The series is set in Los Angeles, and depicts the lives of the Fisher family, who run a funeral home, along with their friends and lovers.
Meanwhile, Claire applies for art school, while Brenda begins attending sex addict anonymous meetings.
The episode received critical acclaim, who praised the performances, emotional tone, character development and directing.
Nate (Peter Krause) is upset when he finds that Ruth (Frances Conroy) reveals she has visited Maya, telling her to stay out of her life and storms off.
Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) attends a sex addicts anonymous group, where she takes an interest in a man, Scott Axelrod (Grant Show).
Ruth decides to quit the flower shop, feeling that Nikolai (Ed O'Ross) is not interested in being her friend.
Federico agrees to lend part of the $149,000 to David and Nate to maintain the business, but asking for a 25% stake, which they reluctantly accept.
David and Claire subsequently decide to accompany Ruth during Nate's surgery, skipping her graduation ceremony.
As Nate stands there, stilled by indecision, the screen fades to white before he can choose — suggesting that perhaps the choice itself is an illusion anyway.
"[4] Entertainment Weekly gave the episode an "A" grade, and wrote, "Not as emotionally tumultuous as the preceding ep, but the ensemble's at its best as everyone copes with Nate's surgery.
"[6] TV Tome gave the episode a 9 out of 10 rating and wrote "Definitely better than the first season's ender and more than a satisfying way to end this amazing second year of the show.
Here, at the end of season two, they left us with Nate going under anesthesia, a white light, and the Bus of Death stopping to pick him up.
[9] In 2016, Ross Bonaime of Paste ranked it 7th out of all 63 Six Feet Under episodes and wrote, "Nate saying goodbye in “The Last Time” is a collection of truly heartbreaking moments as he undergoes AVM surgery.
Nate (the always fantastic Peter Krause) stole the show in this one: from a gut-wrenching scene in which a friend literally dies in front of his eyes to the haunting image of himself, head shaven, being wheeled into the operating room, the show went out with all the promise and pathos it started with last year.