George R.R. Martin Declares ‘Six Feet Under’ Finale The GOAT: What It Means For The Art of The Ending
In the pantheon of television showrunners and authors, few command the same level of fervent analysis as George R.R. Martin. The architect behind the sprawling, intricate world of Westeros and the A Song of Ice and Fire saga (which, of course, spawned HBO’s cultural behemoth Game of Thrones) is known for his complex characters, brutal twists, and a narrative scope that often feels impossible to conclude. So, when Martin recently weighed in on the eternal debate of the ‘greatest TV series finale ever,’ his choice might just be the most insightful surprise of the year: HBO’s own ‘Six Feet Under’ season 5 ender, ‘Everyone’s Waiting.’
For those who followed the epic fantasy, Martin’s declaration feels almost counter-intuitive. His own work is synonymous with dragons, political machinations, and prophecies. Yet, his pick for the ultimate swan song is a deeply introspective, character-driven drama about a family running a funeral home in Los Angeles. It’s a testament to the sheer power of ‘Six Feet Under’ that even a master of epic fantasy bows down to its emotional resonance and structural brilliance. This isn’t just a casual preference; it speaks volumes about what truly constitutes a satisfying, impactful conclusion, even from the perspective of someone still grappling with the ending of his own magnum opus.
The Weight of Expectation: Contrasting Legacies
The pressure to ‘stick the landing’ on a beloved, long-running series is immense, often bordering on impossible. Just ask the legions of fans (and critics) who dissected the final season of Game of Thrones. While the series enjoyed unprecedented success for its first six seasons, the concluding two, particularly the finale ‘The Iron Throne,’ became a lightning rod for controversy. Many felt it rushed character arcs, ignored established lore, and ultimately failed to deliver the nuanced, satisfying resolution fans had come to expect from Martin’s world. Though Martin himself has stated the show’s ending differed from his planned book ending, the shadow of that divisive conclusion still looms large over discussions of TV finales.
It’s against this backdrop that Martin’s praise for ‘Six Feet Under’ resonates so strongly. Where Game of Thrones aimed for a grand, world-altering conclusion, ‘Six Feet Under’ focused intensely on the personal. It understood that for a story about life and death, the most profound ending would be one that embraced both with unflinching honesty and breathtaking beauty.
‘Everyone’s Waiting’: A Masterclass in Emotional Closure
Premiering in 2001, ‘Six Feet Under’ chronicled the lives of the Fisher family – Ruth, Nate, David, and Claire – after their patriarch’s sudden death. Over five seasons, creator Alan Ball (who would later give us True Blood and win an Oscar for American Beauty) crafted a show that explored grief, identity, sexuality, and the human condition with unparalleled depth. And then came ‘Everyone’s Waiting.’
The finale, which aired in 2005, is not just acclaimed; it’s legendary. It opens with Claire (Lauren Ambrose) driving away from Los Angeles to start a new life in New York, and then, in a breathtaking montage, flashes forward through the remainder of each main character’s life, showing their ultimate deaths. It’s an audacious, poignant, and profoundly moving sequence that provides definitive, yet emotionally complex, closure for every major player. There’s no ambiguity about their fates, but endless room for reflection on their journeys. It’s a bold artistic choice that could have felt gimmicky but landed with devastating grace, precisely because it was earned over five seasons of meticulous character development.
Alan Ball’s Visionary Storytelling & The HBO Legacy
The success of ‘Six Feet Under’s finale is inextricably linked to Alan Ball’s visionary leadership. Ball demonstrated a rare ability to maintain a singular, clear thematic vision from start to finish. He understood his characters intimately and knew exactly what kind of ending would honor their struggles and growth. This isn’t just about plot resolution; it’s about emotional and philosophical resolution. The show, alongside others like The Sopranos and The Wire, solidified HBO’s reputation in the early 2000s as a haven for prestige television that dared to push boundaries and prioritize artistic integrity over traditional network conventions.
The consistency of Ball’s vision for ‘Six Feet Under’ stands in stark contrast to the challenges faced by many showrunners over extended runs. While True Blood, his later HBO hit, began with critical acclaim, its later seasons and finale were met with mixed reactions, demonstrating just how difficult it is to maintain a perfect trajectory, even for a seasoned pro like Ball. ‘Six Feet Under’ remains a testament to what happens when a creative team is allowed to tell its story exactly as intended, from the first funeral to the final, inevitable fade to black.
What Martin’s Choice Tells Us About The Art of The Ending
Ultimately, George R.R. Martin’s surprising pick for the greatest TV series finale isn’t just an interesting tidbit; it’s a profound statement. It suggests that for all the dragons and epic battles, what truly resonates with a master storyteller is the intimate, human truth. It’s about characters facing their mortality, finding peace (or not), and the profound impact of their lives. ‘Six Feet Under’ didn’t need to save the world; it just needed to show us how lives unfold and conclude, making its ending not just satisfying, but unforgettable.
What to watch for next: As the debate over TV finales continues, showrunners of upcoming prestige dramas like Amazon’s The Rings of Power and HBO’s House of the Dragon will undoubtedly be feeling the pressure. Will they aim for epic spectacle or intimate emotional truth? Only time will tell if they can achieve the kind of universal acclaim that ‘Everyone’s Waiting’ still commands nearly two decades later.
