Season 1

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  8.7/105,339 votes

  Pilot

  Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/3/2001

  Nate Fisher returns home for the holidays to the shattering news of his father's death.

  Director: Alan Ball

  Writer: Alan Ball

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  8.0/103,647 votes

  The Will

  Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 6/10/2001

  After a pyramid scheme owner dies and leaves his wife and baby daughter with a load of debt, Nate offers to loan them a casket. Meanwhile, the Fisher family attend the reading of their father's will.

  Director: Miguel Arteta

  Writer: Christian Williams

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  8.3/103,494 votes

  The Foot

  Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 6/17/2001

  When a bakery owner is killed, it's up to Federico to put the pieces back together. The family considers selling the funeral business altogether to Kroehner.

  Director: John Patterson

  Writer: Bruce Eric Kaplan

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  8.3/103,378 votes

  Familia

  Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 6/24/2001

  After a gang member is killed, the Fishers find that his family's wishes for burial differ from those of his gang leader. Nate's girlfriend Brenda makes an unfavorable impression during a family dinner.

  Director: Lisa Cholodenko

  Writer: Laurence Andries

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  8.2/103,213 votes

  An Open Book

  Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 7/1/2001

  Ruth is stunned by the visitors at a porn star's wake; Nate has a strange first meeting with Brenda's brother Billy; and Keith takes issue with David's desire to replace his father as deacon at the family church.

  Director: Kathy Bates

  Writer: Alan Ball

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  8.6/103,344 votes

  The Room

  Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 7/8/2001

  An ornery widower camps out in the Fisher Funeral Home; sparks fly between Claire and Billy; Ruth spurns Hiram and is later wooed by a Russian florist; David is pursued by a pushy parishioner while performing charity work; and an examination of the business's receipts uncovers some interesting secrets.

  Director: Rodrigo García

  Writer: Christian Taylor

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  7.9/102,930 votes

  Brotherhood

  Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 7/15/2001

  When a young Army vet dies of Gulf War Syndrome, his brother opts for a cremation and disposal of the body; Ruth has Hiram over to cook dinner and then takes a job with Nikolai; David's church involvement results in his casting a very important vote; and Billy interferes with Nate and Brenda's vacation plans.

  Director: Jim McBride

  Writer: Christian Williams

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  8.0/102,864 votes

  Crossroads

  Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 7/22/2001

  In an effort to raise income, Nate and David decide to rent out a room in the funeral home; Claire struggles to grasp the lessons of her outreach hike in the mountains; Ruth attempts to reconcile her feelings about Hiram; Brenda's Aussie friend gets under Nate's skin; and David is buoyed by the news of extra funeral business.

  Director: Allen Coulter

  Writer: Laurence Andries

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  8.6/102,999 votes

  Life's Too Short

  Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 7/29/2001

  A tragedy reunites Claire with a guy who sullied her reputation at school; David and his new boyfriend run into Keith and his new partner on the disco circuit; and Ruth has an eye-opening camping trip with Hiram.

  Director: Jeremy Podeswa

  Writer: Unknown

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  8.3/102,803 votes

  The New Person

  Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 8/5/2001

  Nate and David hire an outspoken mortician; Billy's photo gallery exhibit features one particularly surprising shot; and Claire frets over Gabe's inconsistent behavior.

  Director: Kathy Bates

  Writer: Bruce Eric Kaplan

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  8.3/102,764 votes

  The Trip

  Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 8/12/2001

  Nate, David and Brenda take an interesting trip to Vegas for a funeral directors' conference; a baby's death from SIDS stuns the family; and Ruth takes a floral-arrangement class.

  Director: Michael Engler

  Writer: Rick Cleveland

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  8.8/103,090 votes

  A Private Life

  Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 8/19/2001

  A gay man's murder forces David to confont his own fears about his lifestyle; Brenda's parents and Nate consider getting help for the increasingly troubled Billy...but Brenda isn't so sure that's the answer. Meanwhile, Ruth, Claire and David all share secrets with respective acquaintances.

  Director: Rodrigo García

  Writer: Kate Robin

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  8.7/102,966 votes

  Knock, Knock

  Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 8/19/2001

  The Fisher family experiences the control-freak side of Tracy Montrose Blaire; Brenda visits a remorseful Billy; David faces problems at his church; Gabe reverts to some bad habits; and Rico finds reason to celebrate.

  Director: Alan Ball

  Writer: Alan Ball