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| The main characters (except the two sons of the protagonist) under a big marijuana cloud for Jenji Kohan's Weeds |
Weeds is the long-running (8 seasons) dark satire/dramedy TV-series that broke new grounds for its broadcaster Showtime and showrunner Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black (2013-15), executive producer). It presents a contemporary look at the not-so neat and clean life in an American suburb:
Nancy Botwin (Emmy-winning (2006) Mary-Louise Parker (RED (2010)) is the recently widowed mother of two boys. To sustain their high living expenses, she deals weed in the neighborhood. She has a good-for-nothing brother Andy (Justin Kirk (Modern Family (2010-13)) who comes to live with them, a good friend Celia (Elizabeth Perkins (Fierce People (2005)) who obsesses about her young daughter and contracts cancer, a regular slacker customer Doug (Kevin Nealon (Blended (2014)) who works at her son's school, and her rough-mouthed supplier Heylia (Tonye Patano (The Savages (2007)), whose handsome cousin Conrad (Romany Malco (The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)) doesn't have much luck getting in contact with Nancy. Her two sons are Shane (Alexander Gould (Finding Nemo (2003), voice), a boy who acts out, and Silas (Hunter Parrish (Still Alice (2014)), a teenager who acts out.
The show establishes its brand of very busy raunch-based comedy, which mixes the wholesome suburbia image with some taboo topics (homosexuality, death, sorrow, drugs, violence, bullying etc.) to elicit effect. The style sometimes comes to feel superficial, as it nearly permeates every important aspect of the character's lives. The show pushes its indie and upbeat feel beyond my patience at times. It works hard to include lots of heavy topics without ever becoming heavy, which some may find commendable, while it at times alienated me.
Kohan pushes the liberal-minded raunch at every turn, and it becomes tiring and overbearing. Especially Nancy's brother-character Andy is an often disgusting, despicable character, often with no real purpose action-wise on the show, who gets so much room that he nullifies quite a lot of enjoyment in the show. On the other hand, Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock (2006-13)) as Nancy's young helper Sanjay is very funny and counter-weighs him some.
While Silas dates a mute girl and experiments with drugs, Nancy opens a bakery to front for her real activities, (the particulars surrounding opening such a business totally escape our (and apparently, incredibly, also Nancy's) attention. Finally, she gets talked into ending this business in favor of a more ambitious drug collective with some friends. Meanwhile, she has started, mysteriously, dating the boring father of one of Shane's karate opponents, Peter, who, in the season's 'cliffhanger' ending, turns out to be a DEA agent.
Guest stars include Jane Lynch (Glee (2009-15)), Lorna Raver (Drag Me to Hell (2009)) and Allison Janney (Bad Words (2013)). The show has a cute, poignant opening song (Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds) to fit its neat suburbia opening sequence.
The first season opens up a universe that seems fairly promising and original, but it also leaves plenty of room for future improvements.
Best episodes:
Episode 1: You Can't Miss the Bear
Written by Kohan; directed by Brian Dannelly (Struck by Lightning (2012))
Sets up the environment, style and characters.
Episode 2: Free Goat
Written by Kohan; directed by Dannelly
With Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Salvation (2014)) as the late father. Every character has their problems.
Watch the season one trailer here
Budget: Unknown
Box office: None
= Uncertainty
[But, even without sales figures, Weeds definitely has been a profitable product for its cast, crew and production and broadcasting companies, - otherwise it simply wouldn't have lasted as long as it did!]
What do you think of Weeds' first season?
And the following ones, if you've seen them?
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