I wonder about those who were disappointed with Sunday night's episode. Have you not watched the series thus far? Those were not the Fishers we know. I'm with the viewers who question this reality as the "real" one.

Not much acutally happened on the season premiere, but the set-up for what is to come is certainly thrilling.

Things, none of them, are as they seem.

No sir, I didn't like it. The core family seemed exceptionally needy in the season opener. I guess they've always been needy, but here they were really, really, really fucking needy. And all of the other characters had their assertiveness scale cranked up to like an 11. I'm not sure what the point of that was, but it made the whole thing feel excessively whiny and insular to me.

Maybe it will get better, but this felt like a jump the shark episode to me, and I wouldn't have expected that for a few more seasons.

I don't have cable. Any cable.

I get about 9 channels, and roughly half of those are religious programing. I do get MTV2, though. When it's not cloudy . . .

HBO comes with my place, and I almost never watch it.
Ha! I'M WASTING IT.

Ooh, this is a topic I can get behind.

I loved the opening. Over at television without pity, there's a lot of debate about whether Nate's still living in one of his "alternate realities," from which he will someday emerge. I think they're pretty much done with that conceit, and everything that happened after his date of death disappeared is "real."

Also, don't mean to spoil anything, but Rachel Griffiths is due to return in Week 5. I suspect between now and then the seemingly idyllic relationship between Nate and Lisa will start to come seriously unglued.

mannyfresh, don't worry about the backstory too much. The first two years absolutely rocked, but give it a shot this sunday and see if you're entertained enough to be able to fall into step with the show.

Most of the people I've talked to here wasn't so crazy about the opening, but after the fireworks at the end of last season and months and months of anticipation, it was naturally going to be a letdown.

Now.

They went out of their way to make the marriage look "normal" and "boring," and Mate's trying to be a good daddy, but given that he can't forget the old life (and his multiple whatthefuck realities on the operating table showing him more than he can yet handle), combined with the fact that Rachel Griffiths is still in the opening credits, I'd be willing to bet that Nate's new wife is going to get a title card one of these weeks.

i have hbo, and watch curb your enthusiasm and the sopranos all the time, best things on television. so tell me -- can i start watching six feet under when its already 3 seasons deep? how much backstory am i missing? will it make sense and still be as rich as people tell me it is?

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Okay, I'll start.

First of all, how about that opener? Here's me: mouth on ground, mind reeling. NATE DIED? What the FUCK?! I wasn't sur how, but I knew they weren't going to get rid of his character, but I was in awe of that initial, ballsy blow. I was, yet again, instantly hooked.

I rather enjoyed the first half. I think it reiterated that they were going to revert back to some of the more quirky, surreal aspects of Season One that were missing in Two. Lots happened in Season Two, but with lots less style and creativity. I hope last night's episode is indicative of what is to come in the following weeks.

And what about Nate and his new bride who isn't Brenda? And their baby? Well, fucking whoa. And, seriously, where the fuck is Brenda? She can't be far--her or Billy--waiting to muck up what seems to be good things for Fisher Family. I suspect Episode Two will send all things pristine spiraling into tragic chaos--or at least I fucking hope so. Keith and David are learning to talk through Keith's rampant anger issue. Aww. And Claire is all into art school until she meets some empty-headed rocker boy. Not stealing feet at least. And Ruth has never been happier since her husband's death. Nate's new baby is her new, most awesome project. Nate and his new wife I-Forget-Her-Name seem blissfully content, though I doubt Nate's happiness is about his new family as much as his new chance to live. Which, I hope, wears off soon. Fuck Little Miss Peanut Butter Allergies. Brenda get off those random dudes' dicks and get to fucking the Nate. Figuratively, literally, whathaveyou.

My predictions on the Nate/baby storyline:

Nate goes on about how he is bewildered how everything that has come to pass has been a total accident. His whole life has culminated from a complete coincidental series of events. And it is hard for him to grasp. BUT! What if the new Peanut Butter wife LIED about the baby being Nate's or otherwise misled him somehow--in some calculating fahion--then it ISN'T ACCIDENTAL. This would be totally out of character for the new, vega-chef hippie wifey. Which is gonna hve to happen soon she's grating my nerves. OR! The baby dies. How bad would that suck?

Also, fucking hell yeah for Catherine O'Hara as the PB wife's new boss. She rules utmost.