Oh Nancy, what a tangled web you have weaved. Seriously, just when you think she has sunk far enough, she finds a new low, yet you still find yourself rooting for her thanks to the delivery of Mary Louise Parker and her sad brown eyes…overall, this season was a split decision for me, with equal parts of laughing hysterically or cringing at some of the storylines delivered. So read below for what worked and what didn’t, plus the best/worst episodes of the season. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below:
WHAT WORKED:
1. Andy – this guy is pure comedic gold! Every time other storylines start veering towards the dramatic, I only have to wait a few minutes for Andy to say something that will have me on the floor rolling. This season he professed his love to Nancy [after sleeping with her sister], bought the General Lee and Mrs. Pacman, and dated a doctor, all the while giving Nancy shit for getting knocked up by the drug kingpin.
2. Doug and Dean - How did these two end up being a lawyer and an accountant? Because every time they get together the IQ level in the room drops by 50 points, but their pot shtick never gets old. It is comical the situations they get themselves into [like slamming their manparts in a desk drawer] and the discussions they have that make this duo work.
3. Shane’s Growing up Botwin – remember that Silas was already mid-teens when Nancy got into the pot business, so while interested in growing/selling as a business model, he is still an emotionally and mentally well adjusted young man. So it makes sense that younger brother Shane was more impressionable living around Nancy’s other life. This season you really see his full development into a scary, emotionless sociopath. He uses violence to solve problems, and refuses medication because he likes to feel the pain after being shot in the arm. After giving his mom a hand in the finale, who knows what he is capable of next season….a chilling thought, indeed!
WHAT DIDN’T WORK:
1. Celia - I love Elizabeth Perkins, but this season they really scraped the bottom of the barrel to find storylines for her to follow, and most of them failed. Kidnapped by the daughter we haven't seen since Season 1 - didn't work and she was shipped back. Selling cosmetics and turning into a pot distribution was sad and not very funny, and impersonating Nancy was creepy. And don't even get me started on her foray into lesbianism [not funny at all]. Celia worked best as the opposite of Nancy: the uptight type A control freak mom that couldn't relate with anyone else...over this season her character seemed to lose her way, and I hope they can find it next season cause I really like the actress.
2. Nancy’s sister – I can’t even remember her name… that is how much of an impression she made on me. At first, I was intrigued, as someone that knew Nancy before she was Mrs. Botwin Reyes. And although the actress [the Single White Female chick] did well with her role, she was in and out in two episodes; you know, long enough to have sex with Andy, take Shane in and then take him right back, and trash talk Nancy. There was no further development before she hit the road so the whole point of introducing her seems wasted.
3. Are we still in Mexico….does anyone else remember how much better life was for Nancy living in Agrestic? Anyone miss Conrad or Helia? Are we ever getting the heck out of Tijuana and back to where we started? Sometimes, when storylines start getting out of whack, it is best to take a step back and regroup, and the easiest way to do that is to go back to the beginning.
BEST EPISODE OF SEASON 5: (tie)
“Van Nuys”
Nancy meets up with Alanis Morrisette, I mean Audra, to discuss having an abortion; Andy takes a freak-show ex of Judah’s on a date to try to claim his savings account; and Shane teaches his teacher a very important lesson on stealing other’s pot. I heart Andy and his bad 80s date from hell – totally awesome!
“Where the Sidewalk Ends”
Nancy finds out about Pilar, the other woman in Esteban’s life, and his plans for a home delivery. She decides she needs to have this baby legitimately so there is a record to keep her safe, so she plans with Andy and Audra to make sure her baby is born in the USA before Esteban can stop her.
WORST EPISODE OF SEASON 5:
“Suck ‘n Spit”
Now that the baby [Stevie Ray Botwin – Cool Name!] is home both Nancy and Andy take turns with the crying infant. Meanwhile, Shane gets a yeast infection [awkward], while Dean and Celia steal Silas and Doug’s pot supply for her cosmetic venture. Only a few funny moments [like Andy reminiscing about the “ol’ Cotton Eye Joe] that were overshadowed by some cringe-worthy moments…really, I don’t need to see Andy help relieve Nancy’s breast milk issue at the restaurant - eewww...
My Season Rating: 6.5/10
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