George R.R. Martin, the mind behindA Song of Ice and Fireand the franchise it spawned, has an interesting pick for his favorite TV show episode ever, and it might not be what you expect. Once little-known fantasy writer,George R.R. Martin is one of the biggest namesin pop culture thanks toA Song of Ice and Fire, the HBO adaptationGame of Thrones, and his impressive ability to stay relevant despite a large portion of his fanbase being frustrated with his inability or unwillingness to finish the story that got him famous in the first place.
He’s kept himself busy, even ifTheWinds of Winterhasn’t, and he frequently communicates with fans online with his blog, where he talks about everything, from his thoughts on Dire Wolves being cloned to his favorite TV episode ever. The list ofthe best TV episodes everis a long one.Nearly every show has at least one episode that feels like something special; otherwise, it probably never would have been picked up. Then there are the fantastic shows with multiple perfect episodes. All things considered, Martin’s choice is a respectable one.
George R.R. Martin Named Six Feet Under’s Finale The Best Episode In TV History
The Finale Ends With A Moving Montage
In a blog post on his humorously titled webpage “Not A Blog” in August 2023, George R.R. Martin discussed his favorite episodes of television. Referencing a list byVanity Fair, which named one of hisGame of Thronesepisodes, “Blackwater”, episode 2 of season 9, as one of the best TV episodes of the last 25 years,Martin pointed out that his favorite episode ever (which also appears on the list) is the finale ofSix Feet Under.
Martin wrote, “…if I had to pick one episode that was even more perfect than all the others on the list, though, it would have to be the final episode of SIX FEET UNDER.“The final episode ofSix Feet Underis season 5, episode 12, “Everyone’s Waiting”. In the episode, Claire (Lauren Ambrose) decides that she will move to New York City to pursue her dreams, and David (Michael C. Hall) and Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) decide to keep the funeral home. Claire drives to NYC as flash forwards show how each of the main characters meets their maker.
Six Feet Under Is Not George R.R. Martin’s Favorite Show, But The Finale Is A Masterpiece
The Finale Shows How And When The Main Characters Of The Series Die
George R.R. Martin made it clear thatSix Feet Undermay not be his favorite show, but he still finds the finale to be a masterpiece. Martin said,
“I liked that series well enough, though I cannot say I loved it as much as I loved ROME or DEADWOOD or FARGO or a few other shows missing from the list, butthat last episode was far and away the best finale in the entire history of television, and I cannot imagine how anyone could possibly do better.”
Six Feet Underis a fantastic show, but even if it’s not your favorite, you have to admit that the finale is something special. It’s an odd series and not one necessarily suited to everyone’s palate. The show follows the people involved with the Fisher & Sons funeral home, primarily the Fisher family. Every episode opens with the death of some random passerby whose body ends up in the funeral home. This death then sets the story and theme for the rest of the episode.
The song “Breathe Me” by Sia plays over theSix Feet Underfinale montage.
Six Feet Underis not just curious about death; it is wholly dependent on the idea in a way that no other show is. Death is as much a part of the show as hospital visits are to something likeHouse. In that way, picking an episode from this series as his favorite is maybe not that unusual for Martin.Death is a major theme ofA Song of Ice and Fire, so a series with that unknowable mystery as a central conceit would likely be of interest to him.
What Makes The Ending Of Six Feet Under So Iconic
The Ending Ties Together All The Themes Six Feet Under Explored
The ending ofSix Feet Underbrings those themes of death and the beyond to the fore more than any episode previously, and it ties up the show as well as anything can. As Claire drives to her new life in New York City, scenes flash forward to show what becomes of her friends and family.
It’s not the usual sweet portraits of families succeeding and growing up together; instead,these flash-forwards show the deaths of everyone close to Claire. It’s an extremely poignant look at life and death that doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to how sudden death can occur. The finale is certainly tear-jerking, but it’s not exactly sad.
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All series long,Six Feet Underhas shown us that death is inevitable and, while sad, is also a part of life. The finale hammers that point home and shows that even the people you’ve grown to love will eventually pass on, but that makes their lives all the more extraordinary. It’s a moving episode, and a good pick for favorite byGeorge R.R. Martin.
