FanFare

In the season one finale, Kroehner strikes again, this time sending a new body to Fisher & Sons. The deceased is Tracy Montrose Blair's beloved Aunt Lillian, and Tracy is determined to arrange a resplendent funeral for her. David outs himself to the other church deacons, and there is political fallout. Nate takes his funeral director's exam, then goes with Brenda to see Billy. Brenda picks a fight with Nate on the way home and neglects her driving. Ruth gets fired by Nikolai and dumped by Hiram. Claire goes to a party at Parker's with Gabriel, who ends up going on an ill-conceived beer run with his pals. Rico and Vanessa have their son's christening at Fisher & Sons, and all the Fishers are invited. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on Jun 21, 2019 - 1 comment

A young gay man is murdered, bringing some of David's worst fears and anxieties to the surface. Keith is asked to work crowd control at the funeral. Brenda demands that Billy take his meds and return his key to her house, which causes tension with Nate, who considers these measures insufficient. Billy responds by creating a special art installation for Nate's benefit, and then attempting some amateur tattoo removals. Claire struggles to be with Gabe without losing herself. David comes out to Rico and Ruth and apologizes to Keith. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on Jun 18, 2019 - 4 comments

A three-week-old baby succumbs to SIDS, and Rico, who is managing Fisher & Sons while Nate and David are away at a funeral directors' conference in Vegas, finds preparation of the tiny body difficult given that Vanessa is nearing her due date. After Ruth is told her flower arrangements are too funereal, she takes a class in flower arranging and breathing. Claire learns Gabe is in the hospital after a drug overdose, and pays him a series of visits with varied success. In Vegas, David's conference speech is a big hit and he partakes in some of the local attractions. Brenda tags along on the Vegas trip, but so does Billy, and when they get back home, Nate and Brenda find he's gifted them with some unexpected souvenirs. Rico and Vanessa welcome their second son, Augusto, into the world. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on Jun 14, 2019 - 3 comments

A customer service rep at a mail order lamp company makes the fatal mistake of boring his wife with a lengthy monologue about his job. Nate and David hire a talented new restorer, Angela, to replace Rico, but she proves not to be simpatico with the Fishers. Billy's latest photographic exhibit gets Nate pissed off, and Billy's behaviour puts his parents and Brenda on edge. Ruth has dinner with Nikolai, and David has a late night snack with Keith. Claire is still concerned about Gabe. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on Jun 11, 2019 - 3 comments

Gabe tells his little brother Anthony to go play while he smokes up with a friend, and Anthony does, with disastrous results. Nate learns that he has failed his funeral director license exam, and goes on a tour of local funeral homes with Brenda in order to check out the competition. David realizes that he and his square dance instructor are not compatible. Ruth goes on a hiking trip with Hiram, and inadvertently takes a second trip alone. Claire is concerned about Gabe. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on Jun 7, 2019 - 2 comments

A recently divorced woman out celebrating with her girlfriends lets her newfound liberation go to her head, giving Rico a chance to showcase his restoration abilities at Kroehner. During a slow period at Fisher & Sons, Nate rents out a room to a senior square dance group and David practices some figures with the handsome young instructor. Ruth muses about the comparative attractions of her two suitors. Brenda has a house guest. Claire goes on a group hike in the mountains and gets to know those in the group better than she had expected. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on Jun 4, 2019 - 3 comments

When a young Army vet dies of Gulf War Syndrome, his brother opts for cremation and disposal though he had wanted a military funeral. Billy interrupts a private moment between Brenda and Nate and thwarts their plan for a weekend getaway. Ruth invites Hiram over for a family dinner, and also takes a florist job in Nikolai's shop. David meets an open-minded associate priest and votes on whether he should be hired by St. Bart's. Claire lacks interest in algebra and the PSATs.
posted by orange swan on Jun 1, 2019 - 4 comments

In the cold open, Mr. Jones wakes up to find himself a widower after 56 years of marriage. Ruth introduces David to Hiram and is pursued by florist Nikolai. Claire forms a connection with both Billy and Brenda. David fends off the advances of Tracy Montrose Blair and welcomes the advances of a pick up from a gay bar. Nate discovers that Nathaniel had some interesting bookkeeping methods. And all the Fishers, plus Brenda and Rico, have a chance to learn a little about love and grief from Mr. Jones, who isn't able to bear the separation from his beloved Hattie for long.
posted by orange swan on May 29, 2019 - 2 comments

A porn actress meets with catastrophe while getting ready for a date in her bathroom; David considers becoming a deacon at his family's conservative church; Nate gets to know Brenda's parents, her brother Billy, and some of her formative literary influences; and Ruth and Claire reassess their relationship.
posted by orange swan on May 24, 2019 - 5 comments

In the cold open, gang member Manuel Pedro Antonio "Paco" Bolin meets up with members of a rival gang. Everyone speculates as to the cause of the fire in the house across the street, Paco helps David find his inner gangster, Brenda is invited to dinner, and Ruth catches Nate eating out before dinner.
posted by orange swan on May 21, 2019 - 4 comments

There's an unfortunate industrial dough mixer incident in the cold open, Nate and David consider selling the family business, Claire decides she wants a piece of the family business, Ruth tries a new financial gambit, and Rico holds everything together.
posted by orange swan on May 17, 2019 - 4 comments

Nathaniel's will is read, and the Fishers have questions. Nate begins to learn both the ropes of running a funeral home and more about Brenda, David has drinks with his ex-fiancée, Ruth tells the hairdresser she's been seeing to take a hike, and Claire "goes to market" with Gabe.
posted by orange swan on May 14, 2019 - 5 comments

On Christmas Eve, Nathaniel Fisher Sr. is on the way to the airport to pick up his son Nate, when tragedy strikes in the form of a city bus. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on May 11, 2019 - 16 comments

Lately I've been thinking that I'd like to rewatch the Six Feet Under series. I was surprised to find that it isn't in the FanFare database. Would anyone else like to watch it and discuss each episode in FanFare as we proceed? And if you do, I was thinking I might post one episode thread a day for the entire 63-episode run. Is that a comfortable pace for you?
posted by orange swan on May 10, 2019 - 8 comments