Taylor as Lisa began facing what she thought was the beginning of the end of her marriage and clearing the air with Brenda. I don't know why she felt the need to lie to Brenda initially, but Brenda wasn't exactly being honest herself. Even though they sort of agreed to a ne beginning at the end of the episode, I predict the marriage of Nate and Lisa will be over by the season three finale. LOVED everything that happened with David and Keith. I love that David is wracked with guilt over Sarge and that Keith really enjoyed and wants to do it more. I'm glad they were honest about it with Frank (Arye Gross) too. Frank is the first therapist I've seen on a TV show where everything he says is absolutely correct. The scenes between Freddy Rodriguez and Justina Muchado were excellent as Rico is patiently trying to figure out what's going on with Vanessa. I understand that she lost her mother but there seems to be something more going on here than a generic bout of depression. I don't like the idea of Vanessa taking that medication from her co-worker without her doctor's knowledge. I am now convinced there is something seriously wrong with Olivier. He was all over the place during this episode. You're not going to believe this, but during his reunion with Billy (Jeremy Sisto), i sensed a serious sexual tension there and a couple of minutes later, Billy admitted that he and Olivier had a sexual encounter in the past. Though I didn't understand what Billy meant when he said "It wasn't a gay thing, it was a sex thing." I think Olivier buying Russell's sculpture (which was beautiful BTW) was another way of coming between him and Claire. It's a shame because I think his sculpture would have sold anyway. I'm not sure that Russell buying Claire's print was a good idea. And I have to admit I am warming up to the relationship between Ruth and Arthur. There's a real passion in Ruth's eyes when she's with Arthur that I didn't see with Bettina. And the corpse of the week...was that the first one that was a suicide? Excellent episode.

Gideon58

02-24-25, 12:16 AM

Season Three, Ep 10. Not thrilled about the return of Taylor. Nice to see Rico and Vanessa reigniting their sex life. Glad David was honest with Keith about the threesomes. Why would Nate challenge a customer who wants to spend more money? Didn’t understand Nate’s. breakdown in front of Ruth. Olivier’s gushing to Claire sounded so phony. Finally we got the explosion from Russell I’ve been anticipating. Shocked Lisa is actually leaving Nate alone with Maya. “I love intimacy. Intimacy is my best friend.” Arthur’s a virgin. Should have seen that coming. Billy and Brenda are acting like a married couple…ick. “Honestly Arthur I don’t care what our laundry does.” Why would Russell have sex with Olivier? Why was Russell so shocked by Claire’s reaction to his confession? Love that David wants to buried next to Keith. Nice to see Vanessa might be coming out of her funk. “You can’t have people say persimmons and pineapples with American accents.” Billy seems really broken again. Has Brenda finally woken up regarding Billy? It’s those pills that are affecting Vanessa. That scene with James Pickens Jr, Mathew St Patrick and Michael C Hall was excellent. Liked the reveal that Nate was conceived before Ruth and Nate Sr were married. I’m glad Nate and Brenda stopped themselves for all the good it will do. Where’s Lisa?

Gideon58

02-25-25, 01:05 PM

Season Three, Ep 11. First of all, I don't really believe that anything happened to Lisa because Lili Taylor's name appeared in the opening credits and I don't think it's just because of that little dream scene that Nate had. Wow, Vanessa has gone totally Judy Garland on all that medication she's been taking and I knew trouble was coming when she asked Rico for that credit card. Lauren Ambrose could have used this episode for her Emmy reel, especially her scenes with Russell and Olivier. It's fascinating that she's disgusted with what happened between Russell and Olivier, but she wants the exact details about it and that Russell doesn't want to talk about it at all. Interesting that Olivier didn't feel any shame or remorse about it, hope we've seen the last of him. I know we'll be seeing more of Russell since Claire is pregnant. I was hoping she would tell David, because Claire really needs someone to talk to now. I feel so bad for David who is so confused about his relationship with Keith right now. For two heterosexual actors, the chemistry between Michael C Hall and Mathew St Patrick continues to be off the charts. Well Billy finally came out and said he was in love with Brenda. i just hope she heard it. Jeremy Sisto was wonderful in that scene. Three corpses of the week...did not see that coming. I was intrigued by the fact that guest star James Cromwell was there for Dorothy Su's service. I was hoping we were going to learn that he was having an affair with her and I hope we haven't seen the last of him either. Can't believe all that fuss Margaret (Joanna Cassidy) made about spreading hubby's ashes and then just threw them over the balcony? Seriously? Good episode.

Gideon58

02-27-25, 12:57 PM

Season Three, Ep 12. This episode had me talking back to the screen for pretty much the whole hour. OK, I am totally bamboozled by Lisa's disappearance...all of those scenes involving Lisa seem to be pointing to the fact that she is dead. I don't remember who that guy was who talked her into abandoning Maya and getting in the car with him and driving off and then have her run into the corpse of the week who had just been executed for murdering several women and then we see Nate talking to her at the end of the hour? I don't know what the hell's going on there. I mentioned in my previous recap that I was hooping we would see more of James Cromwell, but I didn't expect the next time we'd see him that he'd be in bed with Ruth. Cromwell and Frances Conroy are generating some chemistry though. Not sure if I buy the stories he offered her about his six marriages, but I'm glad Ruth wanted to hear about them before even thinking about marrying this guy. And may I mention that James Cromwell is excellent physical shape for a man his age? I was heartbroken by everything that happened with David and Keith. I understand the misery that David is in, but I hate that he cheated on Keith and I don't like that guy at all. He has no chemistry with Michael C Hall, who BTW, nailed that breakup scene with Keith. I hate that Claire had an abortion and the only person who knows about it is Brenda. And why did Claire want those flowers?

