Weeds has always been on the periphery of a larger scale political debate. Sure, it's a show about a white woman in a suburban California city who sells weed to the upper middle class locals, but it always appeared to be a dramedy first. It wasn't until season two bridged into season three that I realized how much Weeds really reflected the culture at large.
To catch up, Weeds follows the widowed Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) as she sells marijuana here and there to make some cash to pay for the finer things in her suburban paradise. Stretched to the limit by the affluent lifestyle the now single mother wants to keep, Nancy ventures deeper into the world of dealing. Her African-American, working-class supplier, Heylia (Tonye Patano), pushes her around a little too much, forcing the assertive, ambitious Nancy to go out on her own. She, with her supplier's equally bullied nephew Conrad (Romany Malco), decides to go into business growing and selling herself. At the end of season two, Nancy has a few automatic weapons pointed at her head and realizes that the big bad world of drug dealing is bigger and badder than she ever thought.
Maybe I'm late to the show on this one, but it wasn't until watching the first three episodes of season three that I realized that Nancy represented the irrational, anti-social behavior that can follow a severe trauma. She is the tragic heroine of our post-9/11 America. After watching Weeds, you easily and begrudgingly realize how easy it was for America to go on a devastating, nonsensical warpath after the World Trade Center attacks (e.g. Iraq). Nancy too makes mistakes she wouldn't have made had she had her head on straight.
Mostly, though, we see the collateral damage of Nancy's mistakes. Her sons become just as unscrewed, one turning into a thief and vandal for the sake of his mother and the other becoming an outspoken, critical voice standing against the status quo. Nancy's growing partner Conrad becomes a slave to the man who once held a gun to both his and Nancy's heads. Her supplier Heylia can't supply. Her DEA agent husband, who she married to protect her business, is dead. Her accountant and her lawyer both lose their marriages.
Article comments
1 - Nathan Sullivan
Would you inform me on when season three of "Weeds" is avaliable on DVD please.
2 - Moi
To inform oneself is enlightening more!
3 - TuringSedan
"It wasn't until season two bridged into season three that I realized how much Weeds really reflected the culture at large."
Weeds really is excellent, if somewhat exagerated account of the California central valley (where I live). I pray it is not characteristic of the rest of America... This kind of chaos does not work. Criminal behavior ends lives, ruins property and cheapens life. Watching Nancy spiral out of control into an increasingly eccentric thug-style suburbanite is vivid and fascinating. It troubles me that this show will probably encourage the dementia it spoofs.
Perhaps we are all drowning in a bullshit economy and this is a symptom.
4 - callie
I would also like to be informed when the 3rd season comes out. I just got caught up with this show and it's completly addictive. I was on the edge of my seat the whole 2nd season.
But Mary-Kate Olsen in season 3? i just hope she doesn't make it suck for me.
5 - brittany
WHEN IS THE WEEDS DVD COMING OUT????????????????????? IAM ADDICTED! AND IS THIS REALLY THE FINAL SEASON???????????????
6 - brittany
To:Calli
I know you may not want to hear this because it might spoil it also, but mary-kate olsen is actually NOT going to suck in the 3rd season-if you dont want to know who she is going to play in season 3, STOP READING NOW!!
she is going to be a drug dealer!!!! *SHOCKED* Yes I myself am even shocked but its AWESOME! I just thought that she would be the boyfriend
7 - Jordan Richardson
That's a hell of a stretch for her, isn't it?
8 - Nicole
I heard the third season is coming out in the middle of may
9 - michaela
when is season 3 coming into stores on dvd??
10 - alwaysweston
acutally, season four is on the release also.. i didnt buy S3 the DVD (since i download everything) but i think its even better news that a FOURTH season is comming out. have u seen the S3 finalle???????
"Weeds: Season 4 is intended to go into production in April for a summer debut. The season will consist of 13 episodes. Of course the Writers Guild strike, if prolonged, could end up delaying that."