Weeds Season 5 Review: Smart, Fun and as Irreverent as Ever

Weeds season 5 is smart, fun and as irreverent as ever. Season 5 kicked off tonight filled with all the subtle over-the-top humor we’ve come to admire from the Weeds creator Jenji Kohan.

When Weeds returned for Season 4, many fans balked at the shift in the direction. The family moved, cast members swapped out and Nancy took an occupational left-turn. The change outraged some. However, after a few episodes Nancy was once again back in the hearts of the Weeds loving people. For those unfamiliar with the Botwin exploits, Season 4 was a great jumping on point.

Season 5 once again takes a shift in direction. Instead of focusing on the Nancy’s illicit life of pushing drugs to care for her family, the plot now addresses the results of Nancy’s decisions. Is this really a shift? Not in the least bit. It’s more of a natural evolution in Nancy’s character, made all the more real through the brilliant acting of Mary-Louise Parker. Unlike most shows that try to evolve before eventually becoming dreary run-of-the-mill teen sagas, Nancy’s tale has only gained momentum through her choices. To be cliché, she’s made her bed and now she has to sleep in it.

The Season 5 Premiere, “Wonderful Wonderful,” addressed the repercussions of Nancy’s decision to betray her boyfriend Esteban to the authorities, as well as her potential pregnancy that could save the lives of her family. Season 5 picks up right at the end of the season 4 cliffhanger, with Nancy giving the ultrasound to Esteban. Moments into the premiere, the laughs begin, and they don’t stop for a moment. Celia’s been kidnapped by her daughter, who learns she’s just about as worthless dead as she is alive. Andy’s secret love for Nancy comes out in a new hobby. And, the Botwin boys try to find their way in the Weed loving world of adolescence and young adulthood.

Weeds Season 5 is a nonstop laugh ride that will have you wishing you could re-watch seasons one through four, if only to grasp the true scope of Nancy’s evolution before Episode 2, “Machetes Up Top.” Four seasons in the can, and firing up a fifth, I’m still proudly addicted to Weeds. And, I have no regrets.