Gideon58

03-01-25, 06:38 PM

The Third Season Finale. Well, I am relieved that the Lisa mystery has been solved even if I'm not crazy about the way they went about it. I got the whole thing of Nate acting out, screaming at people for no reason and pickoing up strange women in bars, but, I don't know, I expected something a little more original from this show. I don't like the fact that we weren't told exactly what happened and I HATE that Nate's grief and anger brought him to Brenda's door of all places. I wasn't surpirsed, but I hated it. I can't believe George and Ruth got married so quickly. Not that I expected her childrens' objections to stop Ruth, but I can't believe that she wouldn't put a little more thought and time into marrying a man who has been married six times before. They seemed very happy after the ceremony but I have this feeling that this guy is going to somehow break Ruth's heart next season. And what was that crying jag that Claire had during the ceremony? Loved Claire's heavenly reunion with Gabriel, but again, I wish we were privy to exactly what happened to him, but he did seem happy. I'n glad David and Keith haven't given up on each other. I'm glad David was honest with Keith about sleeping with Patrick and equally relieved that Keith was able to shake it off and move on. And though I've had mixed feelings about him this season, I was very sad to see Rico's title as the show's best husband yanked away from him.

Gideon58

03-02-25, 07:10 PM

The Fourth Season got off to a pretty smooth start. I don't remember that flash back that scene where Lisa (Lili Taylor) is telling Nate what she wants done with her body when she dies. I did think it was interesting when David pointed out to Nate that what Lisa wanted was illegal and could cost the Fishers their license. Ben Foster and Lauren Ambrose were superb in the scene where Claire tried to drop the news casually to Russell about aborting his baby. I cannot believe she thought she was going to get away with that and for the first time in a few episodes, I felt bad for Russell. I'm glad that Nate and Brenda both realized that their return to the bedroom was a mistake and I like the way it was conveyed without any dialogue. Brenda's neighbor, played by the ridiculously talent Justin Theroux, is coming off as a little too good to be true right now. He's making all the right moves with Brenda right now and that's a serious red flag for me. I have to admit being tickled by the rest of the Fishers kept awake by George and Ruth's noise in the bedroom. And for the record, I still think George is hiding something other than six marriages. I think it has something to do with his children, whom he has refused to talk about with Ruth. Loved that scene when David picked up Lisa's body and went off on the embalmer, as well as Rico's confession of his sins. Glad Vanessa kicked her sister out too...Freddy Rodriguez played that scene perfectly. I've noticed with the arrival of James Cromwell as George, Rainn's Wilson's role as Arthur has been reduced to practically nothing. Veronica Cartwright was superb as Lisa's mother. And that final scene with Nate was a heartbreaker. Peter Krause was wonderful...loved that shot of him under that tree that looked like the evil tree in Poltergeist.

Gideon58

03-11-25, 01:38 PM

Season 4, Ep 2. Love that bumper sticker. Was that Beth Grant as the corpse of the week? Arthur eats cottage cheese, he's officially a weirdo. It's been three months since the last episode? That's a bit of a time leap between two episodes. With Ruth now married to George, they don't seem to know what to do with Arthur now. The widower seems to be taking the death of his wife a little too well. As correct as Nate was, it was none of his business to tell the man how to grieve. Was there some reason we needed to see Arthur labeling his items in the refrigerator? This girl Anita is just being a little too aggressively friendly with Claire. Nate seems to be channeling his anger about Lisa with the widower of the week. There's something very creepy about the place where Keith had his job interview. Rico's still seeing that stripper? Seriously? I don't believe it. Brenda's studying to be a therapist? Brenda is the last person who should be a therapist. Nate had a sexual fantasy with the corpse of the week? That's new territory on this show. Celebrity security is Keith's new job? Seems like there's something about this job we don't know yet. George definitely doesn't like Arthur. George didn't see Arthur's name on the yogurt? I'm a little disappointed in Keith feeling the need to join in with his co-workers on the girl watching. Brenda and Justin Theroux have certainly come a long way in three months and I feel like we missed a lot of what might have been interesting to see. Do they even have Shakey's Pizza anymore? Mena Suvari looked a,azing. "Your penis is nice...too bad you're attached to it."

ScarletLion

03-11-25, 01:43 PM

I'm about to start this show. Never seen it. Wish me luck.

Stirchley

03-12-25, 12:53 PM

I'm about to start this show. Never seen it. Wish me luck.

You don’t need luck. It’s an excellent tv series.

