Wrestling with Death

"Wrestling with Death" is a unique reality television series that aired on WGN America in 2015. This unusual and authentic show combines two seemingly disjointed worlds, wrestling and funeral services, providing an insightful look into the lives of the lively Lathan family in Osceola, Arkansas. The family is distinctly peculiar, but genuine, living and working in a small town and showcasing their lives, struggles, and achievements through the 12 episodes that the first season consists of.

The show primarily revolves around a wrestling-promoting family who also runs the Wilson Funeral Home, blending unusual profession with family life drama. The Lathams, a charismatic and well-known family in their community, have grown up with a matriarch who is a professional wrestler, and established a family enterprise, 'Mid-Southern Championship Wrestling,' in an attempt to keep the town's wrestling tradition alive. Simultaneously, they maintain the often somber job of running a funeral home, managing the delicate balance between their vivacious wrestling personas and their serious roles as funeral directors.

At the center of the show, we have a vivacious matriarch, LaFonce Latham, who leads the funeral home and wrestling operation, LaFonce is a character unto himself, bringing a larger-than-life persona both to the wrestling ring and to his responsibilities as a funeral director. His wife, Sandra, is his rock, providing a sensible counterpoint to LaFonce's boisterous personality. Together they have raised a large family of characterful children and in-laws who also engage in their wrestling business while providing their share of color and entertainment.

"Wrestling with Death" propels the Lathams beyond the ordinary reality show family dynamic by their double role as wrestling enthusiasts and providers of funeral services, resulting in a captivatingly unusual combination of storylines. Therefore, it explores a complex tapestry of themes: love, loss, family's dynamics and the careful balance of keeping up with a passion, all amidst a wrestling backdrop. Their unusual dual professions uniquely exposes the highs and lows, as well as the glamor and grit of their lives, giving audiences an insider's viewpoint of the wrestling world combined with the behind the scenes of funeral service business.

The family does not shy away from either job, fully embracing the characters they portray in their wrestling world, with the costumes, dialogue, and performances reminiscent of vintage wrestling spectacles. Their interactions within the funeral home are equally fascinating. They are seen preparing bodies, consoling families, and setting up funeral services. In stark contrast to their wrestling personas, the compassion and professionalism the Lathams display during these times showcase a unique facet of their personalities.

While one moment, the audience is amidst the adrenaline-pumping excitement of a wrestling match, the next, they are brought into more sobering, introspective moments at the funeral home. This juxtaposing world keeps viewers on their toes, providing drama, action, and genuine human experiences making it an engaging watch.

One of the most compelling elements of this show is its undeniably authentic portrayal of the Latham family. "Wrestling with Death" is not overly polished or focused on drama for ratings; instead, it presents an American family's day-to-day existence in a candid and realistic manner. This family's life is a vibrant embodiment of what it means to work and play hard.

"Wrestling with Death" presents viewers with the intriguing opportunities to glimpse into a close-knit family's life in a small town struggling to keep traditions alive while dealing with daily life challenges. Their uncommon professions, setting, and candidness help to set this reality show apart from others. Overall, this unique show manages to strike a balance between humor, drama, action, and reality. Viewing the Lathams navigating their eccentric lives in "Wrestling with Death" is an entertaining journey that equally warms the heart and entertains the soul.