Twenty-four years after its series finale, the HBO drama Six Feet Under remains a must-watch, with a series finale that is still beautiful, moving, and haunting. This critically acclaimed show is regarded as one of the best HBO dramas, telling a compelling story about the members of the Fisher family, who run Fisher & Sons funeral home.
When deciding which older shows to watch, knowing which ones have satisfying final episodes can be helpful. Many things can go wrong when tying up loose ends, but the last moments of Six Feet Under will leave you impressed — and likely shedding a few tears.
Twenty Years After Its Debut, Six Feet Under Is Still A Show Everyone Should See
The premise is what makes Six Feet Under so incredible, even two decades after its premiere on HBO in 2001. You might think that a show about a family who owns a funeral home would be depressing, but instead, it presents a memorable story that captures the randomness of death and the difficulty of accepting the inevitable.
The tone shifts from humorous to dark, often within the same scene, and it features a particularly engaging narrative structure. A character dies in the first scene of each Six Feet Under episode, often in disturbing ways. Even though you know these scenes are coming, they remain shocking.
Six Feet Under has been praised for its remarkable cast, many of whom have starred in other popular family dramas since then, from Parenthood to Brothers & Sisters. However, it was this unique combination of cast members that made the show work so effectively.
Lauren Ambrose, Michael C. Hall, and Peter Krause portrayed the Fisher siblings Claire, David, and Nate, and you truly feel the anguish each character experiences. Frances Conroy’s performance as Ruth Fisher, who mourns her husband Nathaniel (Richard Jenkins), is particularly strong. The supporting actors are also exceptional, including Mathew St. Patrick and Patricia Clarkson.
The inciting incident establishes that this won’t be an ordinary soap opera filled with love stories and career changes. The Fishers confront death daily due to their family business but are completely unprepared when their patriarch passes away.
This creates a compelling starting point for the story, making it easy to want to comfort the Fishers and assure them that everything will be okay, despite Ruth’s prickly nature. The character development is top-notch here, with Ruth being a carefully crafted character who fears deep emotions.
Six Feet Under Has One Of Television’s Best Endings, Making It A Rare Gem
While Six Feet Under has many strengths, the outstanding series finale truly cements its legacy. The episode features significant life moments such as Nate’s love interest Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) giving birth to their daughter Willa, and it brilliantly brings the story full circle while revealing how each main character dies.
Instead of merely depicting these deaths, however, the series continually cuts back to Claire driving from Los Angeles to New York City. This emphasizes that while everyone dies, there is still so much life to experience. The Sia song “Breathe Me” complements this beautifully. The actors in Six Feet Under consistently deliver impressive performances, with Lauren Ambrose particularly shining in this episode.
The deaths themselves feel natural and are fitting for each character. Ruth is surrounded by her loved ones at the hospital when she is 78 years old, which is heartwarming because she knows they care for her despite tough times. Although it’s sad to see David die, it’s comforting to imagine him reunited with his late husband Keith Charles (Mathew St. Patrick).
The deaths of Claire and Nate are perhaps the most powerful and beautiful moments. Claire is 101 when her time comes, and it’s inspiring to learn that she became a successful photographer. Nate’s death from illness is tragic since he is still relatively young.
This storyline is significant because this time around, the family is better equipped to handle such a major loss. Many of the death scenes in the finale also depict characters seeing ghosts of loved ones, reinforcing the emotional message that death does not end love.
The most memorable TV series finales carry meaning, emotion, and perhaps some humor, but the finale of Six Feet Under prompts reflection on your own life, your close relationships, and what may happen at life’s end. These are not easy thoughts to ponder but remind viewers that life encompasses both heavy and beautiful moments.
Where To Stream Six Feet Under In 2025
You can stream the series on HBO Max and Netflix. With five seasons of Six Feet Under, you will spend plenty of time with the Fisher family and find it impossible not to love them while hoping they achieve their dreams.
After experiencing the epic finale of Six Feet Under, you’ll appreciate having gone through this emotional journey — you may even want to rewatch the last episode multiple times to fully absorb it.
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