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[Musashi Wins!]

Wow. Maybe it's been common news to those that follow this show closely, but I had no idea they were killing off

Spoiler

Nate

.

I was bagging on this show for going downhill last year, but I've enjoyed it quite a bit again lately. With this though...it's hard for me to imagine enjoying it quite as much. He was such a center to the narrative.

Is this the last season?

Thoughts about the episode?

 

[Matlock]

I thought they'd do it earlier. That said, I stopped watching in the middle of the second season, when it leapt over the shark and into a pool of rabid pirates.

 

[Dan]

This is the last season, yes.

I've really enjoyed this season, a lot more than the last one and some of its wacky hijinks. I loved the tension in the waiting rooms in tonight's episode. Brutally awkward.

Anyway, Nate's always been my favorite character, so it sucks to see him go, although I hope they capitalize on these last couple episodes. His death better be worthwhile.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

well, I guess it would have to be the last season. I see it being a more interesting plot device then.

Matlock, I can't heartily disagree, but this last part has been very quality.

 

[teiresias]

If anyone deserved to die it was Ruth, that annoying little whore.

 

[Lil' Dice]

This is the best season yet.
"Character Development 101" material right here folks...

 

[Futureman]

I just started watching this show this season, and I love it. I saw an episode here and there from the past few seasons, but I never got hooked until this year.

Even though Nate is dead, he'll still be a huge part of the show for the last few episodes due to the nature of the show. And a little clarification on this. Who all talks to the dead? Only people who work at the funeral home? I've seen Nate and Rico do it, can anyone else? Also, are they really talking to the dead or is it just a way to show what's going on in that character's head at the moment?

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

I just started watching this show this season, and I love it. I saw an episode here and there from the past few seasons, but I never got hooked until this year.

Even though Nate is dead, he'll still be a huge part of the show for the last few episodes due to the nature of the show. And a little clarification on this. Who all talks to the dead? Only people who work at the funeral home? I've seen Nate and Rico do it, can anyone else? Also, are they really talking to the dead or is it just a way to show what's going on in that character's head at the moment?

All the Fishers can, and so can Rico.

 

[Dan]

Brenda spoke to Lisa during the fifth season premiere as well.

I've never taken it as an explicit conversation with the dead. I think it's just internal discussion, sort of taking on another person's viewpoint and playing devil's advocate with yourself.

 

[btrboyev]

Brenda could too...anyways tonights episode was fucked up.

 

[Lil' Dice]

I love the whole van sequence. As soon as i saw the Dave that died long ago, and the father driving i knew nate was toast......

 

[Fatalah]

Nate has been the best character to watch on television or cinema. I've been able to watch his life the last 5 years and I'll truly miss him.

God knows what the next 3 episodes will hold without Nate around.

 

[Burger]

Wow, just watched that shit.

What a way to send off the show. Nate was such an amazing character.

 

[Baron Aloha]

The show really jumped the shark last season but this season has been great. They were able to put it right back on track starting with the first episode.

It will be interesting to see if Nate gets the green funeral that he wanted. From the look of the previews it seems like Brenda is making him have a traditional funeral. That will probably cause a lot of tension between her and the Fishers, especially since Nate told David and Rico exactly what he wanted just days before he died.

I'm also wondering if Brenda will get to keep Maya. There has always been the possibility that she isn't Nate's daughter. I wonder if Lisa's family will try and fight for custody now that Nate is dead. A DNA test could prove that he isn't the father.

 

[Fatalah]

Some observations:

1- Notice at the end when David turns on the television in the hospital and birds are on the TV? Birds have been placed all over the place this season---an omen of future death.

2- We don't know whether Maya is the true daughter of Nate, has Lisa had an affair with Hoyt while Nate and Lisa were married. Could it be that Maya's name holds the secret? -- Maya is rooted in meaning "illusion".

3- On the van in the dream sequence, the people in the van (a hipped out David, and crazy dad) are all dead. The free Dave was lost long ago. Once Nate went into the ocean, the real Dave appeared.

4- Notice the comment by Nathaniel Sr. to David about smoking crack? That goes back to David's kidnapping last season with that crazy guy.

 

[karasu]

I just saw the ep. Holy crap. Thisis how it's suppossed to be done. I can't remember the last time I felt something when a fictional character passed away.

 

[IJoel]

Last night's episode was ridiculously depressing. Excellent episode though.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

It was sad when the funeral rolled around. It was a little awkward, but death in families is sad and awkward so no fault there.

Best exchange of lines (approxiamate)

david: you could have dressed.

claire: i couldn't.

david: the rest of us managed.

claire: well the rest of you win.

 

[Dan]

Yeah, I've buried far too many family members in my 21 years, and well, I thought the episode was moving and relatively accurate with regard to the grief and the awkwardness.

On another note, I'm pleased to see HBO's doing a two-part piece on the show with reflections from the cast and crew. That should be nice.

 

[RaymondCarver]

There is definitely going to be an interesting issue with Brenda's relation to the family. I believe that she will cling to the Fishers to retain some sanity, sobriety, and normality while her mother is out slutting it up and eating pharmaceuticals. Brenda doesn't have the model mother in terms of the traditional role of mother, yet her mother seems to hold the keys for success in the world of clinical psychology. I see an interesting duality in this.

For that matter, I see juxtaposition of many, many things in the series. They are too numerous to name right now, but watch for them. Most of the plot elements seem to rely on unwritten elements of opposites that the viewer must infer. I love that. The best parts of the story are those which are unwritten. The writers are letting the viewer write in many of the story elements in their own minds.

 

[Fatalah]

I was glad George made the speech we were all waiting for. I love George, I think he's a good man.

In listening to his speech about Nate, did anyone else feel that George was able to make such a speech because he shares something special with Nate?

George saw something in Nate that he finds in himself--The speech serves not only for our dear Nate, but serves as a conclusion to the misunderstanding of George's character.

Some side notes--

1) the deafening sound of the woodpecker in the distance as Nate was being buried.

2) brenda's red car, "the freak's" red hoodie. the color probably serves just a visual purpose to stand out. or is there more to the color?!

3) claire's laywerfriend's car--songs all about "change".


4.) this episode is most comparable to the pilot. oh where five years has brought us.

 

[hobart]

I have found... and I cannot say this about many series, at all... that most of what has happened in the past few weeks is really, truly, fitting.

It really feels right. Excellent job.

 

[CrisKre]

I loved the 'in your face' feel of this last episode. They didnt try to water down the pain that goes with burying aloved one and then emphatized this with the huge issues each character has (aka David's panic attacks, Brendas depression and axiety, Clair's tendency to escape situations).

Really great writing and a trully exceptional series at its prime, and also its climax fittingly.
I expect this next episodes to fully explore the dinamics of the characters and end the series in an uncharacteristic high note for tv shows.