Created by American Beauty screenwriter Alan Ball, this critically acclaimed HBO series set at the Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home becomes even more emotionally complex in these 12 episodes from the 2004 season, which begins after the tragic death of Lisa Kimmel Fisher. Nate (Peter Krause), struggling mightily to cope with the loss of his wife and the jarring reality of single parenthood, turns for comfort to old flame Brenda Chenowith (Rachel Griffiths), who's trying to get her own life in order. The Kimmels want Lisa cremated but Nate wants to bury her in the desert, which takes some finagling to pull off. The second 2004 episode finds Nate quitting the family funeral parlor cold, while the rest of the Fishers try to get accustomed to George Sibley (James Cromwell), the new husband of fragile family matriarch Ruth (Frances Conroy). It turns out that George has his own mental-health issues, including apocalyptic nightmares and invisible friends. Other plot threads running through the season involve the gradual re-acclimation to student life by Claire (Lauren Ambrose) following her abortion, relationship issues between David (Michael C. Hall) and Keith (Mathew St. Patrick), and the marital problems plaguing Federico (Freddy Rodriguez) after his wife learns he's cheated on her. The year's last episode is a season-ending cliffhanger like none other (we'll only tell you that it involves Nate and Brenda). At a point when most dramatic series are showing their age, Six Feet Under's fourth season continues to surprise viewers with cleverly developed storylines and evolving characters—as it did right up through 2005's final season. DVD extras include commentaries on seven episodes, featurettes on editing and the cast, and deleted scenes. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Six Feet Under: The Complete Fourth Season
HBO, 5 discs, 720 min., not rated, DVD: $99.98 Volume 20, Issue 6
Six Feet Under: The Complete Fourth Season
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