October 30, 2006: Do You Want to Die Today?
They shoot pot dealers, don't they? That question lingers as Season 2 of Showtime's
Weeds drew to a close with a helpless, hempless Nancy staring down the barrels of not one or two but
five serious pieces of firepower... never once setting down that prominently displayed can of Diet Coke. Her only possible salvation: Silas, now in possession of the final MILF weed harvest, but himself also in dire straits, with Celia and a policeman marching toward the 38-pound stash. And let's not forget poor Shane, who graduated from grade school straight into an impetuous, Cactus Cooler-fueled trip to Paraguay, with Kat (as in Krazy) behind the wheel, and Uncle Andy and Abumchuck in heated pursuit.
And to think that the
Weeds writers almost tied everything up in a neat bundle instead! So glad they opted otherwise, (as explained in my fresh
Features Q&A with series creator Jenji Kohan).
Was I entirely satisfied with the season-ending cliff-hanger? No, not entirely. I think it was a cheat to kill Peter off screen, though I understand the reasons for doing so. I also expected to see a major, original cast member get offed, if only for shock value, but the reality is that the instant you do that, this is no longer a "light" look at pot peddling, but a sobering look at drug dealing. I don't think that
Weeds can continue on if you kill a Conrad, or an Andy. It'd be too sad (no offense to Martin Donovan and his portrayal of Peter).
My favorite moments of this, Season 2's final week:
- Andy pegging Kat as "bats--t nuts," and her then validating that assessment by diving under the bed sheet, cooing, "I want to lick the space where your toes used to be." OK, eww?
- An earnest Nancy, when Shane asks what he should tell his friends his mom does for a living: "Tell them I'm your
mom."
- Shane invoking what
Weeds scribes apparently guesstimated would be a hotter catchphrase at this point than it actually is, by declaring during his graduation speech, "There are motherf--king snakes on this motherf--king plane!"
- Shane's girlfriend to Andy, as Kat danced with Shane: "Control your woman, or I
will." And you believed she
would. Scary, them braces.
- "Wife-f--ker" Doug taunting "career-killer" Dean by boasting that he is not only freakishly tall, but "freakishly long."
- Celia rolling her eyes upon catching daughter Isabelle dancing cheek-to-cheek with another girl.
- U-Turn telling Nance to turn over her harvest with "due dilliging." Thank god
someone corrected him.
Weeds, my wife, my in-laws and myself will miss you during what I hope is only a between-seasons hiatus. For more on the series' future, and some answers to burning questions about the dozen episodes gone by, be sure to check out my
complete, unedited Q&A with series creator Jenji Kohan. In the meantime, thank you for participating in this season's TV Show Commentary blog!
