Review - Weeds Season 6 Episode 13 Theoretical Love Is Not Dead / The Big C Season 1 Episode 13 Taking The Plunge

I haven't covered Weeds or The Big C since the first few episodes of the season, but the season finales are here, so here are my thoughts of the finales and seasons.

As a whole, Weeds has been a disaster this season, breaking out of the mold set the past few seasons--and also losing any sense of reason. Every week it was crazy shit followed by more crazy shit without rhyme or reason, with unrealistic, extravagant people showing up everywhere. It's been a chore to watch the family escape from place to place. At the same time, Nancy is probably the most unlikable as she's ever been, and as her past is explored, we learn that she may been a terrible person her whole life. Nancy is almost redeemed in "Theoretical Love Is Not Dead," when she makes the choice to turn herself into the FBI while the rest of the family flies off. "Theoretical Love Is Not Dead" is great because there isn't room to run anymore (thankfully) and every character must make definite choices.

Structurally, season six represents Weeds as a whole. Characters are introduced only to be tossed away, new locations are introduced only to be left. There's lots of new things in season six, as there used to be with each new season. However, by the end of the season, they are mere afterthoughts.

For the majority of its inaugural season, The Big C floundered around without doing much. Cathy kept her cancer a secret while acting wacko, and his family did understand her. These past couple episodes leading up to the season finale, however, after Cathy finally came clean, actually have a purpose. With Marlene's suicide last week, there was no turning back. Ultimately, every character must face the harsh reality of the truth. For Cathy, it's finally going into treatment. For Sean, it's giving up his delusinal dreams to become a father.

I have to admit, that final scene with Adam was a little disingenuous for me. After acting like a douchebag for the season and episode, he comes upon a key to a storage locker containing birthday, Christmas, and other occasion presents. He breaks down and cries, and it's an emotional moment. However, it's superficial that he had to see physical presents and notes before realizing how much his mother cares for him.

The writers missed the mark for the first half of the season, trying to make more of a comedy than drama; cancer is not a funny topic, but it can generate funny moments between the poignancy and that's what the season finale gets at. Maybe when The Big C returns, the tone will stay consistent.

Weeds Score: 8.7/10
The Big C Score: 9.1/10