"Six Feet Under"
Ecotone (2005)

Director:

Daniel Minahan

Writers:

Alan Ball (creator)
Nancy Oliver (written by)

TV Series:

"Six Feet Under" (2001)

Original Air Date:

31 July 2005 (Season 5, Episode 9)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Lawrence Hall Matheson chooses the wrong moment to check his pulse while jogging in a California "ecotone" - a cougar mauls him...

Plot Keywords:

Quaker | Cliffhanger | Adultery | Animal Attack | Cougar

Cast

Peter Krause	...	Nate Fisher
Michael C. Hall	...	David Fisher
Frances Conroy	...	Ruth Fisher
Lauren Ambrose	...	Claire Fisher
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Federico Diaz
Mathew St. Patrick	...	Keith Charles
Justina Machado	...	Vanessa Diaz
James Cromwell	...	George Sibley
Rachel Griffiths	...	Brenda Chenowith
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Hiram Gunderson
Kendre Berry	...	Durrell
Vince Grant	...	ER Doctor
Michele Greene	...	Dr. Fraker
Mae Hi	...	Lin
Tina Holmes	...	Maggie Sibley
Sonia Jackson	...	Nurse
Richard Jenkins	...	Nathaniel Fisher
Andrea Johnson	...	Paramedic #1
Elaine Kao	...	Courtney
Jim Lau	...	Chinese Man
A.J. Lee	...	Derrick
Wayne Lopez	...	Paramedic #2
Cindy Lu	...	Hospital Clerk
Chris Messina	...	Ted
Tim Mikulecky	...	Hiker
Ed O'Ross	...	Nikolai
C.J. Sanders	...	Anthony
Brenna Tosh	...	Maya Fisher
Bronwyn Tosh	...	Maya Fisher
Andy Umberger	...	Third Doctor
Gordon Wells	...	Chuck
Rainn Wilson	...	Arthur Martin

Soundtrack:

Wo De Ai

Tense and Dramatic

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

While walking in the canyon, Laurence Hall Matheson is attacked by a cougar. Nate is sent to the Saint Bridger Hospital, and the diagnosis is HVM and bleed. Maggie calls David, and he calls Brenda and Claire, who comes to the hospital with Ted. While in the waiting room, the atmosphere is tense with the presence of Maggie. Meanwhile, Ruth invites Hiram to camp, and she argues with him and leaves him, walking alone back home. Nate ends his relationship with Brenda, and while watching TV with David, he has a dream and dies.

This episode is one of the most tense and dramatic of this magnificent series. The situation between Brenda and Maggie creates a heavy situation in the hospital. The dysfunctional Ruth will certainly regret her absence with Nate in the last moments of his life. The quick recovery of Nate, basically to say farewell to his family and friends and make clear that his relationship with Brenda has finished is very touching. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "De Partida" ("Leaving")