Weeds-Season Four
I didn’t think I would like Weeds at first. Now, that is not as weird as it sounds, as I have heard a lot of people express the same view, but Weeds grows on you. If you haven’t seen the any of the four seasons of Weeds you are in real luck, and you probably should just skip the rest of this review, so as not to ruin a fun show for yourself and start watching!
Season Four picks up with our resident desperate mom/pot dealer moving to the San Diego area due to the fact that her house burnt down, and for let’s just say other reasons as well. In San Diego she connects with some old business contacts and becomes the front person for an operation. She is made the manager of a maternity store that just so happens to have a tunnel that runs from the Tijuana border right into her store’s storage room. I think you get the picture. So, does the show still work? Oh yes, in fact Weeds Season Four is much better than Season Three which I felt was slipping a bit. Mary-Kate Olsen’s annoying Tara Lindman character is gone and not a moment too soon. Also gone is Matthew Modine’s, Sullivan Groff character, not as annoying as Tara, but still the show is better off without Modine in it. We do have Albert Brooks added as Lenny Botwin, the grandfather of the Silas and Shane, and he does an okay job. Albert Brooks is annoying in anything he is, but he can’t help it, its just his personality. Overall, these casting changes are a big plus.
Part of what made Weeds such a great show, in the first two seasons in particular, was that the scripts were somewhat realistic. The idea of a very desperate housewife, confronting the financial realities of a dead husband was engaging and the stories were funny and wonderfully crafted and paced. Season Four is definitely the least realistic season let, but its still a lot of fun. You will repeatedly role your eyes at some of the plot points and say “this isn’t realistic” and you will be right. Season Four of Weeds isn’t exactly true to the semi-realism of the other seasons, but it still makes for some great television.
Weeds works because the writing by creator Jenji Kohan is witty and observant. The acting is great, as Mary-Louise Parker will now always be remembered as Nancy Botwin and Elizabeth Perkins has created a great character with Celia Hodes. The cast of Justin Kirk (Andy Botwin), Hunter Parrish (Silas Botwin), Alexander Gould (Shane Botwin), Allie Grant (Isabelle Hodes) and Kevin Nealon (Doug Wilson) is what makes the show tick. Casting is so important and Weeds is a great example of just how important it happens to be.
Grading
Visuals: B+
Story: B+
Acting: A-
Originality/Innovation: B+
Enjoyability: B+
Overall: B+
|
