Dead Like Me (2003 – 2004)
Created by: Bryan Fuller
Premise: A Showtime television series. George (Ellen Muth), a twenty-year-old slacker is suddenly killed and becomes a grim reaper. As a reaper, she is undead and has to survive in the world with the living while fulfilling her reaper obligations.
What Works: The premise of Dead Like Me is brilliant. It walks the fine line of black humor. The subject matter has a lot of weight but the show balances the humor and the drama. The supporting cast is great, especially Callum Blue as Mason and Mandy Patinkin as Rube. Each episode conveys small nuggets of fortune cookie wisdom, but it is presented in a way that is not pretentious or esoteric.
What Doesn’t: There are a few interpersonal conflicts that could be punched up a little but the show generally allows these conflicts to develop over multiple episodes.
DVD extras: The pilot episode has a commentary track with the cast.
Bottom Line: This is some of the best television writing to be found today. Fans of other cable television show like Six Feet Under and The Sopranos will appreciate this. Dead Like Me is a great antidote to the crop of vanilla television shows crowding the airwaves.
Episode: #21 (October 3, 2004)