The Last Time (Six Feet Under)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "The Last Time" | |
|---|---|
| Six Feet Under episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Alan Ball |
| Written by | Kate Robin |
| Cinematography by | Alan Caso |
| Editing by | Michael Ruscio |
| Original release date | June 2, 2002 |
| Running time | 59 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Last Time" is the thirteenth episode and season finale of the second season of the American drama television series Six Feet Under. It is the 26th overall episode of the series and was written by Kate Robin, and directed by series creator Alan Ball. It originally aired on HBO on June 2, 2002.
The series is set in Los Angeles, and depicts the lives of the Fisher family, who run a funeral home, along with their friends and lovers. It explores the conflicts that arise after the family's patriarch, Nathaniel, dies in a car accident. In the episode, Nate finds that he needs an emergency surgery, while David feels alienated by Keith's behavior. Meanwhile, Claire applies for art school, while Brenda begins attending sex addict anonymous meetings.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 5.49 million household viewers and gained a Nielsen household rating of 3.4. The episode received critical acclaim, who praised the performances, emotional tone, character development and directing.
Nate (Peter Krause) is upset when he finds that Ruth (Frances Conroy) reveals she has visited Maya, telling her to stay out of her life and storms off. He decides to visit Aaron (Glenn Fitzgerald), whose pancreatic cancer has worsened. Nate comforts a dying Aaron, telling him to "let it go."
David (Michael C. Hall) is shocked to find that Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) allowed his parents to take custody of Taylor and move her to San Diego, as he feels the incident will ruin the custody battle. Along with his suspension, Keith begins to ignore David. Kroehner sends an inspector to check on Fisher & Sons, as a last attempt to hit back. The inspector finds irregularities in the drainage system and gives them two weeks to replace it, and they lack the money to do that. As the business may have to close for some time, David and Nate tell Federico (Freddy Rodriguez) that he should consider a new job.
Nate visits a doctor to schedule an embolization, and the doctor informs him that his latest seizure led to his AVM rupturing. Nate needs cranial surgery, and while the doctor claims to have a good record, he warns that death is a possibility. In accordance with Aaron's wishes, Nate insists on witnessing the incineration of his body, and in doing so learns a few things about the process, including how pacemakers can cause the retort to sustain damage such as that which had delayed the disposition by a day, and the most efficient placement of the body in the retort. When he returns home, Lisa (Lili Taylor) visits with Maya, and Nate holds her for the first time.
Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) attends a sex addicts anonymous group, where she takes an interest in a man, Scott Axelrod (Grant Show). She invites him home, where he explains that his addiction led to a sexual harassment lawsuit at his own firm. This encounter gets her to open up to Nate and apologize for her actions, claiming that this simply reinforced her love for him. She wants to be with him for the surgery, but Nate tells him not to do it and focus on herself. Nate also gives his pre-arranged funeral document to David, in case anything goes wrong during surgery. When David expresses his concerns with Keith, they get into a fight when Keith appears to lack interest. They reconcile by having sex.
Ruth decides to quit the flower shop, feeling that Nikolai (Ed O'Ross) is not interested in being her friend. Federico agrees to lend part of the $149,000 to David and Nate to maintain the business, but asking for a 25% stake, which they reluctantly accept. Claire (Lauren Ambrose) applies for LAC Arts, explaining that her interest in art started as a form of dealing with Nathaniel's death. David and Claire subsequently decide to accompany Ruth during Nate's surgery, skipping her graduation ceremony. Brenda packs her house and then leaves Los Angeles. A head-shaven Nate is taken to the surgery room, where he is given anesthesia. He imagines himself jogging in a highway, when an empty bus pulls over next to him, leaving him thinking over whether to board or not.
Production
Development
The episode was written by Kate Robin, and directed by series creator Alan Ball. This was Robin's third writing credit, and Ball's third directing credit.[1]