Gideon58

03-17-25, 02:08 PM

Season 4, Ep 3. Wow, the opening scene really dated this show someone using a phone book, LOL! I knew exactly what was going on with Arthur and David's first scene. The parents of the corpse of the week didn't know what they daughter's favorite color was? A fisher garage sale? Nothing good could come of that. "Mammy cookie jar", LOL! Nate in a Mommy and Me Class also sounds like a receipe for disaster. Looking at the size of Maya, there seems to have been another big time leap since the last episode. What the hell is going on with Russell's hair? "Like Christine, without the ass hanging out some chaps." Impressed with the show's attempt of Brenda and Joe (Justin Theroux) attempting to practice safe sex. They might be hinting at some sort of sexual issues for him. Did Arthur actually say "one and one half hours"? Nobody talks like that. Love Ruth's "gardening togs." George's dancing around the question regarding their gift basket was very telling. I don't see someone from Ruth's past doing that? I understand Keith's inclination regarding Arthur, but I don't think Arthur is gay. David's sudden attention to Arthur seems kind of odd and so is the fact that Keith seems to have no problem with it. Infinity is such a drama queen, I don't see what Rico sees in her. I think she's going to be getting Rico in some serious financial trouble. Infinity didn't ask for the surgery money because she assumed Rico would offer. I can't believe he's doing this, Rico's brain disappears every time he's around this woman. Can't place the actress playing the single mom chasing Nate. She's got a nanny and a housekeeper? This woman must be loaded. Was that Jacob Elordi as the party host in the overalls? Mena Suvari was killing it in those stylized fish net stockings. It never occurred tome that Arthur sent the gift basket. Rainn Wilson was superb in that scene where Ruth confronted him about it. Personally, I think the basket is from one of George's ex-wives or one of his children. "I've known guys who can only come when sitting on a balloon." Not really understanding what Brenda meant by "normal sex." "Can't believe I drank so much and didn't have fun." Didn't realize until this episode that Edie (Mena Suvari) is a lesbian. Rico's fantasy was sick. Love that Nate took Arthur's resignation so well. That girl playing Celeste looked like the late Michelle Trachtenberg. Loved that Keith wouldn't let Ellen into her dressing room. Are we supposed to care about the fact that this Celeste is being stalked by Colin Ferrell. They seem to wan us to think that Arthur sent the basket which makes me more convinced that it's someone from George's past. Nate seems a lot more serious about the single mom than she is about him. He seems to be taking it a little harder than he should as well. He just met this woman. That little ice cap fantasy was kind of odd. I noticed David is the only one who is bothered by Arthur quitting, even Ruth doesn't seem too upset. I'm feeling a big bowl of more secrets coming from Joe. It's weird that neighbors didn't alert the police about this fire. It seems a bonfire in front of a business couldn't possibly be legal. This was a good episode, but, for some reason, it felt like it was four hours long.

Gideon58

03-22-25, 01:00 PM

Season Four, Ep 4. OK, I feel like I missed something somewhere, but when did Olivier, Claire's ex-art teacher, who we had just learned had seduced Russell (Ben Foster), start dating Brenda's mother (Joanna Cassidy)? She was beyond rude to Brenda during that little dinner party with Olivier and Joe. Brenda continues to be a sexual hot mess as right in the middle of her BDSM session with Joe, she invited Nate to join them. I think she really wants to have a relationship with both of them and poor Joe just seems oblivious. I knew it wasn't Arthur who sent Ruth and George the excrement, but Ruth might have overstepped when she arranged that reunion between George and his illegitimate son, who still apparently hates George's guts. I also think we've just tipped open the Pandora box of George secrets. I'm not having any issues with the theory that Lisa might still be alive, but that whole thing of the dog leading Nate to the psychic (Jodi Long) was stupid. The information we were provided about Lisa's death was pretty vague, so I'm totally open to the fact that she might be alive. I'm enjoying this story regarding Keith being conflicted about coming out at work...I actually screamed when he referenced Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life. That stripper Infinity seems to be going into full Alex Forrest mode with Rico, he needs to get away from her.

MovieMeditation

03-22-25, 01:58 PM

Gideon58 how would you say your overall impression is of the show now being in the fourth season?

I did like what I saw but only saw 2/3 of the first season and never got back to it.

Gideon58

03-22-25, 02:03 PM

I am loving this show, it's not exactly steeped in realism, so if that's what you're looking for, this is not your show. There seems to be a lot of time jumps between episodes that they don't really explain, but the acting and directing is nothing short of superb. Michael C Hall and Frances Conroy are consistently amazing. Several episodes in the first three seasons were directed by Kathy Bates.

Gideon58

03-23-25, 06:27 PM

Season Four, Ep 5. I am still in shock here trying to think about what I want to say about one of the most bat sh8t crazy hours of televison I have ever seen. The writers lured me into a false sense of security watching David being all paranoid about Keith starting a new job and possibly finding someone else. Of course, my first thought is that David is going to find someone new first and was actually patting myself on the back when we saw David picking up a hitchhiker. I knew something wasn't right when he said to David "You look gay" because that's something gay people just don't say to each other, but I had no idea how dark and dangerous Jake would become. It took me the entire hour to figure out where I had seen the actor playing Jake before. His name is Michael Weston and I know him from Law and Order: SVU where he played Olivia Benson's half brother, Simon Marsden. As the horror progressed, I couldn't help but wonder how differently the whole thing might have played out if David had been straight. I also couldn't help thinking of the legal issues that David might be facing regarding the fate of the corpse of the week. This story was brilliantly directed, written and acted. Every time we thought it was over, it wasn't. I can't remember the last time something on TV had me on the edge of my chair the way this episode did. And imagine my horror when IMDB research revealed that the Jake character is appearing in three more episodes! Hall and Weston both deserved Emmys for their work in this heart stopping story. Ruth playing matchmaker for George's son has disaster written all over it. Rico needs to extricate himself freom Infinity before she goes into full Alex Forrest mode...can't believe she actually showed up at the funeral home and kissed him in front of Nate. Wanted to slap Margaret (Joanna Cassidy) during her lunch with Brenda (Rachel Griffiths). This woman has no filter at all, she reminds me of Allison Janney's character on Mom. Loved that scene with the bereavement group where Nate was finally starting to open up about his feelings, but why interrupt it with a fire alarm? That was weird.

