Time’s Almost Up: Netflix Is Dropping This Beloved HBO Series

Netflix is preparing to remove all five seasons of the acclaimed HBO drama Six Feet Under on November 1st. Subscribers only have a few days left to stream the series, which has long been praised for its writing, acting, and deep exploration of life, death, and family. This information comes from Netflix’s content update schedule.

Six Feet Under was created by Alan Ball and aired on HBO from June 3, 2001, to August 21, 2005, with a total of 63 episodes across five seasons.

The show centers on the Fisher family, who run a funeral home in Los Angeles, exploring their personal lives, relationships, and the people they serve. The cast includes Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodriguez, Mathew St. Patrick, and Rachel Griffiths. The series was produced by Actual Size Films and Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and filmed in Los Angeles and Hollywood studios.

Critics and audiences praised Six Feet Under for its storytelling and performances. It won numerous awards, including nine Emmys, three Golden Globes, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Peabody Award. The series finale, “Everyone’s Waiting,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV finales ever.

The show’s premise reportedly stemmed from Ball’s personal experiences with loss, though there is some debate over how the concept originated. In one interview, Ball said that HBO entertainment president Carolyn Strauss encouraged him to push darker and more complex themes.

“When I went to HBO and they had read my first draft and Carolyn Strauss said, ‘You know, this is really, really good. I love these characters, I love these situations, but it feels a little safe. Could you just make it just a little more f**** up?’ … And that gave me free range to go a little deeper, go a little darker, go a little more complicated,” he explained.

Six Feet Under is widely considered one of the best TV series of all time, appearing on best-of lists from Time, The Guardian, and Empire. The Writers Guild of America ranked it #18 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.

Critics have consistently praised its mix of dark humor and drama, creative storytelling techniques such as dream sequences and parody commercials, and insightful look at family dynamics and the funeral industry. While the fourth season received more mixed reviews, the show overall has been celebrated for its fearless approach to storytelling.

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