Six Feet Under (TV Series) That's My Dog (2004) User Reviews

Dark Things Six Feet Under

[TheChoccyStarfish · 10/10 · 6 February 2010]

During a recent convalescence I viewed the entire Six Feet Under catalogue over the course of a week and a bit.

I have to say that this is the episode that stood out, not because it violated the narrative or strayed from character, but because it REINFORCED all the other elements of the story (by 'story' I mean the entire SFU series).

I spent my adolescence in an environment full of people like Jake. Never have I seen the manipulative tactics of the sociopath portrayed so accurately, like a sadist's version of a confidence game.

David's experience was necessary to remind us that there is a cold, conscious cruelty out there waiting for anyone in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We want to believe there is a dog, and if we just help our captor find it, we will be free. Why else spend so much time and energy working and worrying about money? David's experience shows how powerless we can be, how futile our complicity, and how fatal our defiance.

Outstanding, an episode like a nightmare!

[tv_is_my_parent · 10/10 · 2 April 2011]

That's My Dog is one of the best television episodes i watched and it's in my top 5 of the show.

David's nightmare night is told very brutally and very realistic. I congratulate the writer Scott Buck for this masterpiece. The episode holds the thriller in it and keeps the viewers thrilling.

Michael C. Hall is a fantastic actor and i wanna know what did he feel while the shooting of this episode because it's one of the most scary and real things in the world.

When David's life flashed before his eyes, i was shocked what if we see David's name in the white screen. Because in this show you can't know who's dying when. You have to see this. 10/10.

This episode is a detour, but an excellent one.

[aaronpenton-32676 · 10/10 · 7 November 2016]

I find the negative, almost angry reviews of this episode rather strange. People complain about the fact that the writers broke David's character by having him do (or not do) what he did during his kidnapping. NOBODY knows how they would react in a situation like this.

This episode was extremely disturbing - but then again SFU is disturbing by its very nature. The weird conflict David faces - pure fear alongside being turned on is disturbing in itself. People are angry because David doesn't do what they would WANT him to do, or what they think he SHOULD do. I didn't have this issue - I am not David. As far as David not suffering long enough with PTSD for some people's liking - again, we don't know how we would deal with such a thing, or how David is actually dealing with this. After all, he's not the only character in the show, and it would be pretty one dimensional to focus on this for the rest of the series.

The hitchhiker, who I recognized as Private Dancer from Scrubs - was brilliantly played. What an absolutely terrifying character. This unnerving dichotomy of a likable, affable guy and a completely sadistic, evil monster. It really showed David's vulnerability, insecurity and confusion within himself, being terrified and at the same time drawn to this terror of a human being.

Six feet under is supposed to be unsettling. I love it when a TV show, or a band, takes chances and challenges their audience - as long as it's still art and it's done well. This episode was both.

Tense and Breathtaking

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 18 November 2006]

While celebrating her husband's birthday in their swimming pool, Anne Marie Thornton falls in the shower and dies. Keith moves on tour for three months with the security team and David misses him. Claire shows her picture in class and her stillness is not well accepted. Sophia, completely stoned, looks for Rico in his work, and Nate understands the situation. The upset Nate goes to a support group following Ruth's advice. Ruth invites Kyle for dinner upsetting George, who becomes disappointed with her. Margaret visits Brenda in the campus and Brenda admits her wish of having a baby. David gives a lift to a hitchhiker called Jake while bringing the corpse of Anne Marie, and sooner he regrets.

"That's My Dog" is a tense and breathtaking episode of "Six Feet Under" totally different from the previous ones. The unusual violent situation that David is exposed is very real and one of the greatest reasons for the lack of sympathy and kindness of contemporary worldwide people. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Um Dia de Cão" ("A Dog's Day")

One of the Top 5 for SURE!

