I missed the series in its original run on Showtime. I missed it again when it was aired on Sci Fi. It was a year ago or so, when "Dead Like Me" was running on the CW network on the weekends, that I began watching and finally understanding the show that I had missed.
Since then, I have watched my way straight through the whole series on HULU, watched the 2009 movie, and now begun watching the whole series again. Of that initial watching, this particular episode, "The Bicycle Thief," has actually haunted me. It actually made me cry, and today on viewing it again, I was again brought to tears.
During my initial watching, I was struck by the insightful writing and masterfully applied dark humor of the series. I was an instant fan of all the actors in the show, and appreciative of the effort it took to make such a wonderful series. This particular episode hit me like a bolt of lightning because this episode took the whole series to the next level of achievement.
I was not expecting the emotional pain and depth of feeling in Mason's story arc involving the gay couple. I was bowled over by the emotional pain of George's day at Happy Time. I was not expecting such a deep and affecting exploration of the human social bond, and the role that kindness and consideration play.
This episode seemed to me to be a particular moment in the progress of the show that changed and lifted everything that came afterward. You can't do better than that.
I'm watching my way completely through the series again, like a much loved novel; I used to watch afternoon reruns of Star Trek on local TV when I was a kid in the 70's, and I'm finding that same expectation and thrill now in "Dead Like Me." I'm an eternally grateful fan.
Since then, I have watched my way straight through the whole series on HULU, watched the 2009 movie, and now begun watching the whole series again. Of that initial watching, this particular episode, "The Bicycle Thief," has actually haunted me. It actually made me cry, and today on viewing it again, I was again brought to tears.
During my initial watching, I was struck by the insightful writing and masterfully applied dark humor of the series. I was an instant fan of all the actors in the show, and appreciative of the effort it took to make such a wonderful series. This particular episode hit me like a bolt of lightning because this episode took the whole series to the next level of achievement.
I was not expecting the emotional pain and depth of feeling in Mason's story arc involving the gay couple. I was bowled over by the emotional pain of George's day at Happy Time. I was not expecting such a deep and affecting exploration of the human social bond, and the role that kindness and consideration play.
This episode seemed to me to be a particular moment in the progress of the show that changed and lifted everything that came afterward. You can't do better than that.
I'm watching my way completely through the series again, like a much loved novel; I used to watch afternoon reruns of Star Trek on local TV when I was a kid in the 70's, and I'm finding that same expectation and thrill now in "Dead Like Me." I'm an eternally grateful fan.
