Introducing Nate
The opening scene of “Six Feet Under” sets the tone for a show that fearlessly confronts the inevitable. Nathaniel Fisher Sr., the patriarch of the Fisher family, meets an untimely demise, setting in motion a chain of events that forever alter the lives of his sons, David and Nate, his daughter, Claire, and his wife, Ruth. Among them, Nate Fisher, the prodigal son, returning home for the holidays, unexpectedly inherits not only a share in the family’s funeral home but also a profound confrontation with his own mortality. He is more than just a character; Nate Fisher is the emotional and philosophical anchor of “Six Feet Under,” a character whose journey through life and death embodies the show’s exploration of mortality, love, and the search for meaning.
At the beginning, Nate is a man adrift. He’s returned from Seattle for Christmas, only to find his father dead. He’s cynical, a little rebellious, and definitely not eager to settle back into the family business. He is a man who doesn’t know what he wants but knows he doesn’t want what his family is offering. He is a bit of a free spirit, or at least that is the facade he puts up to not deal with any real issues. He’s drawn back to his family, not by obligation, but by the strange gravity of shared experience and the undeniable pull of unresolved feelings. He’s a man who seems more at ease with impermanence, with the transient nature of life, until the reality of death becomes intimately intertwined with his own existence.
His relationship with his family is complicated. He loves them, but he also feels stifled by them. His father’s death forces him to confront those feelings, and he starts to see his family in a new light. He recognizes their flaws but also their strengths. He begins to understand the bonds that tie them together, even when they are pulling in different directions. Nate’s decision to stay and co-manage Fisher & Sons is not driven by a love of embalming or a passion for funeral arrangements, but instead is born out of a sense of duty, a desire to connect with his family, and a subconscious yearning for something more meaningful than his previous transient existence. The show does a great job in revealing that Nate doesn’t love his job at Fisher & Sons, and it often gets him depressed and anxious.
Complex Relationships
Nate Fisher’s journey in “Six Feet Under” is marked by a series of intense and often turbulent relationships, each serving as a catalyst for self-discovery and a mirror reflecting his deepest fears and desires. His relationship with Brenda Chenowith is perhaps the most captivating, a dance of intellect, passion, and shared neuroses. It’s a relationship that defies easy categorization, oscillating between profound intimacy and agonizing distance.
Their connection is built on a foundation of intellectual sparring and raw physical attraction. They challenge each other, push each other’s boundaries, and expose each other’s vulnerabilities. However, their relationship is also plagued by codependency, a desperate need for validation, and an underlying fear of commitment. Their pasts haunt them, shaping their present and casting a shadow over their future. The push and pull between them is constant, a cycle of love and resentment, connection and disconnection. Key moments, like their impulsive marriage and subsequent unraveling, highlight the inherent instability in their dynamic.
His relationship with Lisa Kimmel is a stark contrast to the volatile passion of his connection with Brenda. Lisa offers Nate a sense of stability, a semblance of normalcy, and a promise of a simpler life. She is kind, nurturing, and seemingly uncomplicated, a balm to Nate’s restless spirit. However, their relationship is ultimately unsatisfying, lacking the intellectual spark and emotional depth that Nate craves.
Nate’s motivations for being with Lisa are complex, driven in part by a desire for a fresh start, a longing for family, and a subconscious attempt to escape the chaos of his past. However, he soon realizes that Lisa is not the answer to his existential questions. The death of Lisa has a profound impact on Nate, forcing him to confront his own mortality and the fragility of life.
Beyond Brenda and Lisa, Nate’s relationships with his family – Ruth, David, Claire, and even his daughter, Maya – play a crucial role in his character development. He is constantly grappling with his family’s expectations, his own desires, and the complex dynamics of familial love and obligation. These relationships force him to confront his own flaws, to grow, and ultimately to embrace the messy, imperfect reality of human connection.
Mortality and Meaning
The spectre of death looms large over Nate’s life, shaping his perspective and driving his relentless search for meaning. His near-death experiences, triggered by his arteriovenous malformation (AVM), serve as stark reminders of his own mortality, forcing him to confront his fears and re-evaluate his priorities.
He becomes obsessed with death, constantly pondering its implications and seeking to understand its place in the grand scheme of things. He questions the purpose of life, the nature of consciousness, and the possibility of an afterlife. He grapples with existential anxieties, searching for something to believe in, something to give his life meaning. Nate’s intellectual nature is often at war with his desire to live life to the fullest.
His profession as a funeral director only intensifies his preoccupation with death. He witnesses grief, loss, and the fragility of life on a daily basis. He sees the beauty and the tragedy of human existence, the joy and the sorrow, the love and the loss. He is constantly reminded of the ephemeral nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the importance of cherishing each moment.
Transformation
Throughout the series, Nate undergoes a significant transformation. He evolves from a restless drifter to a man grappling with responsibility, fatherhood, and the complexities of adult relationships. He makes mistakes, he suffers, and he learns.
He becomes more aware of his own flaws, more accepting of his imperfections, and more compassionate towards others. He learns to appreciate the simple things in life, the beauty of nature, the comfort of family, and the power of human connection. His choices are often flawed and driven by a need to escape the constraints of reality, ultimately adding to his growth as a character. He finds a new understanding of death and life. He accepts death and decides to live life to the fullest.
Nate’s Passing
Nate Fisher’s death is a devastating blow to the other characters and a poignant reflection on the show’s themes. His sudden passing serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of loss. His death forces the other characters to confront their own mortality, to re-evaluate their priorities, and to appreciate the time they have together.
The way he dies is a culmination of his journey, a final act of defiance against the control that death holds. He dies on his own terms, surrounded by those he loves, at peace with himself and the world. His death is a tragedy, but it is also a moment of transcendence, a reminder that life, like death, is a part of something bigger, something more profound.
Legacy
Nate Fisher’s legacy extends beyond the confines of the show. He is a character who resonates with audiences because he embodies the universal human experience of grappling with mortality, searching for meaning, and navigating the complexities of love and loss. He is a flawed, complex, and ultimately relatable character who reminds us to cherish each moment, to embrace the beauty and the tragedy of life, and to never give up on our search for meaning.
“Six Feet Under” concludes with a montage of each character’s death, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and death. It is both heartbreaking and comforting, a reminder that death is not the end, but rather a transition, a part of the ongoing story of life. Nate Fisher’s journey is a testament to the power of human connection, the enduring search for meaning, and the profound impact that one life can have on others. He stands as a timeless reminder to embrace the present, for the future is never guaranteed, and the beauty of life lies in its fleeting nature. The character of Nate Fisher truly explores humanity and what it means to be alive.
