Note: It would be an injustice to the dearly departed HBO series "Six Feet Under" to limit my thoughts to just one entry. Therefore, this is Part 1 of 2 (or 3, 4,....) entries.
In the early 2000's, my husband and I were newlyweds, and like a child begging for that Red Ryder BB Gun, my husband convinced me to add HBO to our cable subscription. With regular network television (aka "the big three") leaving us bored and feeling empty, we had to find another outlet for television viewing. And so, we decided to give HBO a try. Quickly we found ourselves enamored with "Sex and the City," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "The Sopranos." We were late to the game, but we finally realized what the rest of America already had, which was that HBO was producing some of the best television.
Yet all good things must come to an end (as this blog entry well acknowledges, albeit grudgingly), and over the past few years, we said goodbye to "Carrie Bradshaw" and friends, and were sad to bid farewell to that likable mob gangster known as "Tony." The departure of these programs left us with very little to still tune in to, as the polygamist show "Big Love" failed to reel us in and the latter seasons of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" failed to charm us as the first five had so wittingly done. "Entourage" was a welcomed addition, and fully enjoyed, yet like 'Curb,' it left us disappointed with the most recent past two seasons. We were at a loss for an intelligent, thoughtful, and entertaining program. I tried watching the trendy vampire show "True Blood," but I'll be frank: I find no interest whatsoever in any medium about vampires. I even programmed my DVR to record "Flight of the Concords," and "Summer Heights," but regretted having committed any minutes of my life to these less-than-stellar efforts. What were we going to do? Could we live in a post-HBO series world?
Apparently, we would have to try. Last year, due to financial constraints, we decided to omit luxury items, and HBO had now fallen from the category of essential to luxury. Dismayed, disappointed, we were left relying solely on the lighter, less sophisticated shows such as "Bones," "The Closer," and "CSI: Las Vegas." In 2009, we were grateful to discover emerging hopefuls such as "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Burn Notice," the latter which I found myself intrigued in, entertained with, and addicted to in an almost similar manner as those HBO shows of yesteryear. Yet, I was still wanting more.
My husband and I disagree over whose idea it was first, but since this is my blog, I will claim credit for having the idea to try one of the very few HBO series we never watched: "Six Feet Under." I don't know why we never watched the show when it aired on HBO. I remember seeing previews for the series. Why? Why did I not think to try it? Being that it ran concurrently with the "The Sopranos" and "Sex and the City," was it overshadowed, or did I just not have enough time for more quality "must-see" television? So, in the late summer of 2009, I added "Six Feet Under" to our Netflix queue, hopeful for the chance to be drawn in again by HBO. Yes, I was hopeful, perhaps too hopeful, and worried that I would once again be let down.
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