Frightened Inmate No. 2

03-23-25, 06:28 PM

one of the best tv episodes of all time

Gideon58

03-24-25, 02:20 PM

Season Four, Ep 6. I can't lie, after the last episode I was a little scared to watch this one. My heart was breaking for David. Michael C Hall superbly conveyed David's guilt, shame, and fear about what happened to him. I was relieved that he actually shared what happened with Keith and his family, despite the expected smothering which he wasn't feeling at all. Loved that Keith was on the case and it seemed like Claire was the only one he told about having gasoline poured on him. Speaking of Claire, I'm kind of bored with her taking art classes and refusing to take any criticism from any of her teachers. Not thrilled with her new little circle of friends. I'm actually surprised that Russell still wants to hang with her despite the fact that she aborted his baby. What was so important to that kid Jimmy that he had to interrupt David's party only clad in his underwear, but it couldn't wait for him to get dressed? Frances Conroy had some powerful moments as Ruth seems to be figuring out that she doesn't know who George is and might be wondering if marrying him was a mistake. She and James Cromwell were magnificent in that final scene they had together. Cromwell is giving me chills as George. What an underrated actor. The relationship between Brenda and Joe is moving WAY too fast, though Brenda does realize it, evidenced by her sheet fantasy in the linen store. Unfortunately, it looks like she's headed back to Nate, which I am not at all happy about. I didn't realize until this episode that Nate had quit the funeral parlor, but I'm glad he seems to be back, David really needs him right now. The writers seem to be protecting Rico....that story he told Vanessa was so bad and I just didn't buy that she bought it. Excellent episode.

Gideon58

03-24-25, 05:21 PM

Season Four, Ep7. May I say that Mena Suvari hasn't aged a bit since American Beauty? OK, I thought Infinity was crazy, but she's not crazy, she's just a straight up whore. What does "I got the damn lupus!" mean? LOVED that scene with Ruth and George's ex-wives. Though I have to wonder why have the wives appear in front of Ruth but not provide her with any assistance. I cannot believe Rico is still trying to conduct business from the moral high ground he was on before meeting Infinity. Why is Rico acting like a martyr now? Claire is really starting to get on my nerves. What is this "normal sex" stuff that Brenda keeps referring to? Why did Nate feel the need to retrieve that condom? I wonder what Ruth started to say and stopped herself when George announced he was going to be gone tomorrow. Just noticed that was Bobby Cannavale as Celeste's other security guard. "Please don't minimize my severe depression, I would never do that to you." That is Michelle Trachtenberg playing Celeste. So glad Keith came out to Javier George hoarding water from Ruth, shame on him. Interesting that Nate is lying about being back with Brenda. Why would Russell still want to sleep with the woman who aborted his baby behind his back? Why are they dancing around Claire and Edie, it's coming for half a dozen episodes, let's get to it so that Russell can try and come between them? Joe is really sweet and Brenda is going to break his heart in two. Loving Brooke Smith as Claire's new teacher? Loved her on Grey's Anatomy. Nice to see Patricia Clarkson back as Sarah. Ruth really needs her sister right now. Kathy Bates is back too? Wait, are she and Sarah together? "Rico's charity has a double D." Can't wait to see what Vanessa does to Rico. Poor David, I'm beginning to wonder if he will ever get past this. Is Nate seriously trying to juggle the pet lady with Brenda? That was extremely rude the way George dismissed himself from the hen party, I mean understand him not wanting to talk, but he could have been nicer about it. I hope Celeste wasn't kidding about Javier. That dinner table scene with Rico and Vanessa was excellent. So glad David and the bartender hooked up, but I wasn't surprised David couldn't go through with it. Love the joke Javier played on Keith. Would't mind seeing those two have a brief encounter. Bobby Cannvale is such a sexy guy. Either have Lisa show up alive, or stop having her inside Nate's head.

Gideon58

03-26-25, 01:30 PM

Season 4, Ep 8. Wow, this was one slightly overstuffed but very entertaining hour of television drama. No surprises where Claire and Edie (Mena Suvari) were concerned. I knew from the that first scene of the two them basking in the afterglow that Claire wasn't really feeling it, I'm just glad that she was able to be honest with Edie about it before the show concluded. I also wanted to mention that in my previous thread I mentioned how Mena Suvari hadn't aged since American Beauty, but I forgot this season was only five years after American Beauty. I was practically jumping up and down when Joe finally caught Brenda and found out exactly the kind of woman she is. Joe (Justin Theroux) was pretty classy about the whole thing too. I loved that he didn't blame Nate for any of it and just let him and Maya go. There was some more Emmy worthy work from Frances Conroy and James Cromwell as Ruth and George's marriage reached a breaking point. What did she mean in the note she left that she was going to contact the authorities...contact the authorities about what? Lot of interesting stuff happened with Keith and David. Can't believe what that bitch Celeste (the late Michelle Trachtenberg) did to Keith. Loved Javier (Bobby Cannavale) coming onto Keith as well. Totally didn't see the reappearance of Sarge on the canvas, though I did see David trying to use him as some kind of substitute for Keith. I hope Keith gets home before David completely loses his mind. LOVED that fantasy at church where Jake attacked father Jack. And as insensitive as it might sound, I am really enjoying the deconstruction of Rico (Freddy Rodriguez). The guy was so critical and judgmental of everybody during the first two seasons so it's nice seeing him fall off the pedestal he had placed himself on and that fight between Vanessa, Infinity and Vanessa's sister was awesome. That final scene between Rico and Ruth was lovely too. This was a full hour, I was exhausted when it was over. Bravo.

