HBO's darkly funny drama Six Feet Under took the television world by storm on its debut in 2001, raking in 23 Emmy nominations for its first season alone. Oscar-winning writer Alan Ball created the series that explores the family-run funeral home Fisher & Sons, and the dysfunctional lives of those responsible for dealing with death on a daily basis.
Six Feet Under walked the line between irreverent comedy and profound insight into what it means to be human. Each character embarked on a journey of self-discovery, experiencing the triumphs and failures that come with life and ultimately coming to with their own mortality. The first and last lines of the main characters bring a deeper understanding of the lives they lived.
Vanessa Diaz
First: "Hey, Baby!"
Last: "Yes, Baby!"
Vanessa Diaz is first introduced after calling her husband Rico to pick up a body from the hospital in which she works as a nurse. Vanessa is the only main character whose first and last lines mirror one another. While both are said in response to Rico, Vanessa's character is much more than the wife of a larger character.
Taking great pride in her calling as a nurse, Vanessa loses her way after being fired due to the negligent death of an elderly patient and struggles to pull herself out of her depression. Despite the ups and downs in her career and relationship, Vanessa always saw the potential in Rico and is the reason he opened his own funeral home in the final season.
Nathaniel Fisher Sr.
First: "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
Last: "Hi. We've Never Met."
In one of the most shocking openings in TV history, Nathaniel Fisher Sr. is killed within moments of being introduced while singing along to "I'll Be Home For Christmas", a dark nod to his impending death. For the remainder of the series, Nathaniel appears to his wife and children as a figment of their imagination, guiding them and bringing levity to their darker moments.
After the death of Nate Jr., Brenda walks into their daughter's room to see both Nate and Nathaniel Sr., whom she'd never met, holding their baby. Nathaniel introduces himself to Brenda and the role of 'ghost' is ed to Nate Jr. who helps guide Claire through her big move away from home.
Billy Chenowith
First: "Don't Mind Me."
Last: "So, I'm Expecting Some Form Of Response — Emotional Response."
A true reflection of the inappropriate relationship between him and his sister Brenda, Billy emerges in only a towel, interrupting Nate and Brenda kissing. Billy becomes a frequent hindrance to Nate and Brenda as a couple, preventing them from becoming close by stalking the couple and guilting Brenda into spending time with him.
Emotionally neglected as children, Brenda and Billy learned to rely on one another, a dependency that grew after Billy's attempt to take his own life. After his relationship with Claire, Billy never fully seems to recover, becoming an anchor for Brenda's progress. Known for its notorious dark humor, Six Feet Under sends Brenda out in one of the most comical ways: having Billy essentially 'talk' her to death.
Brenda Chenowith
First: "You Should Let Me Work On You Sometime."
Last: "To Nate."
Brenda Chenowith first appears alongside Nate Fisher in the pilot episode, leaving the same plane while discussing her work as a masseuse. The pair hook up in an airport closet before Nate receives notice of his dad's death and they go their separate ways. Though her relationship with Nate becomes progressively more serious, Brenda is torn between a normal love life and being there for her brother Billy.
Brenda experiences the most changes throughout the series, first dealing with her traumatic childhood and then attempting to distance herself from her parents and Billy to build a stable life. Nate's death causes a shift in Brenda's priorities as she cuts ties with Billy to focus on her daughters. Brenda's last line in the show is said in tribute to Nate as the family prepares to say goodbye to Claire.
Keith Charles
First: "Hey, Listen, I Just Want To Remind You: Don't Eat Too Much With Your Family Tonight, All Right?"
Last: "Come Here."
Keith Charles is introduced during a phone call with David during which their romantic dinner plans are canceled due to the death of David's father. While Keith is patient with David and respects his decision to keep their relationship private, he longs for David to feel comfortable enough to introduce him to his family.
While they have moments of instability, Keith and David have the most consistently strong relationship in Six Feet Under, mainly due to the patience and comion shown by Keith. The last line is said to Claire as Keith hugs her goodbye, having become an official member of the family with David and their two adopted sons by his side.
Federico 'Rico' Diaz
First: "Nate, What's Up? It's Good To See You."
Last: "To The Future."
Federico Diaz ed the Fisher family as a restorative artist. Rico's first line in the show reveals his unperturbed view of death and the mortuary practices as he tells Nate, "When your time's up, it's up". Despite the sudden loss of his mentor, Rico takes an objective approach to Nathaniel's death, treating his body with the same care that he would give any other client.
Rico slowly begins to shift from the eager apprentice into a skilled mortician whose talents quickly impress the larger restoration community. By the end of season five, Rico is finally branching out on his own to open the Diaz Family Mortuary and begin his own family legacy.
Ruth Fisher
First: "Nathaniel? It's Ruth."
Last: "You Gave Me Life."
Ruth Fisher is the farthest from a cliche television mother despite the initial needling of her husband about his medication. While Ruth is often controlling of her family, she has a deeper complexity following Nathaniel Sr.'s death. Having grown up raising her sister, Ruth never experienced childhood, simply transitioning from one caretaker role to the next.
Ruth grapples with her newfound freedom from responsibility. She slowly ventures out to find her own ions and by the end of season five, has found enough security in her life to be able to let Claire go. As they say goodbye, Claire thanks her mother for giving her life to which Ruth replies that it was in fact Claire who gave her life.
Claire Fisher
First: "This Is Just Speed, Right?"
Last: "I Want To Take A Picture Of Everyone."
Lauren Ambrose, who stars in Apple TV's Servant, plays Claire, the youngest Fisher. Firmly in her rebellious stage, Claire decides to try speed before the family Christmas dinner, only to be told a moment too late that it was actually meth. Claire's introduction reflects the wild instability of her character as she fights the boundaries set by her parents.
Claire grows the most throughout the series, beginning as a selfish teen but ending as an adult ready to venture out on her own. Claire realizes that the family she tried to resist for so long has become the most precious part of her life. As she says her final goodbyes, Claire tries to capture the moment in a photograph, freezing the moment in time.
David Fisher
First: "I Told You Not To Let Him Take It."
Last: "As The Blood Is Draining Out Of The Body, It Flows Down Into That Drain There."
Better known as TV's favorite serial killer, Dexter, Michael C. Hall plays David, the middle child who stepped up for the family business after Nate refused to follow in their father's footsteps. David's strict adherence to the rules and his emotional repression is evident from his first line as he scolds his mother for allowing Nathaniel to drive the new hearse.
As the family is drawn back together following the death of their father, David begins to let go of his resentment for Nate. Through his relationship with Keith and the growing bond between his siblings, David learns to appreciate the smaller things in his life. David's final line is spoken to his adopted son, Durrell, as he teaches him about the embalming process and es on the knowledge to the next generation.
Nate Fisher
First: "So I Enjoyed Talking To You About That Whole Shiatsu Thing."
Last: "You Can't Take A Picture Of This. It's Already Gone."
Peter Krause, who plays the character, Bobby Nash, in 9-1-1, originally auditioned for David but shined as the eldest Fisher: Nate. Growing up surrounded by death forced Nate to reject the family business in an attempt to escape the uncomfortable reminder of mortality. The death of his father and his eventual diagnosis of a fatal brain disorder send Nate into a tailspin.
Once Nate accepts his role in Fisher & Sons, he begins to realize the fruitlessness of running from his fears. After his own death, Nate becomes a guide for Claire, pushing her to live her life without fear. Nate's final line is whispered to Claire as she attempts to capture the moment in a photo, reminding her as well as the audience that life is too short to not live it now.