Six Feet Under - The Complete First Season on DVD (2001)

Consistently intelligent, touching, real.

Duncan Toms from Cornwall, UK , 22/02/2004

There aren't many TV series like this around. It could have turned out depressing, given the theme of the show, but the varied characters and interwoven stories keep a kinetic energy flowing throughout, whilst touching on subjects that affect us all. The characters are varied, believable and involving, and the script tight and often surprising in its direction, especially the dialogue with dead characters. The most appealing aspect for me is the learning process the family are going through, none of whom are stagnating. A refreshing 'unAmerican' American programme.

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Six Feet Wonder

Mike Thomas from South Wales , 12/06/2005

I'd read the glowing reviews when this was first aired but remained sceptical. More fool me. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to find out how good it actually is.

Six Feet Under is quite probably one of the best shows I've seen. Dark, dry, humourous, intelligent, witty, moving... it's fantastic, compulsive viewing - not always an easy watch but incredibly hard not to get caught up in the lives of the Fisher family.

The characters we are introduced to are real, damaged individuals - callow, narcissistic Nate; repressed, uptight David; confused, angry Claire, and the wonderful matriarch Ruth, strong and quiet as she grieves over the loss of her husband, but riddled with guilt over the affair she had before Nathaniel was killed in the opening car crash. It's been a joy to watch these people transform and change over the course of the episodes as events shape their lives: it's never forced, but always assured and believable.

You could argue that Rachel Griffiths' Brenda and her loopy brother Billy are a touch irritating (why Nate puts up with her is beyond me, but that's lurve for you...), but they're never allowed to consume the plot.

This is fabulous stuff from Alan Ball: blistering dialogue, beautiful character development, intelligent plot, and enough profanity to compete with an average Scorcese movie. It doesn't insult it's audience, just lets it go with the flow and invest time in these people. Great stuff, indeed.

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Tremendous entertainment

Timsy from London , 25/01/2004

A brilliantly written script with the drama kicking off into overdrive within the first few minutes of the start. Using the darkest humour since MASH in the 1970's, for me this series equates with a feature film in instalments. The cast are all credible and this will undoubtedly go onto cult status in the years to come. Tremendous entertainment.

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Oh Wow !!!

A customer from Totteridge, London N20 , 18/02/2005

Missed the tv series and decided I had to watch this. I am glued with each disc for the 4 hours that each plays for. Excellent viewing funny in places, sad in others keeps you glued and wanting to know what is around the corner.

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On top!

Derekh from Merseyside , 09/05/2004

Six Feet Under is a strange show but absolutely compelling.

It starts with an extraordinary death which is the running theme of each show. The continuing theme is about a functional family of Undertakers who gradually become dysfunctional following the death of the father.

It's strong drama with a mix of black comedy and frequent touches of surrealism. The way that the dead re-appear to the live characters to enforce a point is very cleverly done.

If you are unsure after watching one episode try another, I guarantee you will be hooked then.

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Superb

PrideOfManchester from Cheshire , 17/01/2006

I had heard loads about the show but hadn't seen one scene from any of the five seasons. I had to see it from the start and I watched all 3 episodes on disk 1 back to back, lasting 3 hours. I am hooked already and look forward to disk 2 arriving.

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