Gideon58

03-27-25, 02:35 PM

Season 4, Ep 9. this episode was a bit of a mixed bag, a lot of stuff going on I didn't understand. I can't believe Edie lied on Claire the same way Celeste lied on Keith. I was surprised that David is now freaking out thinking Keith wants to turn straight. You would think he would have been relieved that Keith was with a woman than with a man. I also noticed he didn't mention Sarge to Keith either. Glad to see Ruth and Bettina (Kathy Bates) back together. I really hate that George doesn't seem to be the least bit interested in whether or not Ruth returns. That scene with him, Rico, and Nate at the dinner table was very strange. Loved when Ruth encountered the hotel clerk about the jacuzzi. Loved Dirk Blocker of Brookolyn Nine Nine as one of the corpse of the week's BFFs trying to steal the comic book. Didn't understand that final fantasy with Nate and his father giving up the baby, which was a male, BTW. That hairpiece they had on Richard Jenkins was the worst. Not to mention the "Death Man" costume. Also very happy that Brenda seems to finally be having a breakthrough, but as for that woman who insisted Brenda leave the meeting because she was high…first of all, this we not an AA or NA meeting and even at those meetings, if you come under the influence, they don’t make you leave, they just ask that you don’t share.

Gideon58

03-28-25, 03:06 PM

Season 40, Ep 10. OK, I have to confess that I turned off the previous ep about five minutes before it ended and did miss a couple of pertinent plot points. David did tell Keith about Sarge and I also missed the incident with the horse that sent Ruth home. Now on to this episode...It's really frustrating watching Nate's bouncing back and forth about Brenda...one episode he's telling her they're soulmates then he invites her Lisa's memorial and wants to keep her hidden. And Brenda's handling of Byron's fake suicide attempt was proof to me that this woman has no business being a therapist. Frances Conroy did Emmy-worthy work in that scene where Ruth reunited with George and laid out "the ground rules." James Cromwell matched her note for note bringing a sensitivity to George we really haven't seen. David and Keith were adorable shopping for their wedding registry and I loved the baby in the cupboard. David really needs to slow down with all this marriage and adoption stuff, I think he's really scaring Keith. Lisa's family was a little smothering of Nate and Maya upon his arrival, the thought actually crossed my mind that they were going to ask Nate if they could keep Maya and you could cut the tension between Nate, Barb, and Brenda's accidental meeting with a knife. The dinner party with Ruth, George, Kyle, and Becky...strangest dinner party conversation I have ever heard. I also found out that it is not Jacob Elordi playing Jimmy, it's Peter Facinelli. Nice to see the gorgeous Adam Rodriguez arrive on the canvas as Vanessa's high school friend, Kenny. Initially thought Vanessa was using Kenny to make Rico jealous, but she really seems to be through with Rico. Claire and Russell seem to be drifting back toward each other, but I don't think Anita or Jimmy are going to take that lying down.

Gideon58

03-30-25, 06:06 PM

Season 4, Ep 11. This was another one of those emotionally charged hours that had me talking back to the TV. I was surprised that Keith agreed to have sex with that movie director if he dropped the lawsuit against David. Though I was a little disappointed when he told the guy that he i s tired of David's trauma over the Jake incident and that he wishes David would just get over it. OK, this new side of George, this "Mr Environment/Save the Planet/ Doom and Gloom" guy is not endearing me to the character at all. And how did he get all of that water in the basement without anyone in the house noticing? And I knew he was going to find a way to get out of going to that seminar with Ruth. I cannot believe Brenda actually broached the subject of having a baby with Nate. The last thing Nate needs right now is another child and having a child with Brenda has disaster written all over it. Unfortunately, Nate is going to be too busy to have a baby since it looks like he's got a real fight ahead of him keeping Maya away from Barb and the rest of Lisa's family. That Barb is a pistol., I had been sleeping on her. Ruth was adorable in that little scene with Claire when she discovered Claire's marijuana. If someone could clarify for me what was going on with Margaret (Joanna Cassidy) that put her in the hospital? I initially thought it had something to do with menopause but I've never heard of a woman hospitalized because of menopause. That whole argument between Russell and Claire seemed silly to me and I can't believe Billy
is considering telling his mother that he had sex with Olivier? That tidbit would send Margaret out of a fifth floor window. And did I mishear the scene or were Billy and Brenda actually talking about having a baby together? Really?

Gideon58

04-03-25, 02:09 PM

Season 4, Ep 12. Another episode that had me talking back to the screen. Nate is starting to scare me, he's all over the place right now, freaking out about Lisa's family wanting to take Maya away from him. I understand because Maya seems to be Nate's only connection to reality right now. I couldn't believe that scene with Barb and her husband with Nate near the end. I can't believe he did that...it was so matter of fact. The death of the corpse of the week might have been the most brutal death we've experienced on this show. And I loved the irony of his ex-wife not wanting to have anything to do with the arrangements. My jaw was dropped during that entire scene with David and Jake in prison. I cannot believe this guy not only doesn't have a shred of remorse for what happened but felt like David was the one who wronged him. Wanted to slap Claire during her show, she really let that thing go to her head and Russell and Jimmy were right, she wouldn't have had the show at all. Freddy Rodriguez and Justina Muchado deserved Emmys for that absolutely heartbreaking scene where Vanessa asked Rico for a divorce. I got all choked up. Freddy Rodriguez is such a good actor. This whole survivalist George thing is really creeping me out. The change in George is terribly abrupt but I'm able to handle because James Cromwell is such a good actor. Why was Ruth acting so goofy with George's daughter. She looked terrified when she found George in the bomb shelter. Not happy about Keith taking that job as Roger's bodyguard...I mean, Keith said he was going to think about it, but you just know he's going to take it. Roger is so smarmy and I just want him out of Keith and David's lives. Just discovered this episode was the Season 4 finale.