[JaysonT · 10/10 · 11 November 2017]

First off, let me start off by saying I'm appalled at the stupidity in some of the comments regarding this episode. For the folks that are degrading David for "allowing a body to be thrown and left in the street"- UM HELLO??? He was being KIDNAPPED at GUNPOINT!!! Have YOU ever had a GUN pointed at your head?? You're not going to care about anything except YOUR own life. And people in circumstances like these react differently. I have gone through traumatic experiences. Trust me, you often freeze up. There is no logic. You're in survival mode- and also in a "WTF" mode. I really can't stand the fact that some commenters actually are claiming David's character was in the wrong. Blame the victim? I think not.

The power of this episode is the fact that a good 1/3 of it revolves around a continuous setting, vs quick jumps from scene to scene. After Keith goes away on business, David is left doubting his relationship and see's an attractive hitchhiker. He picks him up for 2 reasons I suspect. One- he's cute, and David was already "getting guys on the side" so to speak. And Two, this exhibits his overall kind nature to strangers. He has compassion. He believes this guy is in trouble. It may also show a hint of nativity on his part, but remember this is LA. Lots of crazies. And this was the first time the series dealt with a main character being put in a traumatizing situation with a complete stranger.

Remember, the series focuses on death. Both on how the main characters deal with it on a daily basis in their funeral home, and also how the people coming to them deal with it. Every episode opens with a way someone can die. And in David's case, this was terrifying because it basically hinders on the possibility that someone innocent can be taken for granted, by heartless people in this world.

The first 20 minutes also focus on other characters. The lunch between Brenda and her mother is quite funny- I always like their chemistry. Ruth getting told she's meddling by George with his past son is also the beginnings of the troublesome marriage the two will soon share.

But it is indeed David's storyline that is the highlight. And the actor playing the hitchhiker really nails the sociopath, bully role; you don't know what he's going to do or say next. The ride the two take is truly scary. Because we don't know whether David will live through it.

Kudos to the writers for coming up with a episode that broke barriers and thought outside the box. For someone like David, who often took life for granted and was uptight and often worried about meticulous things- this was a definite life changer for him. And in future episodes, he learns what he's truly fearing in life. Was it this experience that opened him up a bit more? And realized- It's HIMSELF he fears, and it's HIMSELF he must come to terms with, in order to except his life and be content with his family, and his relationship with Keith.

Four stars. A masterpiece.

It's traumatizing and a realistic scenario

[agreenfox · 9/10 · 29 April 2021]

The misunderstanding about psychology coming from people who have watched the show this far is surprising...

With a show like Six Feet Under, you recognize that relationships are complicated. David himself is alone, seeking companionship. That's my dog! Here's this cute boy on the side of the road who he can save.

Anyone who thinks he could have just heroed up and punched his abductor does not understand David as a character. He's supposed to be sensitive, and attempts to use reason to be let go. Instead, this is an unreasonable situation from a guy with a gun who sees David as a pal, and psychologically torments him so that he wouldn't dare to escape.

Not to mention .... he has a weapon. Panicking in situations like these is normal, and David was humiliated in the process. It's an important story arc concerning his sexuality, and this episode managed to entertain as well as horrify. People seem upset because they were confronted with a dire situation that was too uncomfortable for them, but when you're watching a show like Six Feet Under, what the hell do you expect?

Amazing

[cfarmer10a · 1 February 2011]

Well, it was certainly difficult to watch but I call BS on the reviewers who said that the episode compromised the integrity of the series as a reaction to their discomfort with seeing their beloved character undergo complete terror, most of all in the form of total humiliation. Yes, I saw many opportunities for David to gain control of the situation, seize his captor's gun and kill the f****r already!, and I also saw the instant calculations I might make if I were hoping for one last thing that might make it end and save my life. Part of what was amazing about this episode, and which forms an interesting juxtapose to the negative reactions here is that Keith is always present, in the form of the cell phone David keeps trying to get a hold of, but he just can't appear as a superhero, nor can trust in his enduring love give David the strength to just kick some ass and emerge triumphant. Remember the first couple episodes, when they had those quirky funeral home ads? I thought *that* was going to be the Six Feet Under "paradigm" (wrong word, BTW, and people should know that almost nobody uses that word correctly), but it wasn't. So much of the beauty of this series is its ability to continue to surprise, to absolutely defy formula, to encapsulate intense human experience - and human suffering, obviously - without ever falling into the maudlin. It's an amazing episode.

