(S04E13) The final shocking revelation of the season--which wasn't so shocking, if you heard the rumors--made me want to write off the Weeds season finale as unimaginative. To offer up such a commonplace TV twist, and to do it in the last moments of the episode, was definitely not original. As season finales go, this episode wasn't legendary (I'll never regard that word the same way again, thanks to Doug). However, there were a few scenes that gave us the Weeds we've always loved, and I'd like to believe that the show's distinct, dark humor will have a stronger presence next season.
Let's start with the major plot twist: Nancy is pregnant. The sonogram came down from on high and saved her life. I'll admit that I've been in denial about this twist since I read the spoilers for the finale. An unexpected pregnancy isn't the sort of thing that Weeds usually does, and it doesn't really compare to the destruction of Agrestic last season. There is one positive thing about the pregnancy, though. Nancy and Esteban are still going to be a part of each other's lives. Hopefully the writers will give the relationship more of a chance to develop. Demian Bichir was a great addition to the cast, and Nancy needs a man in her life. That said, I won't blame those of you that want to cry foul in the comments.
Celia spent most of the season as a bizarre kind of comic relief, yet somehow ended up in the greatest danger going into the hiatus. The idea that anyone would pay $200,000 for Celia after her parade of insincere apologies is laughable. Does Celia's fate strike anyone else as supremely unfair? Nancy takes serious risks and breaks the law, and Celia is the one that ends up in jail, injured, and now abducted. Are the writers punishing Celia merely to demonstrate that there are, in fact, consequences in the Weeds universe? I'm certainly not regarding Celia as an innocent victim, but things are definitely off-balance. Both women are below-average parents, and Celia is the only one getting drugged and held for ransom. Silas and Shane love Nancy in spite of her actions.
Things may be taking a turn in the Botwin family, though. Shane is quickly becoming a thief, a drug dealer, and a little jerk. I never thought that I'd respect Silas and dislike Shane after this season was over, but here we are. I'm relieved that someone is learning from Nancy's mistakes. Silas has the right idea: keep it simple. Grow weed, sell it, and live modestly off the profits. The small farm is the show's most promising storyline, and I hope the writers do something fantastic with it. Will Nancy join Andy, Silas, and Shane on the farm, or will she be with Esteban? Will Andy summon the courage to deal with his feelings for Nancy? Their candid conversation during Nancy's bath may be the closest that Andy gets to intimacy with his former sister-in-law.
My favorite moment of the episode came from Doug. The autoerotic asphyxiation scene was not only a hilarious surprise, but was also a clever parody of The Shawshank Redemption (see the video for yourself). I'm curious to see what happens to Doug in season five. I love Kevin Nealon, but this was a perfect way to say goodbye to his character. I wouldn't mind if this was it for Doug Wilson, although I doubt that he's leaving the Botwins anytime soon. Why couldn't the episode have ended with that scene, instead of with the pregnancy twist? Even the tense, tearful scene in the Prius (didn't that just break your heart?) would have been a better ending.
All in all, the finale gave me just enough hope and humor to hold my interest. Mary-Louise Parker continues to deliver amazing performances as Nancy Botwin. If not for her, the show would have lost me.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-16-2008 @ 10:47AM
cdawg said...
wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
didn't see that one coming at the end. Good job Weeds on potentially redeeming a mediocre season with that stunner. Although nothing will compare to the end of season 3 when Peter was killed and Silas caught with a car full of weed.
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9-16-2008 @ 10:56AM
const said...
As someone who has expressed increased disappointment with this show over the past two seasons, I have to admit this was the best episode in a long time. Very suspensful and well acted.
Now, if they could ever find a real role for Doug. And how about leaving Ceclia in Mexico. And bring back Conrad...
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9-16-2008 @ 12:24PM
Oreo said...
This episode had humour? I didn't notice any.
Oddly I thought this one one of the worst episodes in awhile, the characters just felt off. Shane is a bastard and I hate that, Andy loving Nancy is obvious just to start conflict because she's pregnant. I do love the fact that they bring back Celia's other sister who was never talked about for 4 seasons until last week, and she is still the evil bitch I love.
I'm hoping beyond hope that Nancy is just lying so she isn't killed and then will have a "miscarriage" next year. That most likely won't happen through.