Gideon58

04-05-25, 06:54 PM

The Fifth and final Season operner. I should have known that this was the season premiere since it featured another huge time jump. I'm assuming there was a time jump as I learned that Brenda was pregnant and had a miscarriage. That scene in the doctor's office was a little misleading because I initially thought she was planning an abortion. The commitment and very quick rehab of George was a little hard to swallow, even though Frances Conroy was just brilliant as her fear and anger about what was going on with George came through in every move he made. Loved when the doctor told Ruth they were releasing George and she bellowed that he wasn't ready yet. It was interesting the amount of screentime they devoted to the corpse of the week. It seemed like the writers were implying that the poor woman was better off dead. And then there was one more brief scene with her sister and nad it was dropped for the rest of the episode. That dinner party conversation with Keith and David discussion adoption vs surrogacy was interesting. Of course, David and Keith want a child but are torn about how to do it. I was so relieved during that scene with David and Nate on the beach before the wedding that he really isn't interested in having another baby with Brenda that he is only doing it for her. Joanna Cassidy looked breathtaking in that scene before the wedding with Brenda. That scene with Brenda and Lisa's ghost was freaking brilliant, Lisa pushed all of Brenda's buttons. Lilli Taylor rocked that scene. The scene where the Fisher siblings went on the porch to get high and all admitted that their significant others don't like when they get high as was David's fantasy homage to The Bachelorette .

Gideon58

04-08-25, 01:38 PM

Season Five, Ep 2. Very interesting hour. Loved the idea of the corpse of the week being a guy that Nate and David went to high school with. Loved David's confession that he used to have a crush on him that ended when he discovered the guy's tattoo. My heart is breaking for Ruth...Frances Conroy did Emmy-worthy work in this episode as Ruth is reaching the end of her rope with George, seemingly wanting to get out of this marriage, but for some reason, feeling obligated to stay with George. James Cromwell nailed George's little meltdown near the end of the show regarding neopolitan ice cream. I knew the minute Brenda walked into that staff meeting at her new internship that she was going to be able to handle it but I also wanted to slap Margaret (Joanna Cassidy) when she basically told Brenda I told you so. Not surprised that Claire was not down with donating eggs to David and Keith, but that barnyard fantasy with Mathew St Patrick in the overalls was hysterical...when it first began, I thought Michael C Hall was going to sing. Sean O'Bryan was an eye-opener as the high school buddy of Nate's who has the hots for his daughter's best friend. Just realized that was Jenna Fisher from The Office playing Sharon. Why did she just ghost Rico (Freddy Rodriguez) like that? And my jaw dropped when he lied to Vanessa about Sharon in an attempt to manipulate her. That was so NOT Rico. Really liked that scene where Claire's teacher refused to do anything with her wedding photos. He was absolutely correct and Claire needed to be brought down a few pegs. I also figured out that whatever was going on with Billy (Jeremy Sisto) had something to do with his meds.

Gideon58

04-09-25, 02:00 PM

Season Five, Ep 3. I was a little thrown by the corpse of the week being George's mother, but as the episode progressed I figured out why. The actress who played her was superb BTW. Watching her deal with her latest angry patient, I am still convinced that Brenda has no business being a therapist. Some strong work by Lauren Ambrose in this episode as Claire got on board with Billy's idea of moving to Spain, but finding out she couldn't access her money, which led to that fantastic scene with Frances Conroy where Claire and Ruth seemed to end their relationship. I still have this sneaking suspicion that Billy had something to do with Claire not being able to get to her money, especially when he came home with all that stuff near the end of the show and that earlier scene where he got way too angry upon learning Claire couldn't get her money. I'm glad Roger didn't give David and Keith any trouble with that contract, but of course, David's Vegas indiscretion had to come back to bite them in the ass. That fight scene with David and Keith in the car was excellent. Cannot believe Brenda backed out of dinner at the Fishers to have dinner with her new boss (Anne Ramsay), and then demanded that Nate be home for dinner the next night. And why didn't David even bring up her blowing off dinner with family? That was so cute when Rico and Vanessa ran into each other at the church social. And I have to say it, I have always loved Illeana Douglas as an actress but she has zero chemistry with Freddy Rodriguez. James Cromwell was heartbreaking in that final moment where he asked Maggie to help him get more shock treatment behind Ruth's back, who seems to be reaching the end of her rope with George anyway.

Gideon58

04-10-25, 02:00 PM

Season Five, Ep 4. Hands down, the best episode of the season thus far. We got Emmy-worthy work from James Cromwell and Jeremy Sisto as George finally realized that the shock treatment might not be working and that he is driving Ruth (Frances Conroy) even though she's denying it and Billy going off his meds was not his best idea, evidenced in his reaction to learning Brenda is pregnant and that Claire (Lauren Ambrose) slept with Joe Pesci Jr. I did really like that little bonding scene that George and Billy had near the end of the show. Nice to see that Nate and Brenda are on the same page regarding this baby, even if it's not the page they're supposed to be on. Even Nate Sr (Richard Jenkins) sees it . And maybe I'm overthinking it, but did it seem odd to anyone else that Brenda invited her brand new boss (Anne Ramsay) to her husband's birthday party? Was not thrilled with the introduction of Roger's hot mess of an ex-wife and his smart-alecky kids. It seems to imply that Keith is going to be tethered to this guy until the show is over which I'm not crazy about. I saw what happened between David and that barber coming, but was very happy that David stopped it. Very happy to see that Rico and Vanessa might be on the road to reconciliation. With what's going on with Billy, I'm hoping Claire is re-thinking moving to Spain and makes amends with her mother. A heart-pounding hour of television.