Also, not sure where it's going or whether it will ever present a concisely describable meaning, but the "follow the dog" motif that has emerged over the last 2 episodes (and maybe more if I've missed any signs) is intriguing.

A neverending nightmare

[mattiasflgrtll6 · 10/10 · 24 March 2020]

Despite George constantly telling Ruth he doesn't want her to interfere with his son, she insists on inviting him over for dinner. Honestly, while for the most part I find Ruth a sympathetic character, she's been a bit overbearing lately. If neither he nor his son want to see each other, she should leave it alone.

Rico's entanglement with Sophia is embarrassing to watch. I can't believe how stupid he is actually acting. Instead of breaking it off because he has his own wife and kids to take care off, he keeps seeing her and sending TONS of money because he feels sorry for her. Yes, Sophia lives a tragic life, but it's not his responsibility. He's certainly no longer the responsible, likable Rico from season 1.

Brenda's scene with her mom is very funny however. As usual Margaret keeps revealing unwanted dirty details, then berating Brenda for her choices once again. It's amusing how she starts off complimenting Brenda on her new relationship, only to ruin it with her snarky remarks.

Olivier is gone, but Claire still doesn't get the respect in art class she is looking for.

One of the more major plots is Nate going to a grief support group. Ruth thinks it will be good for him, but instead he feels jealous of the long, happy lives all the elderly widows have had with their partners. His monologue lamenting on how happy he and Lisa could've been if just given more time is heartbreakingly beautiful. Even though I never thought she was the right person for him, but maybe he's right. Relationships can change so much over the years, for all we know they might've really had a happy marriage eventually. But now there's no finding out.

David and Keith are in a fairly happy place right now, even though David is being too clingy. Keith promises to call every day.

When David is driving a truck to deliver a body, he picks up a hitchhiker who claims he needs to pick up medicine for his sick grandma. After he agrees to extract money from a bank account however, Jake reveals himself to be a fraud and forces David to hand over every single bit of cash from his account. That's a bad ordeal as it is, but it doesn't stop there. He continues making more and more demands, much to David's chagrin. The sheer terror that he goes through never seems to stop, much thanks to the excellent performance by guest star Michael Weston. He's easily one of sickest sociopaths I've seen on TV. Even when he starts to tell a sobworthy story of his dad dying in a car accident, he later admits in sadistic glee that he lied. The portrayal of David in this horrific scenario is both realistic and genuinely intriguing. Even though he's scared to death and begs for Jake to stop taunting him, he also feels a weird sexual thrill from the intensity of the situation he's in. It made me so uneasy seeing David be terrorized I was begging along with him for the terror to end.

It's easy to criticize David for not utilizing more opportunities to escape or make an attempt to fight back, but you've got to remember he by nature always wants to think the best of people. This kidnapper can't just be robbing you at blank point and keep you hostage just for the thrill of it, right? There has to be a good heart underneath, someone who deep down is capable of being a good person.

Not to mention it's a natural reaction to assume that if you keep doing what the other person wants, eventually they'll leave you alone. Jake manages to take advantage of that innocence as much as possible, right to the very end when he wants David to catch his dog for him. Only that turns out to be a trick too. After that he decides he's had "enough" and points a gun to David's head, snarling at him to close his eyes. No more second chances. David starts flashing back at his whole life, realizing he will never see his family or anyone else he loved ever again. When he hears the sound of a car driving off, he opens them again. The kidnapper is at last is gone.

There's no sense of relief for the audience when he's driven off though. You know right away that this is something David won't forget any time soon, and it's imprinted in our minds as well.

