Review: Weeds Season 4 — a brave transition
After watching the first three episodes of the new season of Weeds, I’ve come a way with:
a) An unsettled feeling, because there’s so much new information to process — new setting, new characters, higher stakes;
b) Renewed respect for series creator Jenji Kohan, who instead of flipping the script threw it out altogether;
c) Amazement at how Hunter Parrish (Silas) went from a gangly teen to a hunky young man between Seasons 3 and 4;
d) Sadness that two of my faves, Conrad and Heylia, don’t come along with the Botwins to their new locale.
We meet up with Nancy, Andy, Silas and Shane as they’re fleeing Agrestic after the disastrous SoCal wildfire, which Nancy encouraged with a little gasoline.
On the lamb, Nancy has moved the family to Ren-Mar, a beach town near the border with Tijuana. There, we discover Andy’s bubbe, or grandma, and his ner-do-well dad, played with characteristic dryness by Albert Brooks.
With that, we’re off on a romp through new territory, as Nancy reunites with Guillermo and tests her mettle as a drug mule. Back in Southern California, Celia looks like she’ll take the fall for Nancy’s pot operation, as Dean and Doug are determined to finger her.
It’s a brave transition from Agrestic to Ren-Mar. The wit and sharp social commentary remain, as does the commercial enterprise that gives Weeds its identity. But the writers wanted to push beyond suburban satire into issues such as illegal immigration, so the tone of the series is changing.
In the first few episodes Nancy seems harder, more resolved in her purpose and less easy to like than the accidental pot dealer of previous seasons. There’s no doubt she’s putting her family in danger with her plans to smuggle “mota” for Guillermo, but the dollar signs motivate her.
Thankfully, Mary-Louise Parker still turns out a luminous portrait of a flawed, frustrating woman who still commands viewers’ loyalty. I’m not sure where she’ll take us in Season 4, but for now I’m willing to hop in the Prius as she drives us across the border.
Don’t forget to enter our great Weeds Season 4 contest.
Photo: Monty Brinton/Showtime
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POSTED IN: Episode Resources, Showtime Programming, Weeds
3 opinions for Review: Weeds Season 4 — a brave transition
alana
Jun 24, 2008 at 10:25 am
have just watched episode 2 of s4 am kinda dissapointed i left season three with the excitment of what was to come. But season 4 just isnt doing it for me kinda feel things are left funny ie nothing really got resologether we kinncy and conraf after them sleeping together we kind of got no closer. in this latest epi who was taking pictures in the middle of a huge fire. Nancy has always been slightly nieive but hw did she get out of the country with out her passport?
the pee in the cup scene wheres the hummor gone????? in past seasons there would have been something!
I dunno i loved weeds from day one so wont give up yet i just miss weeds of days gone
ANJ
Jul 17, 2008 at 1:22 pm
WELL I JUST WATCHED THE FIRST 4 EPISODES OF SEASON 4 AND I’M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED TO. I MEAN SOME OF THE SCENES ARE FUNNY, BUT NOT LIKE THE OTHER 3 SEASONS. I HAVE LOVED THE SHOW FROM THE BEGINNING TO, AND I REALLY SAD BECAUSE THEY DIDNT GIVE NANCY AND CONRAD ANY CLOSURE. CLEARLY THE HAVE A GREAT CHEMISTRY AND FEELINGS FOR EACH OTHER. I JUST MISS THE OLD CAST MEMBERS. I’LL JUST HAVE TO KEEP WATCHIN TO SEE IF IT GETS BETTER, IF NOT SOMEBODY PLEASE GET CONRAD AND HAYLIEAH BK.
chris
Aug 5, 2008 at 1:18 am
Well, Weeds has jumped the shark. They wrote out too many good supporting characters (basicly every black character on the show), burned down a great setting, and have stretched belief past the breaking point. So now she owns a maternity shop with apparently a mile long tunnel to TJ, dates the corrupt mayor of TJ, while Andy and Doug run illegals across the border?
WTF - this used to be a great show about drug-dealing in the suburbs. I can’t tell you what its about anymore; except that its obvious they signed a bunch of people to 3-year deals that they didn’t want to pay for season #4.
Sadly, the only Weeds I’ll be watching for in the near future are the one growing in my backyard. Maybe they can get the show back on track - but I doubt it. Watch for a move back to Agrestic next year.
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