Gideon58

04-11-25, 02:15 PM

Season Five, Ep 5. Loved all the arguing with the family of the corpse of the week regarding what he would have wanted. I was sure we were going to get a fantasy cutaway of Nate talking to the corpse and him telling him what he really wanted. We got the cutaway but it didn't go as I expected. Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) was wrong, wrong, wrong to try and talk to Maya about Lisa without discussing it with Nate first. It was not her place to do that and IMO Maya is too young for that. I hate that Nate apologized to her and they had the conversation with Maya at the show, which I still think Maya was too young for. It's too bad Ruth is ignoring all the good advice she is getting from her new girlfriends about George. I loved when she compared the sound of George's voice to nails on a blackboard. I'm not sure why she decided that she and George (James Cromwell) need to move. I don't think moving is the answer, she needs to get away from George, but her inexplicable guilt is keeping her tied to him. Everything with Keith and David was great. I knew the timing of Mary's pregnancy was off and they would end up adopting David. I also realized where I had seen Mary before...that's Jennifer Elise Cox, who played Jan in the Brady Bunch movies. I also think, but cannot confirm, that the kid who played David played young Ray Charles in the Jamie Foxx film Ray. I loved that David and Keith had no discussion about taking David's older brother as well. Claire was really pissing me off initially as she was lying around her mother's house smoking pot and resenting being asked to get a job, but then her confrontation with Billy (Jeremy Sisto, in another chilling turn), actually using his mother to get Claire to meet with him. Margaret's blind spot toward Billy is frightening too and the fact that it hasn't occurred to anyone that Billy has gone off his meds is a little hard to believe.

Gideon58

04-13-25, 11:07 PM

Season Five, Ep 6. This epoisode was directed by Mary Harron, who directed American Psycho. OK, let me get this straight...Fiona, the corpse of the week is Sarah's lover and took Nate's virginity when he was 15 years old? Sarah (Patricia Clarkson) has turned into a bubbling mess and Nate seemed curiously unmmoved by the news. I was impressed that one of Sarah's girlfriends was writer Susie Bright. The last time I saw Bright was when she offered commentary for the documentary The Celluloid Closet. There had to be at least a month time jump between this epeisode and the last one since David and Keith already have Anthony and Durrell. I'm really surprised that Keith is already at the end of his rope after just a couple of weeks. Glad that David isn't giving up, can't believe Keith thought it was going to be all Brady Bunch right from the start. Loved Megan Fey as the social worker, who I will always remember as Cathy Bowman on Roseanne. I knew the second that Claire was pinning all her hopes on getting that grant that she wasn't going to get it. Her rant about panty hose was dumb, but I loved the fantasy where she sang "You Light Up My Life". Was that really Lauren Ambose singing? It was so sublte that I really didn't figure out what Ruth was doing with George until the end of the show. James Cromwell was lovely in that farewell scene with Frances Conroy. Very happy that Vanessa asked Rico to move back in, but it felt like she was doing it for the practicality of taking care of her boys as opposed to really wanting Rico back. Jayma Mays was cute as the weirdo Vanessa hired to be their maid. Ccannot believe Brenda is going back to being Billy's caretaker again...two steps forward and one step back.

Gideon58

04-16-25, 01:44 PM

Season Five, Ep 7. A couple of surprises in this episode i didn't see coming. My jaw dropped when George (James Cromwell) told Ruth (Frances Conroy) that he wanted a quickie divorce because he's engaged to be married for the eighth time. This can only mean that he started seeing this woman before he and Ruth separated. I liked that Ruth felt obligated to warn the woman (Cynthia Stevenson) about George. That was scary when George showed up at the house to yell at Ruth, I was sure he was going to break that glass and come after her. Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) is scared to death about losing this baby and I thought she was going to dissolve into a puddle of water in that doctor's office. And why is it whenever Brenda is upset about something, she always calls her self-centered mother (Joanna Cassidy) who NEVER makes her feel better? That top Cassidy was wearing in that first scene with Brenda was gorgeous. Did Margaret seriously admit to Brenda that she's cheating on Olivier and asked Brenda to cover for her? Everything with David and Keith and their new family was strange...why would Durrell go under their bed, break into a locked box and sit in front of the TV before breakfast with his little brother and watch gay porn? And my mouth opened again when David and Keith went to throw their porn away...who the hell has two garbage bags full of porn? I never understood exactly why Durrell didn't want David and Keith to attend his recital, but I'm glad they did and that cutaway of Michael C Hall singing "Blow Gabriel Blow" was adorable. They seem to be pushing Nate and Maggie together, but I'm feeling no chemistry with those two. On other hand, I saw major heat between between Lauren Ambrose and Chris Messina as her new co-worker Ted. Have loved Messina ever since he was on The Mindy Project. My instinct about Vanessa seemed to be on the money...she wanted Rico home to help with the kids but has absolutely no desire to resume her marriage. I feel bad for Rico, but he did sort of bring this on himself.

honeykid

04-17-25, 02:35 PM

And why is it whenever Brenda is upset about something, she always calls her self-centered mother (Joanna Cassidy) who NEVER makes her feel better?
When that's all you have, that's who you turn to. Obviously it never works and she's repeating the same mistakes, but breaking that cycle would mean having no one.

