20 Years Later, HBO’s Best TV Finale Still Holds Up: Six Feet Under’s Epic Ending

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Twenty years ago, one of HBO’s best series finales aired, and it remains compelling even today. The series is called “Six Feet Under“. Despite being an exceptional HBO original, it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. What has consistently been praised as great is the finale of the entire “Six Feet Under” series. Even some of the greatest TV shows have faced challenges when wrapping up their storylines. Shows like Game of Thrones, How I Met Your Mother, and Dexter are notable examples of series that had difficulty concluding their narratives.

Shows such as “The Sopranos,” “Silicon Valley,” and “Lost” received mixed responses when their final episodes aired, but over time, they’ve been appreciated more for serving as powerful conclusions. On the other hand, series like “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul,” “Succession,” and “Gravity Falls” ended on a high note, wrapping up the storylines in a way that satisfied viewers. A good series finale doesn’t always have to be the best episode of the show, but it should effectively tie together the themes and plotlines in a fulfilling manner, making viewers grateful for having stuck with it until the end.

Six Feet Under’s “Everyone’s Waiting” Is The Highest-Rated TV Finale On IMDb

The Finale Has A 9.9 On The Site

In a comparison that could make a strong case, the season finale of “Six Feet Under” in its fifth season, specifically episode 12 titled “Everyone’s Waiting,” stands out as one of the top TV series finales based on IMDb ratings. Boasting an impressive 9.9 rating, it surpasses even the finale of “Spartacus” with a 9.7. Although it’s important to note that evaluating a show solely based on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes rankings may not always be accurate, it is worth mentioning that this episode garnered an overwhelming amount of praise, and with 14,000 reviews, it’s evident that the episode has been widely acclaimed. Even considering potential bias from bots or multiple reviews from the same source, the high number of positive reviews underscores the popularity of the episode.

What Made “Everyone’s Waiting” Such A Great Series Finale

The Finale Gave Everyone’s Arc A Satisfying And Logical End

The opening scene of “Everyone’s Waiting” is unprecedented, marking the first time in the series that we witness a birth instead of a death. This particular event is the arrival of Willa Fisher Chenowith, the daughter born to Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) and Nate (Peter Krause) who was not due for another two months. The story then unfolds with a series of heartwarming occurrences that help resolve some of the long-standing issues from the series. Most characters find themselves in situations that are fitting and satisfying, although it may not reach the level of perfect resolutions seen in shows like “Parks and Recreation”.

In an innovative move, the TV series Six Feet Under chooses to jump ahead in time and reveal the lives of its main characters. However, rather than concentrating on their daily existence, the show emphasizes each character’s eventual death. Given that death is not only a recurring motif but also the foundation for all other storylines in the series, this narrative choice fits perfectly. Contrary to traditional series finales that offer glimpses of characters’ lives, this finale focuses on their demises instead, an aspect that the show has consistently underscored throughout its run as crucial and significant.

Six Feet Under Is One Of HBO’s Best Shows And Deserves More Love

The Series Was Buried Under The Wire And The Sopranos, But Is One Of The Best Shows Of The 21st Century

This series has been highly recognized across multiple award ceremonies, including five Emmy nominations and a win for Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, nine Emmy wins out of 44 nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations with three wins, and three Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations with three wins. In essence, it’s a series that has been widely acclaimed in almost every context. However, due to its release on HBO around the same time as shows like The Sopranos and The Wire, it seems to have been somewhat overlooked or overshadowed by these more prominent titles, possibly causing some viewers to miss out on it.

Six Feet Under” is a remarkable exploration of love and life, tackling themes that are typically considered too controversial and somber for deep analysis. The show delves into morality and the intricate connection between living and dying. Witty, sarcastic, and fearless in its depiction of death, “Six Feet Under” avoids passing judgment or imposing moral values on viewers. It offers an unbiased perspective on life’s most challenging moments, a quality that shines particularly brightly in the finale, one of HBO’s finest ever.

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2025-05-05 19:37