In a show that usually leaves more questions than answers, “Weeds” signed off with peace Sept. 16 after an eight-year run on Showtime.
The eighth and final season began with Nancy Botwin, played by Mary Louise-Parker, recovering from being shot in the season seven finale. Through the season, as she recovers, the entire Botwin family continues to do everything the Botwin way, which is usually the hardest, most mistake-filled way.
The eldest Botwin son, Silas, played by Hunter Parrish, continues to despise his mother for his strange upbringing and looks for new ways to branch out on his own. The younger Botwin, Shane, played by Alexander Gould, starts his career as a police officer. Andy Botwin who is Shane and Silas’ uncle, played by Justin Kirk, continues to struggle with strong feelings for Nancy, his brother’s widow, even though Nancy never seems to return the feelings.
Last but certainly not least, Doug Wilson, played by Kevin Nealon, continues to do things in a way only Doug can.
The series finale fast-forwards years down the road to the bar mitzvah of Nancy’s youngest son from another marriage, Stevie. Nancy and Stevie are on their own as the finale starts. Silas is married and living in California. Shane has gone off the deep end. He is still a police officer, but has developed a severe drinking problem.
Since Nancy never returns the feelings Andy feels for her, Andy decides to move to Ren Mar where he has started a restaurant and has a daughter of his own. Doug, as stated earlier, continues to be Doug, as he starts his own cult. All the characters are welcomed back to Agrestic, where the show began, for Stevie’s bar mitzvah. During the finale Nancy learns that Stevie wants to leave for boarding school, which would leave Nancy with no one, as the rest of her family have gone off to start families of their own.
She struggles through the finale with the idea of being without anyone.
While the last few seasons of “Weeds” have been weak, the series finale did its best to leave its viewers feeling satisfied, while still supplying the crazy antics that only an episode of “Weeds” can, along the way.
The show was still not able to provide the laughs the old seasons did, but there were a few moments along the way.
It was refreshing to see a mature, grown-up Silas.
His constant badgering of Nancy for her failed attempt at being a mother had grown old over the show’s eight-year run.
The finale shows a happy, content Silas, who forgives Nancy for her mistakes as his mother. Andy is also more mature, finally past his obsession with Nancy. One thing that was disappointing to see was a less funny, entertaining Andy.
In his content, he seemed a bit solemn, which was sad to see in his last hoorah as Uncle Andy.
As always, Wilson was able to provide the majority of the laughs, a character that never matured, nor should he have. Wilson’s fun-loving, live by the second personality was always a highlight of the show.
In the end, the show was able to provide a fitting exit for the Botwin family. Many of the season finales in the past have left twice as many questions as they do answers, but the series finale was different.
It’s safe to say television will never see another show quite like “Weeds,” and it will never see another family quite like the Botwins.
