This week’s theme is again quite wide in terms of the possibilities. So, like always, I’ve decided to pick a theme within a theme and go with family. But not your typical crime family type crime shows with mob factors but unlikely criminals that drag their family, against their own better judgment, into huge messes. This week’s picks are three very different shows, but all have quite a lot in common as well.
There is no sadder moment than the end of spring when all your favorite shows are finishing off a season. Some with a swizzle, some with a bang in order to keep you waiting eagerly until the next season. On the other hand, some shows will never make it past the first season, some long runners will never return where the last are the ones that some will miss the most. Pretty crucial cuts have to be made in order to make room for the new shows for next year and I am very aware of that situation. But although I am very invested in the what’s new and what’s cancelled part of the TV world, in this post I am focusing on my summer entertainment. No worries though, I have planned many posts regarding the news about shows I watch which covers a large amount of airtime.
This summer I am very excited because there are three shows returning for the second season! For those of you who remember, MTV came out with two new shows last summer and both of them actually turned out to be good! Awkward. is a show about a teenager, which seems like it all has been done before, but it does have some clever writing and gives me the Juno vibe in a very positive way. First season ended with an interesting choice and not to mention the big question of the author of the letter hanging in the air, but as you can tell, I am not here to spoil it for you in case you haven’t seen it yet. Teen Wolf was another one of those teen shows that ended up on my weekly schedule – it had the tortured hero in a form of a wolf, the funny sarcastic side-kick, the hot dream girl and bunch of bad guys. Despite the teen element, the show has some pretty grown up moments and intriguing mysteries which can be credited to the show’s developer Jeff Davis, the man behind Criminal Minds. Third, USA networks high rated show, Suits was probably my favorite new show last summer and I just can’t wait until it returns. Smart, quick, high class and clever – a well written show with some great characters and expensive suits, what more does a woman want!
Among other returning shows, some have been around for a long time, some just seem to be airing forever. True Blood is back and I am sure it will stir up something amazing for its fifth season which will follow the big events of the last season with some new characters as well. For Alan Ball, this will be his last season as the front man of the show, this sounds like Supernatural and Eric Kripke situation which didn’t crash and burn so I am not worried. Still, would be interesting to know what Ball has thought of next because giving us Six Feet Under and True Blood is definitely not enough – we need more! Another season for Pretty Little Liars starts, which is funny because they just ended their A-revealing season. Funny but true, the show starts in the summer and ends in the spring with a long hiatus from October to January! No wonder I keep watching it, the four girls never seem to stop being on the screen and I have no problem with that. A very entertaining chick-flick will surely come to an end soon enough but I doubt they will finish it off with this season. Weeds is returning for their eight season, and as tired I am of Nancy’s ways, I will still tune in to see what’s going on with her crazy and unrealistic life.
But of course there are new shows coming because that’s just the way it goes. I already did some research, mostly trailers of the shows and I picked couple I liked instead of listing them all because I doubt I will even watch the ones I am not gonna name here. Starting off with a serious show from HBO, The Newsroom, which will be probably a very good drama with some smart writing because the man behind the show is no other than Aaron Sorkin. For those who need some refreshing, this is the guy who wrote The Social Network – so I assume quality is guaranteed. USA Network has already come out with a cop comedy Common Law, I have heard that it is rather good (at least the pilot) and I’d say the trailer gave the same impression. Definitely going to watch it but not very sure where it will lead, two guys with guns taking counseling – that just sounds so safe. Yet again the people behind this happen to be coming from the movie world, this time behind the movie National Treasure.
This pretty much ends my list of shows I am excited about as far as their context goes, there are two new ones that are just a disaster to happen but they happen to draw me in with actors. Baby Daddy is going to air on ABC Family and that network just doesn’t appeal to me at all, but since they are bringing back the guy from Kyle XY, I am giving it a chance. Though it might end up being a very short chance because it doesn’t look good but who knows, Kyle XY was one of my favorites and it was an ABC Family’s original series which they ended mid season 3 with words “I am your brother!” – who does that?? Anyway, back to the topic, second show I want to mention is Saving Hope on NBC. This just screams horrible idea and it just looks like they are trying to copy Grey’s Anatomy’s Denny situation into a whole show with a main character being a man between two worlds. But the fact that Daniel Gillies (Elijah from The Vampire Diaries) is playing there for at least two episodes will make me watch it, if he leaves I will have no other reasons to watch it. Yes, that’s how fan-girling works.
So this is going to be my summer, not to mention the reality show So You Think You Can Dance, if all goes as planned, I am going to make short posts about every episode of my favorite shows but I am not sure how my work will help along to this lovely plan of keeping up with my posts. This is it for me but let me know in the comments what are your plans for summer regarding TV-shows?
