TVSquad

(S03E08) Only on Weeds will an episode begin with a funeral and end with a mammogram. I love how this show is able to balance tender, emotional elements with humorous and vulgar ones. The show's writers spread the wealth around this week, devoting time to underused characters like Heylia and Shane. Weeds has an incredible ensemble cast, and this episode served as another example of that fact.

At long last, Peter's death was neatly wrapped up. It turned out that Peter's dirty dealings went beyond blackmailing Nancy and Conrad. I really liked that, for once, all signs didn't point to Nancy. The DEA higher-ups knew that Peter was corrupt, and were more than willing to let his murder go unsolved. I liked the use of newspaper headlines as added details in this episode. After the funeral scene, there was a quick cut to Heylia reading the following headline: "So long honey." Later, there was a newspaper article that linked Peter to U-Turn. How convenient! Personally, I'm ready to say goodbye to Peter, and I'm glad the writers didn't keep his corpse hidden until the end of the season. It's time for Nancy to get down to business.

I couldn't be happier that Nancy was back to her drug-dealing ways and buying from Heylia and Conrad again. Hopefully this means that we'll get more scenes between Heylia and Conrad; I've missed them these past few weeks. Their relationship hasn't gotten enough attention this season. I have tons of questions. Conrad broke away from his aunt to go into business for himself last season, and now he's back where he started. Sure, he's part of a large pot operation again, but not on his terms. How has he been dealing with that?

The episode did, thankfully, shed light on the relationship between Nancy and Heylia. Heylia's finally warming up to Nancy again, since she broke down and let her do business with Aguatecture. I love the exchanges between Tonye Patano and Mary-Louise Parker. Each actress conveys so much in small facial expressions and casual dialogue. Deep down, I think each woman respects the other, but is fully aware that they have different motives and priorities.

Nancy definitely takes more risks in her business dealings than Heylia does. I cannot decide if Nancy's plan, using dummy corporations and Agrestic's civic investment portfolio to fund her new venture, is gutsy or foolish. Either way, I'm sure it will lead to more troubles for Nancy (and Doug, this time) down the line. Something tells me the people of Agrestic won't like the idea of public funds being used to buy pot. More importantly, how long will it take Celia to find out about this?

Celia had a rare moment of vulnerability this week. She had been cautious about moving forward with Sullivan Groff, and we finally learned the reason. Leave it to Elizabeth Perkins to make me pity a character who has criticized her own daughter's body. It was sweet of Sullivan to put Celia at ease about her scars, but I'm not sure I want those two together. Sullivan was pretty creepy this week, giving Celia a size 2 dress that was meant for Nancy, and writing sleazy notes to Nancy while on the phone with Celia. Ick.

On the lighter side of things, Andy and his foot got a shot at the big time. There were so many hilarious moments during the adult film scenes. I couldn't stop laughing at Andy's bad porn acting, especially his facial expressions during each scene. I loved the idea of Andy doing a Phantom of the Opera-themed foot-fetish porno; that was pure brilliance. It didn't take long for Andy to get disillusioned with the adult film industry, however. His rant about the degradation of men in pornography was priceless, and would have made Shane proud. It isn't worth it to be a star in Belarus if you can't keep your dignity. Andy's had a broad range of jobs this season--soldier, caterer, porn star. I wonder what they'll have him do next?

I was glad to see that Shane and Isabel's rivalry didn't last long. Those two are a great pair, and they finally bonded over suspension and pot. I felt so terrible for Shane when he said that Judah loved him more than Nancy does. Nancy really needs to have a talk with that boy.

I wasn't expecting Nancy to become obsessed with Valerie, Peter's widow, but Sullivan's voiceover explained it beautifully. Valerie and Nancy are actually very similar. Both come off as a bit unhinged and flaky, and they both have trouble controlling their families. You have to admire the dedication it takes to submit to a mammogram just to meet the object of your obsession. I confess that I have no idea where this relationship is going. Will Nancy and Valerie become friends, or will things go in another direction?

Best lines of the episode:

• "The tall one--Leif-Garrett-y, Blue Lagoon-ish?" and "Big vocab, creepy eyes?" Doug's spot-on descriptions of Silas and Shane, respectively.
• "Aguatecture. What is that, a colonic spa?" Doug, on Conrad and Heylia's front business.
• "It's a size 2. Flattering and annoying at the same time." Celia, complaining about Sullivan's gift.
• "This is that moment where I finally become cool, right?" Shane, before smoking pot for the first time.