Ep 2. Out, Out, Brief Candle

Out, Out, Brief Candle is the second episode of the second season of the award-winning HBO television series, Six Feet Under. The episode is directed by Rodrigo Garcia and written by Rick Cleveland.

The show is centered around the Fisher family, who operate a funeral home in Los Angeles. The episode begins with the death of a young man named Jimmy Sibley, who dies while playing baseball with his friends. The Fisher family is tasked with handling his funeral arrangements, which takes on added significance when they discover that Jimmy was a client of Fisher & Sons Funeral Home.

As the family grapples with their grief, they must also deal with a series of personal and professional challenges. Nate Fisher (Peter Krause) is struggling with depression and a sense of aimlessness in his life. He begins to feel disconnected from his job, his family and his girlfriend Brenda (Rachel Griffiths). Meanwhile, his brother David (Michael C. Hall) is struggling with his sexuality, and his relationship with his boyfriend Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) is starting to fall apart.

The episode also explores the dynamics of the Fisher family, as they come together to navigate the challenges they face. Ruth (Frances Conroy), the matriarch of the family, is coping with her own feelings of loneliness and isolation following the death of her husband. She finds solace in the unlikely friendship she develops with one of her son's old friends, Hiram (Ed O'Ross).

As the Fisher family struggles to come to terms with the loss of Jimmy Sibley, they are forced to confront their own mortality and the fragility of life. Through a series of flashbacks and dream sequences, the episode explores the various ways in which the characters cope with death and grief.

Overall, Out, Out, Brief Candle is a powerful and poignant episode of Six Feet Under. It touches on themes of family, love, loss, and mortality, and provides a deeply moving portrayal of the human experience. With its complex characters, intricate plot, and expert direction, the episode is a testament to the quality and depth of the series as a whole.