[WARNING: Six Feet Under 7/18/04 - Spoilers Inherent]
I have not written much about Six Feet Under this season. A lot of the pre-season press seemed to be pretty wary of this season (based on the first few episodes), but I have to say that I have still enjoyed watching the f&cked-up lives of the Fisher clan and those around them. Last night's episode ("That's My Dog") certainly packed a wallop... have you recovered yet?
The jury seems to be split. A lot of people were floored by this harrowing episode have dubbed this episode as the one where SFU has "jumped the shark." The phrase is meant to express that a TV series has hit a "point of no return"... one is having concerns about a series' future and a particular episode/event is when the decision is made that the show is no longer watchable. David's near fatal kidnapping by a hitchhiker seems to have divided the audience.
I am certainly not in the "shark" camp though I admit to wondering where last night's show was going... it was quite unusual that an episode devotes nearly half of the episode to one uninterrupted storyline. I have to give credit to the show. While this show does not have the reputation of a 24, I questioned whether David would survive the night.
The discussions on the boards have been interesting this morning. One person said she felt as "trapped" like David. I agree. David's nightmare was relentless and unyielding. From my comfy recliner, I admit to wanting it to be over with far sooner than it did. Others noted that David had many opportunities to escape. I am really not sure how many chances there were (and I am certainly not re-watching this episode any time soon...or again!), but given the situation I don't think there were many (except maybe that he should have kept running instead of staying around the scene when he knocked out the guy after being tied up) - but one is certainly not thinking clearly in that situation...so it is hard to second-guess the character (or the writers) on this one.
Ultimately, this was all about David's view of his relationship with Keith. David is worried about Keith cheating while he is on the road, but shows no indication/inclination of wanting to follow the same rules. David fantasized multiple times of the hitchhiker segment turning into a sexual encounter. One can argue that even the hitchhiker putting the gun in David's mouth (which was one thing that appeared to not to be part of David's imagination) played into that.
This season he had his quickie blowjob from the plumber and let's not forget his earlier (and equally dangerous) transgression a couple of seasons ago (while on relationship "break" from Keith) when he had unprotected sex with a Las Vegas hustler which ultimately led to his arrest.
This all seems to lead to David's subconscious desire to sabotage his relationship. Does he want the house, kids, and hot tub that Keith keeps talking about? I am thinking not...he keeps playing with fire and last night was a third-degree burn (and almost worse than that) ... the repercussions on his already, and always fragile, psyche are going to be huge.
One thing is for certain... Michael C. Hall certainly has his episode for submission for next year's Emmys.
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