‘Weeds’ deals powerful season finale

mcclatchy newspaper

The fifth season finale is the reason to watch “Weeds.” It airs at 10 p.m. Monday on Showtime.

Maternal instincts of new mother Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) kick into gear as she realizes she not only wants a real home life for the new baby but one for her sons as well — including youngest Shane (Alexander Gould), who seems to be exhibiting early signs of becoming a stone-cold gangsta. Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) may be getting cool to her own drug business, as disguised ex-husband Dean (Andy Milder) trails her. Esteban Reyes (Demian Bichir) — father of the baby, drug cartel leader — is out of jail and running for office. Meanwhile, Cruella DeVille-like Pilar Zuzua (Kate del Castillo) is whispering sweet and scary nothings into Esteban’s ears.

There are a number of threads tied in this episode, but rather than play spoiler here, let’s just ask the questions that may or may not be resolved. Will Andy (Justin Kirk) ask Dr. Audra Kitson (Alanis Morissette) to marry him? How will Nancy feel about that? Will Celia get her own pot business off the ground (she does say, “I’m gonna out-Nancy Nancy”)? Will viewers learn something about Esteban’s daughter, Vaneeta (Indigo), which reflects his poor parenting, ahem, skills? Will rivals Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon) and Celia set aside their differences?

The most important comedy series in Showtime history has sharply divided most U.S. TV viewers — about 2 million are insanely devoted, and the other 300 million or so don’t even know the show exists. But it is influential — the distillate of Showtime’s randy comic sensibility — and an enduring Emmy contender. But it’s had troubles. Last season, the first outside of Agrestic, was forgettable. This one started out like “Weeds” had turned into a parody of a parody of itself. And then it found its voice again. A debauched, raunchy voice, to be sure, but a voice that’s all its own. And with such fine actresses as Perkins and Parker, “Weeds” is in better shape at the end of the fifth. And the closer does have a shocker.