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9-16-2008 @ 12:54PM
ryan said...
Maybe it seemed predictable to the viewer because they'd already been spoilered... but for me it was quite a surprise. The whole episode I was wondering how it could possibly be resolved without Nancy dying -- to me the predictable choice would have been having Esteban and his entire crew arrested.
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9-16-2008 @ 3:19PM
Jake said...
I am with you. The ENTIRE time she was talking to the gift basket woman, I kept thinking to myself, "How the f*ck is she going to stay alive?"
Was a pregnancy the way to keep her alive? No.
Was it a cop-out for something better? Yes.
I think there should have been either a one hour finale or one more episode, because I think the finale should have gone like this: Nancy get questioned, Nancy comes clean about Estaban, Nancy goes down to Mexico w/ police force, Estaban is out of the picture, Nancy comes home to converse with Silas, Andy and Shane.
Maybe thats just me though.
9-16-2008 @ 12:55PM
Malren said...
Erin you are WAY off base. This episode went perfectly from start to finish, and the ending was not expected at all.
Loved it. Best episode of Weeds in years. The car scene was amazing, the bathtub scene was perfectly directed, the hanging scene was note-perfect Doug...everyone was on point and delivering their lines well. Excellent way to remove MilfMom at the beginning and forget the cheese shop for next season...once again Weeds has managed to set up its own reinvention and salvage a sometimes-rough season.
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9-16-2008 @ 12:58PM
Malren said...
Oh and as for Ceilia? Nancy breaks the law, but she loves people. Ceila obeys the law but she's the biggest See You Next Tuesday on earth and utterly selfish.
KARMA. It's a female dog, ain't it?
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9-16-2008 @ 1:04PM
cdawg said...
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought the ending was actually good. Usually the pregnancy storyline is used when a show needs to get fresh again, like on Growing Pains or Family Ties or Fresh Prince. But this wasn't just your typical plot device, it had a purpose other than "reviving the show" and I for one appreciate that.
I will acknolwedge that there was no humor in this episode, other than Julie Bowen's ex husband taking pics of naked Silas. (more please)
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9-16-2008 @ 4:25PM
radwimp said...
The last two episodes have redeemed this otherwise bizarre and mostly unenjoyable season for me. I'm looking forward to next season.
Quinn FTW.
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9-16-2008 @ 5:05PM
GL said...
I found a lot of humor in that episode, but I found the ending less than spectacular and am hoping Nancy is lying to buy some time.
@Marlen: I completely agree re Nancy vs Cecial.
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9-16-2008 @ 5:56PM
collin said...
@Malren
You are actually correct that the finale was one of the better episodes in the past two seasons simply because the past two seasons were horrible.
I've been criticizing (damning actually) Jenji Kohan, the writers, the stars, etc. of Weeds for the last two seasons regarding the crap they've made. This finale was reasonable, however, and it's a shame that they had to waste another season to come up with two somewhat interesting episodes at the end.
Here's a question to all of the posters who gush about how great each of this season's episodes was: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE FIRST TWO SEASONS OF WEEDS? Do you have a clue as to how good the show once was? I swear that too many people have no clue what a finely-written episode is vs. generic crap.
It was great to see the character of Quinn again, but I wonder why she was written off in the first season? Anyhow, I hope they kill Celia and dispose of such a horrible character. Elizabeth Perkins and the writers really ruined a vital character over these two seasons.
I'm glad that this wreck of a season is over. Bring on Dexter and BSG!
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9-16-2008 @ 7:29PM
Oreo said...
It's funny you mention BSG at the end of your comment, talk about a wreck, have you seen the first 1.5 seasons?
The show is fine, it's just evolved. The first season was best, hell the pilot was probably still the best episode. The show moves on, and I'm glad it does, otherwise it would get stale and boring. I thought last season's finale was amazing, and had high hopes for this season. My hopes weren't met but I still enjoyed the ride.
If you hate the last two seasons of the show, then why watch? I watched Stargate run itself into the ground Because the first several seasons were great, but I invested time into that show. Even by the end I didn't watch often. This shows first two seasons barely out number one of Stargate, so you have no time invested, so why bother watching a show you hate?
9-16-2008 @ 9:14PM
collin said...
"...so why bother watching a show you hate?"
