Three TV Series That Can Help Mourners Grieve Their Loved Ones
Showing them that recovery and healing are possible
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In Western society, death and loss are taboo topics. The unwillingness to talk about mortality often leaves people to mourn a loved one alone. Additionally, widespread misconceptions about grief may cause mourners to feel pressured to “move on,” hide their pain, and put on a brave face.
Shows that tell stories of grief can help the bereaved come to terms with their loss. Entertainment Weekly’s journalist Ariana Bacle writes that she “desperately wanted a fictional character to connect with” after her brother’s death. Not only can shows give the bereaved characters they can relate to, but they also help them realize that mourning is a long, messy, and complicated process. “The thing about grief,” remarks Six Feet Under’s creator Alan Ball, “is you can’t avoid it, because it is a fundamental part of being alive.”
Here are three TV series that can help mourners grieve their loved ones.
1. Six Feet Under
“We go out of our way to sweep death under the carpet,” declared Alan Ball, who lost many loved ones at an early age. By creating an award-winning show that revolves around death and grief, Ball aimed to demonstrate how they can’t be avoided. Six Feet Under follows the Fishers, a family who run a funeral home in Los Angeles, as they struggle to come to terms with their own losses while helping other bereaved say goodbye to their loved ones. As every episode begins with a different death, the show provides an extensive atlas of grief.
Critics have praised Six Feet Under for its honest, sometimes brutal, portrayal of grief. In her article in Entertainment Weekly, Ariana Bacle declares that the show’s deep analysis of loss helped her grieve her brother. Above all, Six Feet Under describes how the loss of a loved one isn’t something people can “get over” to achieve closure. Even the Fishers, who deal with death daily, struggle to navigate their personal grief. “I forget how anyone ever gets over anything,” says Ruth Fisher after the premature death of her eldest son. The series helps mourners see past harmful misconceptions about loss and urges them not to rush through the grieving process.
