An American beauty comes to an end

The beauty of HBO's beautiful, often surreal family drama, "Six Feet Under," has always come from its actors and writers. Its brutally realistic ensemble cast and team of talented scribes truly gave the show its prolific backbone that set it apart from the more conventional television dramas outside HBO's realm. The show dealt with themes of death, both the sadness and humor behind it, but also served as a realistic and fascinating look into a family of not so uncommon Californians. \nIn the first season we were introduced to the Fisher family and the complex, sometimes funny politics of the funeral home industry. Season two explored the inner workings of the show's then minor characters; season three and four showed the characters at their most vulnerable, dealing with tragedy and personal vendettas. At first the fifth and final season appeared to be a culmination of all previous affairs, but ultimately became a unique and fresh look into the enchanting lives of the Fishers, full of shocking, yet smart twists and turns.\nNate (Peter Krause) and Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) finally tie the knot, only to discover that marriage isn't as easy as they had anticipated. Ruth (Frances Conroy) deals with the realities of her new husband George's (James Cromwell) mental condition. Keith (Matthew St. Patrick) and David (Michael C. Hall) pursue adoption, while also striving to revitalize their relationship. Claire (Lauren Ambrose) struggles with finding her calling in life and Federico (Freddy Rodriguez) attempts to patch things up with his separated wife. While these are the core plot points of the final season, the fascinating side stories and supporting cast members are what really add the flavor to the show's final hours. \nFrom the Quaker siren Maggie Sibley (Tina Holmes) to Ruth's boisterous and spirited sister Sarah played beautifully by Patricia Clarkson, season five continued the show's long tradition of being a medium for truly talented, often overlooked screen and stage actors working with prime material.\nThe five-disc-box set features all 12 episodes, including the 75 minute finale, some interesting commentary tracks on six episodes from writers, actors and creator Alan Ball; and a beautifully shot, two-part featurette chronicling the show's life since its creation. The featurette showcases cast/crew reflections of the show, their characters, favorite episode deaths and a number of other interesting tid bits that fans will no doubt be pleased with.\nThere are times when season five is difficult to watch. The characters that devout fans like myself have grown to love struggle with their lives and the hardships presented, however, it is this level of melancholy that makes the show so rewarding. Good drama will always tug at our emotions.\nIn a time where series finales often go terribly wrong (i.e. "Seinfeld," in my opinion "Friends" as well), "Six Feet Under's" final episode plays out more like the pinnacle of a symphony masterpiece than a long running television show. Like previous seasons, the final 12 windows into the Fisher's life will make you laugh and cry; you will feel anger and remorse, but ultimately it is the level of hope and understanding of the show's "Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends" life mantra that makes us realize that Alan Ball truly created a captivating American masterpiece. Bravo.