Sitting Shiva

Through these first few episodes of Weeds this season, I'm convinced that fans are in their own sort of sitting shiva over the series. Dead and gone is the Agrestic suburb, the theme song, and, really, much of the comedy. Much like Bubbie, "a courageous woman who escaped the clutches of Adolf Hilter and lived a long, productive life, only to be snuffed out by a hypoallergenic pillow from Bed Bath & Beyond," all elements taken off life support and ultimately smothered to death. I'm still waiting to see what's reborn in it's place, but after four episodes, this season has yet to establish a groove, and now after finally getting used to the great Albert Brooks and his irascible Lenny, we have to say goodbye to him as well, with Lenny running off with Nancy's drug money to Paris for the World Series of Poker. I knew going in that Brooks was signed on for at least four episodes, but it feels both cut short and a relief. It's almost as if they had to make him so despicable at the end that you'd miss him less going forward. With Doug (Kevin Nealon) showing up, you could almost see Brooks handing the comedic relief baton back to Nealon as he made his exit. No room for both of them, apparently.

Not that Nealon isn't a welcome return to the funny. The short-term memory gag falls flat in anyone else's hands (especially the borderline homophobic 'you suck dick, Silas?') and the interaction between him and Andy (Justin Kirk) has been greatly missed. He's not the only one to finally make the journey to the 'rebirth,' as Elizabeth Perkins' Celia finally gets thrown into the mix, to the tune of "Celia" by the great Toots & the Maytals. Her 'get out of jail' card is still a bit of a mystery. Sure, Captain Till is kind of smitten with her, hence the karaoke massacre that was Animotion's "Obsession," but it's still a bit foggy as to how that all works in the judicial process. Meanwhile, Silas (Hunter Parrish) is obviously going to be a more prominent character moving forward, I guess filling the 'grower hunk' void now that there's no Conrad (Romany Malco). I'm sorry, but Parrish is no Malco.

For Secret Diary of a Call Girl this week, as Hannah/Belle sets up her attempt at an S&M session, we heard New Young Pony Club (a favorite of Reaper,) with their song "Ice Cream," which might just be the prostitute song:

I can give you what you want. I can make your back real taut.
Fantastic playroom fancy sick like Sid and Nancy wicked as a joy ride jaunt.

Weeds
1. "Obsession" - Animotion - Celia sings Karaoke
2. "Celia" - Toots & the Maytals - Guillermo's men bring in Celia

Secret Diary of a Call Girl
1. "Ice Cream" - New Young Pony Club - Hannah/Belle sets up for S&M
2. "Locked Together" - King Creosote - Hannah sends text message to Ben

Previously: Blah with Dignity (Episode 4.03)