 SIX FEET UNDER
SEASON TWO
Episode 1: IN THE GAME
A young blonde B grade horror scream queen snorts so much coke that she ends up dead on the nasty floor of a public restroom. Her friends, including an actress named Anjelica and an actor named Brody (guest star Shawn Hatosy), come directly to Fisher & Sons Funeral Home to plan the [cheap] services.
Nate (Peter Krause) and Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) have some frustrating sex, and Brenda confesses that she's depressed. I'm not sure how long after S1's finale this is supposed to be, but as the episode unfolds, it's pretty clear she feels guilty over having committed Billy (why, I don't know) and almost feels bored without his constant deluge of threatening drama.
David (Michael C. Hall) is single, after his disaster with Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) last season, and agrees to meet a hunk at the local coffeeshop, but...there was no spark. Later, or was it earlier? he finds out that he contracted gonorrhea from that slimy thing he pounded in Las Vegas.
Claire (Lauren Ambrose) is concerned about her boyfriend Gabe (Eric Balfour) after his OD last season. He insists that he's fine. But Claire doesn't know about the convenience store incident.
Nate has another MRI done on his head, and ends up dealing with a doctor who is a complete ass. "DIE, YOU LITTLE MOTHERFUCKER!!!" was my favorite scene.
Ruth (Frances Conroy), having learned that David is gay, is eager to "help" him feel accepted. She has never been more hilarious, or more wonderful, as she desperately tries to insert the words "sex" and "sexual" into normal conversation. It's sad that she can't, but then, if she could, would it be as funny as this priceless sequence? "STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN!"
Nate, terrified about his diagnosis, seeks Brenda's emotional support, but alas, she is off in her own little world of depression and self-loathing. Nate begins taking aspirin, hoping it will keep him from developing a clot in his brain.
David has been ostracized by St. Bart's church, in spite of how well received his speech was last season. So back to St. Stephens he goes, and he meets Eddie, Keith's new flame, Eddie. The Mr. Gay Black America fantasy was terrific.
On the night of the big dinner, Claire shows Gabe the prep room. Nikolai (Ed O'Ross) gets treated rather coldly by David. I thought it was kind of sad how he brought up the subject of his son and nobody seemed interested. The one thing that always will piss me off with David is the fact that he thinks his mother ought to be celebate for the late Nate. Or is he still angry about her having had an affair with Hiram, and that's why he is going to treat all of her boyfriends, from now on, like this? Whatever it is, get the fuck over it, David! I for one would have liked to know what happened to Nikolai's son. Later, Nikolai says an extra long prayer, Nate appears to be running a "high" fever, and Ruth, of course, is baffled by all of it.
After the meal, Brenda goes home, obviously not willing to spend any more time than necessary with Nate. Nate crashes on the couch and has a drug-addled dream about his father, a checkers game, and Life and Death. A comforting quote from the Baghavad Gita is spoken. Naturally the dream turns from serious to hilarious, and these old darkly comedic formulas (along with the presence of Richard Jenkins) are what Seasons 3 and 4 are lacking so terribly. (I haven't seen Season 5 as of June '06)
Next day, Gabe acts like a turd at the actress' funeral, and like a huger turd toward Claire. Anjelica acts pissy to Rico over the cost of the funeral, and reveals that she has been lending money to Vanessa.
Keith informs David that he is in a relationship now, a "good" one.
And Nate passes the funeral director's test and become legit.
This season opener was strong and retained the style that made the first season so great. For that, it gets an A+.
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