What started off as a regular entertaining Six Feet Under episode ended up being so much more. The kidnapping drama with David is straight-up taken from a thriler, and once you're in it it doesn't let go until you're almost out of breath.

Bad Things Happen to Good People...

[rhyllann · 8/10 · 19 September 2018]

Having grown up in a family Funeral Parlor, I can tell you that it was uncanny how these characters are somewhat mirrored to my own family. That being said, it's the truth that unequivocally horrifying things happen to lovely decent people. The entire series set us up to basically fall in love with David (in a Universal sense). So when this absolutely insane off the hook event takes place, it kicked us in the psyche and heart. I still have to skip that episode when I watch the series every few years or so. I can't stand it, it's like an electric blender in my stomach on high speed.

When a show can do that to a viewer, I think SOMETHING of merit has been achieved.

Lesson learned

[chupektomas · 8/10 · 8 October 2022]

Firtsly, I don't agree with all the bad reviews here saying that the David's sequence was out of the David's character. Even if he is professional and has very strict work morale, he was always a little bit kinky guy and he likes sex. In a previous epizode, he let the plumber guy did him a bj in the funeral house, next to the office. David with Keith just agreed on the side sex rules. So it's absolutely in line of David's character to stop to a handsome and cute hitchhiker. After, he imagined that the hitchhiker is gay. And the hitchhiker really acted good as a kind boy.

I agree that some of the moments that followed in the "action" sequence were little plot holes, like David could literally drive away with the car when the guy was out of the car. But I think the authors wanted to show us to what extreme it can go. And David being not fighting? Oh comon, since when David is a fighter, firstly, and secondly - David IS a sensitive guy, a little bit girly frim the beginning. He is not Keith to fight the bad guy and to know all the logics of the bad guys and tricks like policeman.

The point of this epizode is to show us a lesson we can learn from. There are so many dangerous situations in the gay life like this. The gays meet strangers all the time and they trust to go inside stranger's house to have a sex. This is similar, so many bad things can happen. I think this epizode has a good point.

10 plus!

[estelle58 · 10/10 · 19 November 2021]

This episode keeps playing over in my mind. I cannot think of anything else I have ever seen that has had such an impact on me as this one has.

A gut wrenching portrayal of good -vs- evil.

Outstanding episode

[cdb-22 · 10/10 · 18 July 2022]

One of the best episodes I've seen in any show a dazzling combination of great acting , amazing tension riveting storyline this episode has it all , not to be missed.

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to Hell"

[Twins65 · 7/10 · 20 June 2006]

I've seen very few episodes of this show, but I happened to catch this one, and it "stayed with me" for awhile, to say the least. Here's a show recap from the epguides web-site, but it really doesn't do it justice:

>>>On the way home from retrieving a body, David picks up a hitchhiker, who then takes him for a ride. At the funeral home, Ruth plans to match her friend Becky, a cashier at the Fabric Shop and George's son Kyle up as a couple which George feels uncomfortable talking about. He believes she is meddling and to worry about her own children.

Nate attends a Bereavement Support Group which offers little comfort. Brenda discusses her relationship with Joe to her mother Margaret over lunch. Federico attempts to break ties with Sophia, who asks that they should go out on a date.<<<

The hitchhiker story is the one that stands out. Michael Weston makes his first appearance on SFU as "Jake", and you'll probably never want to stop and help a stranded roadside person in need again after spending "quality" time with "Jake"!

easily the worst episode of the show

[nik_jok · 1/10 · 28 March 2021]

This was hard to watch. Beyond unnecessary, it's filled with plot holes. I cant believe david wouldn't at least try to fight. And he could've overpowered the crackhead or just drive away multiple times.

Worst episode so far, insults my intelligence

[paulooliveira00 · 14 August 2019]

I was extremely surprised to see that the rating for this episode is 8.9. David's whole plot is implausible and poorly written, despite good acting. The near-death situation didn't work for me, because I knew David was in no danger. I hope that this situation, although badly done, will serve to give a new direction to the series, which has been in debt for some time. And to everyone who enjoyed this episode and attributed it to superlatives, I suggest you watch it again but with your brain turned on.