I get asked that question a lot, and I never used to hate Weeds. In fact, I really enjoyed the first two seasons, and then... here came the third season.
The reason I continue to watch is because I love to prove myself correct. When I predict a show is going to fail (for one reason or another), I watch and hover over it like a vulture waiting for a gazelle to die.
There's nothing better than to watch a formerly great show implode because its writers or producers get full of themselves and decide to "change things up." That usually means that the show is about to jump the shark, and it's happened to a lot of shows - most notably, Lost.
When the powers-that-be behind a hit show start believing that they can do no wrong, that's when I add them to my hit show death pool. Weeds appeared on the hit list right after Nancy's DEA agent husband died. Lost appeared when the producers thought that the Others would be just as important as the survivors.
I also get a lot of enjoyment reading posters' enthusiastic entries about obviously crappy episodes. Whether these people have no taste or intelligence, it doesn't matter. Anyone who thought that the third or fourth seasons of Weeds was great should have their head examined. But the sadist in me loves to laugh at them and their cluelessness.
Can you tell that I'm a wannabee writer/screenwriter? I hope this answered your question. And I also disagree with your comments about BSG, which is probably the best-written show on television. Although the first season wasn't that great, the show got better and better each season. The Final Five Cylons? To think of that plot twist? Fantastic!
9-20-2008 @ 6:31AM
sam said...
Keeping off spoilers really pays off. I have been trying that and was completely suprised during the ending. I honestly did not see it coming. I could not even imagine what Nancy was getting out of her bag- a gun would have been useless, then maybe a call to Silas to say she's being whacked..... yea i know, lame!
It has been a brilliant season though and much better than the previous one. Only Celia's storylines have been disappointing. The writers don't seem to know what to do with her. Doug is a crowd filler and could be used well- though i wouldn't miss him if he bit the sand.
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9-16-2008 @ 8:07PM
SJ said...
The guy who plays the cop did a great job this episode.
"He was my partner"...that scene was very well done.
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9-16-2008 @ 10:42PM
docinaustin said...
I believe I said "I'm tiring of the Nancy Botwin show. I would rather watch the Celia Hodes show." That twist at the end just didn't really excite me. There's only so far that they can take it.
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9-16-2008 @ 10:31PM
Ken said...
Are you people serious? This season was terrible. Ever since thay left Agrestic. The depature of Conrad left a huge gap. Doug is just not funny this season and way out of place. Celia just ridiculous. Although the scene of her in jail all Latined up was funny. What was with her sneezing blood from doing too much coke? I wasnt amused the first time she did it and certainly not the second. The pregnacy idea should have been the two girls Shane hooked up with. He could have used the safety pin trick Silas pulled on his deaf girlfriend. I just hope Dexter doesnt fail me too.
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9-17-2008 @ 12:04AM
Hill said...
The season ending was amazing! The highlight had to be Doug though. To think I was actually concerned that Doug might actually hang himself! In looking forward to next season I just want two things: The baby to actually be Conrad's and Nancy putting in Shane in his place!
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9-17-2008 @ 1:54AM
Monkeydog said...
I was very disappointed by the finale, considering how much I loved last weeks episode, and how great all the other finales were. (Although I have to admit, this episode had the best name of any episode name ever...other than maybe some of those pun ridden Venture Bros. titles)
I haven't very much enjoyed these past two seasons, and I'm kind of not liking the show anymore. It's better than a lot of stuff on TV...but certainly nowhere as good as the first two seasons were. Season 3 sucked, but at least this Season it's been a bit scatterbrained, as in, sometimes it's really good, and sometimes it's really bad. It's trying to redeem itself and I think it could be headed in the right direction. I am very doubtful it'll ever be as good as the first two seasons, but you never know. I thought this new season of Californication was going to suck, but after seeing the first two episodes, all I want is more. I'm hoping Season 5 bring the true revival of this series. This season has put a new dynamic in the world of Weeds, and has seriously brought back Andy, Doug, and Silas for me...but at the same time it could be seriously killing Shane, Nancy, and Celia(although she is headed in the right direction) for me.
I just miss the old days, where the show felt far more real. Now it's just gone off into this bizarre area that I don't know if it's really helping it any.
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9-17-2008 @ 10:23AM
jaerisk said...
I can see your boobs heh...Nancy is hot
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