Weeds: (recap)

By Tom Rose
Fancast.com

The economy is booming on Weeds. Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) has inspired everyone around her to think entrepreneurially. Shane (Alexander Gould) has taken on the duties of independent construction contractor. Doug (Kevin Nealon) and Andy (Justin Kirk) have started a New Age Coyote business. Even Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) gets with the program at the baby store…sort of. But the project with the most potential is what Silas (Hunter Parrish) has in mind for the empty space behind the counter at Cheeze Gotta Have It. There’s only one substance that can mask the potent aroma of doobage, and it’s a whole lotta Gouda.

Not everybody’s happy though. Guillermo (Guillermo Diaz) demands a sit down with Esteban over the pot he was forced to give up to Nancy, and the old Coyote that Andy shot in the knee has been looking for him. Which just means that all is well in the mind of Jenji Kohan.

She’s the creative force of nature behind the writing on the show and she knows how to keep things moving. I took 3 pad pages of hand-written notes and I still couldn’t keep up. But it was a helluva ride.

Despite his massive charm, civic minded generosity and Mayoral Powers, Esteban Reyes (Demian Bichir) is the target of a hit at a little cantina off the beaten path. Fortunately Nancy was in the can at the right time and the bodyguards did their job. Esteban gets only a TV scratch from flying glass and calmly returns to his meal in a show of defiant courage. Nancy gets him to admit he’s afraid of heights though. But there’s nothing like a near death experience to put you in the mood, and we get a good look at what’s under Nancy’s Little Black Dress.

Celia is hooked on Mexican Xanax and barely makes it out of bed. She continues her dozing at the baby store until the video-playing drug mule stationed by the tunnel gets sick of expectant mothers ripping off the merchandise. He gives her a snort of something new and Celia is hooked. Since she’s only making minimum wage it’s a natural that she would raid the cash draw when the effects wear off way before closing time.

Doug and Andy explore the benefits of a new approach to the coyote business. You got to have an angle if you want to make it in this world. Andy decides his body smuggling operation will have a kinder, gentler approach. Everybody gets a coyote bag filled with treats, including a box of Manischewitz matzos. Hey, if it was good enough for Moses… The whole den of pups are put on a bus to Davenport, Iowa while Doug blindsides the Border Crossing Vigilante Chief (Lee Majors) into thinking he’s one of the good guys. They haven’t worked out all the bugs yet though, forgetting it’s important to get paid up front.

Shane and Isabelle Hodes (Allie Grant) start fresh at their new High School. Shane is bothered that he’s dropped off by Esteban and Nancy in his chauffeured ride. The limo’s cool, but it’s got Mexican plates. No time to build a back story, he’s obviously the new drug kid on the block. At lunch he decides to make friends with the most popular jock, so he bashes his face with a lunch tray to make the occasion memorable. He’s a fast learner.

Guillermo gets the message at the sit down with Esteban. No killing Nancy in front of her kids. Esteban’s got better plans for her. For his restraint, Guillermo earns a sizable raise. But his eyes say he’d love to feed Nancy to the lions. As you can see, I’m a sucker for metaphor. Just like Jenji.

As it turns out, The Mayor is a lion tamer of sorts. He’s got his own collection of the rare beasts caged in a cozy corner of the underground tunnel. The episode closes with a lamb to the slaughter. Actually it’s a goat, but that metaphor stinks. Like Gouda.