I watched the series finale of "Six Feet Under" last night. Over the last five years, I watched a few episodes here and there but never really got into it. Still, I heard that the finale was supposed to be amazing, so I decided to check it out. All I can say is that it was heavy stuff and it makes one ponder the reality and inevitability of death.

Our culture is surrounded by death but at the same time, is desensitized to it. We go to the movies where people are hacked up by slashers, or shot by gunmen, or trapped inside exploding buildings. Yet we shrug the loss off and continue eating our popcorn - after all, it's not real. When we are confronted with death in real life, whether the loss is personal as in a death in the family or widespread as in 9/11, it is very difficult to cope and to understand. Rarely do films and television depict death in a raw, emotional manner. "Six Feet Under" was successful in that regard.

Each episode in the series began with the death of a certain character. After dramatizing the person's passing, the screen goes white and a graphic appears of the person's name and the years of their birth and death. Last night was different as the episode began with the BIRTH of a character and at the end of the episode, we witnessed the fate of every main character in the series. As 22-year old Claire was driving away from home, to her new life in New York City, we witnessed the passing of time in the Fisher family's future. The death of all major characters were shown with white screens and graphics confirming the eventual years of their passings. The montage ends with Claire herself, passing away in her bed at the age of 102.

This was a very difficult montage to watch. Even if one isn't emotionally invested in these particular characters, it illuminates a truth that we don't want to think about. Namely - during our lifetimes, we will experience the death of everyone who we care about. The only way around this is if we ourselves should pass away first. Each scenario is highly depressing, yet inevitable. But if we are to cope with losses when they actually do happen, we need to accept this truth and not be afraid.

Circle of Life... or something like that.