One of the best they ever did

[bogdanmihai-97621 · 10/10 · 11 November 2023]

Without a doubt, one of the best episodes they ever did! You can really feel Davids fear, how he just freezes not knowing what to do. Excellent acting!

While not for everyone, we need to keep in mind that not all people are capable of getting out of such a situation.

Would I ever take someone from the middle of the road?

No way in hell!

But the episode really tells the story of people that are maybe less vigilent or naive and just want to be good people and get the shorter end of the stick.

It's a good break from the general feel of the series, that focuses more on post morten scenarios and less on what happens in the moment.

This episode was awful

[stephaniecox · 1/10 · 21 November 2023]

I did not like this episode at all. David was dumb enough to help a sociopath/con artist take him down a path of terror. It made me angry that David had a way out and ruined his chances by hitting that guy but running away instead of getting the gun that was on the ground. He let him bully him, beat him up and rob him. Sometimes the writers of these episodes are sick and want to see how much abuse the viewers can take. No justice, just constant abuse. This was cringe and I did not like it at all. Way to go, writers, for an awful, pointless episode I could have done without ever seeing in my entire life.

The worst episode of the entire series!

[jonsefcik · 1/10 · 21 November 2017]

I found the Six Feet Under complete series box set on eBay for a reasonable price. After reading the countless rave reviews, I decided to buy it and experience it for myself. The first two seasons and series finale are absolutely fantastic, 10/10 material. Once you hit season 3, the series slowly starts getting more (I'm going to invent a new word) soap-opera-ey. Everybody's relationships with each other become dysfunctional to an almost unrealistic degree. It makes you wonder if you're the only person you know that has anything resembling a normal life. On the whole, I'm willing to forgive most of the implausibilities and give the entire series a 9/10.

But THIS episode...dear God. This is easily the worst episode of the entire series! It completely betrays the character of David! This episode is so stupid! Who thought this was a good idea?!

First of all, David picks up a hitchhiker while driving a body across town. Why would anyone pick up a hitchhiker in a company vehicle during work hours, especially someone as committed to their career as David and on such a relatively short trip? When the hitchhiker pulls the gurney out of the van and knocks it over, David just whines like a little bitch. David holds too much respect for human life and his profession to just stand by. If I worked for a funeral home and someone took the body out of my hearse and threw it on the ground, I'd beat the crap out of them. He wasn't pointing the gun at you! You had like a dozen different opportunities to overpower him! It isn't until the end of the episode that he even attempts to do physically confront the guy. Oh, so NOW you think its appropriate to kick his ass instead of 30 MINUTES EARLIER IN THE EPISODE?! I should mention that by that point, he had already taken David hostage AND made him withdraw hundreds of dollars from his ATM.

I'm sorry, but out of all the crazy plot points they added in the later seasons, this was by far the most shoehorned in, pointless, uncharacteristic, and poorly done of them all. It infuriated me in a way none of the other episodes did. I'm glad the series ended when it did, because I fear what it could have become if it kept going.

Wow, this episode was terrible.....

[nhaydenmartin · 1/10 · 11 April 2010]

I find it hard to believe that this episode made it past a rough draft stage. In one episode they've managed to completely and utterly ruin David's character which they've spent the past 3 seasons creating. I'm going to have to agree with another reviewer in saying that David wouldn't stand for a body to be left out in the middle on nowhere. And even when he had a chance to escape he managed to squander it by running away when any sane person would have stopped the hitchhikers face in once he hit the ground. What happened to the David that shocks everyone when he finally reaches his breaking point? It's disappointing to see a character we've grown to love just turn into a blithering pile of worthless crap. This isn't an episode you throw in during the 4th season, it's just insulting to the viewers who now know a character well enough to call BS.