Before I get to the post I just want to admit that I had watched the first couple of episodes before giving up on it and then basically forgetting the show for years. Then I had nothing to do and I stumbled on it and watched the entire series in four or five days. The seventh season just ended and left us with a cliff-hanger – oh the long wait.
I decided to do the post in a new way, listing all the main characters (trying to list those who have already left the show as well) and giving short summaries about them. Since I’m not good friends with the spoilers I try to keep bigger story-lines wrapped but Weeds has had 7 seasons which means it is hard to describe the characters without giving away some information. The motivation of this post is to get you interested in the show as well as a reminder of the main characters.
Nancy Botwin – one thing Nancy definitely isn’t – is boring. As a mother of two and a widow she has issues with paying her house payments: this has pushed her into dealing weed. Right from the beginning it is clear that Nancy doesn’t give up, loves her children endlessly and loves to bite straws (she drinks a lot of ice-latte’s for which she has always got the money for). The evolution of Nancy during the entire series is interesting, I have to admit, I rather liked her in the earlier seasons and then I developed a dislike towards her. Since trouble always seems to find her and she very often gets stuck she has to make some difficult decisions which aren’t very smart but then again she gains back the trust by sacrificing herself. Season 7 is my least favorite season of Nancy’s, I’m saying this because I think that the show in general is slowing down and is in a serious need of some high – something that described the show in the beginning.
Mary-Louise Parker who plays Nancy is a whole different story, she is Nancy Botwin in some ways and I think that she has given the character a lot of her own attitude. During the series I think she has gained some confidence and it is clear that she tries to steal the scenes she’s in. No surprise too, Nancy Botwin likes the attention and craves for it as much as she wants to make it as a drug dealer.
Andy Botwin – the underdog type of guy who is definitely in love with his late brothers wife Nancy. Sounds like a spoiler but this fact defines him in my mind so I can’t leave that out. He is a great cook, always there to help and never gives up on Nancy or her sons. Andy is the kind of best friend everybody wants, he is funny and loyal and although he sometimes messes up (especially in the earlier seasons) he still finds his way back. I used the word “underdog” to describe him because he is probably the only man in Nancy’s life she hasn’t been with but will probably end up with him in the end. They just work as a team and as a couple – sadly the writers haven’t done it yet cause that would tie up too many possible story-lines.
Justin Kirk portrays Andy with up most respect. He adds the comedy to the scene (not that others aren’t funny) and is just adorable. I like the fact that Kirk is Andy in my mind cause it proves that he has made the character his own.
Silas Bowtin – the oldest son of Nancy who could best be described as the lost soul. His first girlfriend leaves without saying goodbye, he also dates an older women and tries to keep her deaf girlfriend by making her pregnant. So yes, Silas has some stupid moments but one thing he is good at is his moms’ business. I think it comes naturally to him but since Nancy doesn’t want him to do what she does and basically wants to control and keep him safe it is clear that Silas feels disappointed. He knows he has potential but he can’t show it to his mother.
Hunter Parrish gives his puppy eyes to Silas and does it with cuteness. Visually speaking (or from the point of view of a woman) he is the most appealing person on the screen. He brings the sweet into Weeds and I think he is proud to do so.
Shane Botwin is the youngest (spoiler: middle) son of Nancy and probably the craziest in the family. In the beginning he seems just odd and left out but later on it is clear that he is the strongest of the family – sometimes in a bad way. He is intelligent and wise beyond his years and no doubt the one with the toughest skin. When he is all grown-up I’m pretty sure Nancy starts to trust him more than Silas.
Alexander Gould brings the weird into Shane and is doing it better and better every season which is probably due to the fact that he as an actor is growing into what he actually is. I’m afraid that he is as creepy as his character sometimes is but hopefully not really.
Doug Wilson is a wash-out. Doug does have a family which we don’t see (his son only appears in the first episode and his wife once in a later season) but he is the guy who just can’t catch a break. In the beginning he is one of Nancy’s clients but by the seventh season he is a “good” friend to Andy. He messes up a lot and gets into trouble and basically represents a guy who is usually considered as an idiot.
Kevin Nealon brings the character into life and not to be insulting, really looks like somebody who would be called an idiot.
The Hodes family – this is a family that is more twisted that the Botwins. Celia is a friend of Nancy’s who just likes to mess everything up. She becomes a very unpopular person and it is clear that her own family doesn’t want to have anything to do with her. She does crazy stuff and is even crazier when she does drugs. Dean, the husband is a much more likable character but just like his friend Doug, he also has the attributes of being a loser. Isabelle is the daughter who gives her mom a hard time and is probably the only one who does bring Celia down a notch – love her for that.
Of course there are a lot of other characters like reoccurring drug dealers and a long list of Nancy’s boyfriends but it would take away the element of surprise when you do plan to watch the show. A show that is mainly about drugs but also, about family – the twisted and troubled version of it at least.