Gideon58

04-21-25, 01:38 PM

Season Five, Ep 8. This episode was a bit of a mixed bag. My jaw dropped when Durrell pulled a knife on Keith. That kid needs to go to one of those teen boot camps they used to show on daytime talk shows. Rico (Freddy Rodriguez) was right when he told Nate that he shouldn't have been doing the intake with the parents of the corpse of the week because he wanted to practice his Spanish. That kind of "practicing" was extremely disrespectful to the clients and Rico should have been doing it from the start. On the other hand, we began to regress back to the Rico of season one as he was bragging to Nate and David about all the business his name on the sign is bringing to the funeral parlor and I think the last thing the Fishers need to be doing right now is purchasing a crematorium. On the third hand, I'm glad Vanessa was finally honest with Rico about how she felt. It's not full blown reconciliation, but Vanessa's honesty gives them somewhere to work from. One step forward and two steps back as Nate and Brenda's marriage continues to fall apart. Wanted to cheer when Brenda's boss told her to shut the f*ck up. Brenda really needed to hear that. Couldn't figure out why Ted (Chris Messina) didn't hold the elevator for Claire when he saw her climbing out of the hearse. Their first kiss was pretty hot though. Russell (Ben Foster) was freaking me out, he was acting like he had been lobotomized. Ruth scared me when she was sitting in front of the mirror cutting off her hair. And sure didn't see the return of Ed Begley Jr's character coming either. Not happy that Nate slept with Maggie because this woman's behavior with Nate is scaring me...she doesn't seem to care that Nate is married and has a baby on the way, her behavior is bordering on obsession, but it all might become moot after what happened to Nate in the final scene.

Gideon58

04-22-25, 02:25 PM

Season Five, Ep 9. Still in shock after watching this episode. The opening death of the corpse of the week actually made me jump out of my skin. Maggie was really pissing me off when she arrived at the hospital. I hated that she was in such a self-preservation mode that she might have been holding back information that the doctors might have needed to help him, particularly the fact that she and Nate had just had sex, though it didn't take long for Brenda to figure that out. I am absolutely loving the way David is embracing being a father. BTW, I did confirm the young actor playing Anthony is the same kid who played young Ray Robinson in Ray. That first scene with Claire and Ted (Chris Messina) out to dinner had me thinking they were going to break up over opposing politics, but then he accompanied Claire to the hospital which I thought was very cool. Though when they said goodbye in their final scene, Claire’s feeling for him seemed a lot stronger than his feelings for her. I thought it was very strange that Keith and David brought Anthony and Durrell to the hospital. It was equally strange that David didn't catch onto the fact that Anthony had some sort of issue with hospitals since he had been an angel until this episode. LOVED Ruth's shooting gallery sequence with all the men in her life, including Nate Sr (Richard Jenkins)..didn't connect how she went from that to the bus full of Asian women though. Was initially confused by the out of body fantasies that Nate was having and was happy that they finally manifested in him ending his relationship with Brenda and once we got to the fantasy with Nate, David, and their father getting high in the van, I suspected what was going on and, unfortunately I was correct. Couldn't believe it. Speechless.

Gideon58

04-24-25, 06:44 PM

Season Five, Ep 10. Ok, I'm just going to say it...one f the most extraordinary hours of televison I have ever experienced that had me in tears for the majority of the episode and should have won Emmys for the writer, the irector, Michael C Hall, Frances Conroy and Rachel Griffiths. I didn't think they could top the David carjaking episode but they did. The last hour of tekevsion that moved me the way this one did ws the "Fishes" episode of The Bear. It was a ittle unsettling watching the opening scenes of David doing the intake because it seemed like David wanted to make the arrangements that he wanted to make. It was weird that he was offering all kinds of information about what kind of funeral Nate wanted that no one else knew about. I have to admit I was toally thrown by the reveal that Nate had agreed to have his organs harvested. I actually gasped when that attendant opened the bag to reveal Nate's body. Frances Conroy beautifully cnveyed her heartbreak about not beng there when Nate passed, almost making it all abut her. Ironically, the only personn who seemed to make the event all about her was Margaret (Joanna Cassidy) her weepy theatrics during the funeral were beyond inappropriate, but classic margaret. This might be the first episode where I've had any sympathy for Brenda. She seemed more obsessed with getting Maggie to admit she had sex with Nate than actually grieving for Nate. After she yelled at Maya for not eating her applesauce, I knew that before the episode was over, Brenda would ask Ruth to take care of Maya, which thrilled me beyond no end because her raiging Maya and her own baby would have been a huge mistake. I felt so bad for Keith, doing his damndest to be the husband David needed at this time and often helpless to be what his husband needed. I hate that Roger pulled Keith away from David for his drama and I was shocked when it was revealed that Roger taped their evening together. I got the impression Keith didn't know about it. I hateed that David had hallucinations of Jake that appearance of Nate Sr (Richard Jenkins) with David was absolutely brutal. Freddy Rodriguez looked fantastic (I have to admit I have always had a little crush on Freddy) and his breakdown at the funeral was so sweet it was obvious he had a lot more he wanted to say, btu couldn't get through it. Loved the poem Sarah(Patricia Clarkson) read at the service. I was a little surprised that George (James Cromwell) attended the service and even more surprised that he actually got up to speak, but I loved every word he said. I also love that Ted (Chris Messina) dropped everything to be with Claire whn she told him about Nate but was very unhappy that Claire did not dress for the funeral. Tat really bothered me, but it's the sort of Claire-esque. I was also not thrilled that our ast glance of Brenda was in the arms of nutburger brother, Billy (Jeremy Sisto), but anyway you slice it, a breathtaking hour that had my emotions all over the place.