This episode did nothing to further develop the overall plot of the show and therefore is worthless in a screen-writing sense. It's just sensationalist fluff and belongs in the realm of a soap opera.

Worst episode

[tchaillenew · 1/10 · 18 June 2020]

I love 6 ft under, but this is by far the worst episode! The whole David sequence is ridiculous beyond belief. I'm actually embarrassed for the writers.

Absolute nonsense

[rpm226 · 1/10 · 8 September 2023]

This was one of the stupidest episodes of television I've ever seen. And I've seen a LOT of television.

I'm working through my first watch of SFU and I've been getting more and more lukewarm on this show, because it's been getting worse and worse over these four seasons, but MAN. This episode takes the cake.

Why didn't David just drive away when this idiot jumped out of the van to get rid of the corpse? Or better yet, run him over? Also, what did this episode accomplish in telling any sort of story or advancing plot lines or character arcs? If anything, all this episode did was *UNDO* the work they did to establish David's meticulous, calculating, and cautious character until this point.

I spent almost every minute of this painful episode switching between shaking my head and laughing at the utter nonsense of it all.

"You don't have any food. Don't lie to my dog...

That's not my dog."

Jesus Christ. To think I could've spent that hour more wisely, rubbing sandpaper against my eyeballs.

Episode ruins a perfect television series

[lh_lostie · 1/10 · 15 August 2020]

This is absolutely unbelievable in every way. The reason why this show is one of my favourite series, of all time, is the rich character development. This episode flies in the face of everything we spent 4 seasons learning about David. He would never stop to pick up a hitchhiker and would never have done so while he was transporting a body. He would never have left the body on the side of the road either. This episode is unwatchable and it is a series of unbelievable events. It almost ruins the entire series.

The worst episode of the entire five seasons.

[Mr_Ghostface_Lives · 1/10 · 14 January 2007]

Why they decided to do this off-concept show I have no idea whatsoever. It begins structured like a normal show with different scenes with each of the characters, and then halfway through without notice it turns into a kidnap story for the rest of the show with David almost being killed after being kidnapped, robbed, beaten etc.

Absolute crap. I was absolutely astounded at how atrocious this episode was. I know the fourth season is generally regarded as the poorest but give me a break. Why break from the winning formula, especially for a story which drags and drags and drags...

I never want to see this episode again.

I don't get why it was rated so high

[moov_e_c_er · 1/10 · 24 September 2023]

I watched this episode and was so absolutely bored by it. The logic that if you were to pick up a stranded person on the side of the road, if things went from fantasy to reality, to the things that eventually happened seemed to me out of sync and not Logical. David is not a fighter or anything but to be so absolutely willing to do as he is told by a man with a gun. The worst moment was when they stopped to rid the body why didn't he just drive away? Even if he grabbed the keys the lights were still on. When the guy took crack and as it was hitting him then opportunity to take the gun, punch or kick him or so much more.

I tend to go back and watch entire shows from start to finish and the previous episodes always had something. But this episode from start to finish was simply long, boring, irritating and got worse as time went on. It felt like it was an idea but was never flushed out into a working idea or like it never had a purpose: much like saying you want a story about a fire truck but no other details means that is not a story at all.

Totally pointless

[hcasale-68303 · 2/10 · 21 November 2023]

What on earth was the point of this episode? It made no sense. Beginning to end. 30 minutes of David riding around in the van with a psycho? What did we learn from this? Word to the wise, when you get to this episode, skip right over it and go to the next one. You won't miss anything.

What on earth was the point of this episode? It made no sense. Beginning to end. 30 minutes of David riding around in the van with a psycho? What did we learn from this? Word to the wise, when you get to this episode, skip right over it and go to the next one. You won't miss anything.

What on earth was the point of this episode? It made no sense. Beginning to end. 30 minutes of David riding around in the van with a psycho? What did we learn from this? Word to the wise, when you get to this episode, skip right over it and go to the next one. You won't miss anything.