Ep 2. The Will

In the second episode of the acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under, entitled "The Will," the Fisher family grapples with the aftermath of their patriarch's sudden death and the reading of his will. The family funeral home, Fisher & Sons, has been left to both brothers, Nate and David, but neither of them is sure they want to take on the responsibility of running it. Meanwhile, their sister, Claire, struggles to come to terms with her father's death and her own role in the family business.

As the episode unfolds, tensions rise between Nate and David as they try to figure out how best to honor their father's wishes and keep the family legacy alive. David, who has always been the more responsible and dutiful son, is determined to take on the business and carry on his father's legacy. Nate, on the other hand, is more ambivalent about the funeral home and unsure if he wants to be tied down to a career that he never wanted in the first place.

The Fisher siblings also must contend with their father's former business partner and lover, who makes a surprise appearance at the reading of the will. Ruth is shocked to learn that her husband has been carrying on a secret affair for years, and the revelations only deepen the family's already fraught relationships.

Meanwhile, David and Nate spend time with each other and with their respective partners: David with the reserved and religious Keith, and Nate with the free-spirited and unstable Brenda. Each brother grapples with his own identity and the expectations placed upon him by his family and society.

As the episode comes to a close, the Fisher family prepares to bury their father and say goodbye to him for good. In the wake of their personal and emotional struggles, they begin to come to terms with their grief and the new reality of life without their patriarch. Throughout it all, the Fisher family's unique and complex dynamics are explored with depth, nuance, and honesty in Six Feet Under's signature style.