The Show
Weeds just isn't like any other show on TV. From its subversive subject matter--the drug-dealing Botwin Family that also commits plenty of other crimes on their journey--to the exceptional casting to the writers' superhuman ability to keep it fresh and surprising and extremely funny year after year, it endures as an underappreciated gem of the small screen.
Season Six was essentially a road trip. Viewers might recall that, at the end of Season Five, a member of the Botwin clan killed someone pretty important, albeit someone who really needed killin'. And so they all assume new identities and take it on the lam, trying to go straight but meeting with limited success. Along the way they reconnect with people from their past, including a juicy, soap-opera-worthy revelation.
Through it all, Mary-Louise Parker continues to shine as matriarch Nancy, a quirky, crafty, formidable steel magnolia. Every actor/character brings something special, but she alone would be reason enough to watch.
The Picture
The AVC bitrate could be higher than what we have here and the 16:9 picture could be sharper, frankly. But what Lionsgate does give us is a broad palette and some lovely, subtle shadings of color. Blacks too are enjoyably deep. There is however some definite digital video streaking across all 13 episodes, which are split between two discs.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1-channel soundtrack does an above-average job of establishing the different environments where the comedy and drama unfold. From the squawking of P.A. systems to echoes to room tones, the rears are pleasingly active, if not in the dynamic, obviously discrete style of feature films. But it's a respectable effort for TV.
The Extras
Creator Jenji Kohan provides a pair of commentaries that bookend the season, while six pairs team up to wax on other episodes: director Tate Donovan and writer Brendan Kelly, actors Hemky Madera and Enrique Castilo, actors Justin Kirk and Kevin Nealon, on-screen brothers Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould, executive producers Roberto Benabib and Matthew Salsberg, and director Michael Trim and script coordinator Tara Herrmann.
The amusing Nealon/Kirk due have their own featurette, and Kirk returns to host a sit-down with Kohan, Benabib and Salsberg wherein they answer real fan questions. There's also a bit about the choices made by The Bowins this season, in addition to about five minutes of bloopers. All of the video extras are in HD.
Final Thoughts
As predictable as it may sound, Six was another great year for Weeds, and while the picture and sound might not be mind-blowing on Blu-ray, those indulging in a little herbal refreshment might find it worthy of four stars across the board.
Product Details
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