Weeds - Season 8 Episode 9 - Recap and Review - Saplings

With three episodes left leading into a special two-part finale, Weeds has been exploring the future of marijuana in its final season. "Saplings" presented new opportunities and the same old risks for the Botwin family. We know weed isn't yet legalized, so where will this lead? Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) seems like she has the right idea.

Showtimes "Weeds"

The episode began with Silas (Hunter Parrish) meeting with a tobacco executive in his kitchen. Nancy was caught off guard. Apparently, the Montgomery family has heard of Silas' talents in the world of growing. With a new brand of weed-infused cigarettes in the making, they want to enlist Silas before he ends up "playing for the wrong team." Nancy was skeptical from the start. Usually, her intuition leads her into trouble, but this time, she seemed to have the right idea.

After flying to North Carolina to visit the family plantation, the truth was revealed. Nancy questioned how this work could be possible without weed being legalized. Silas seemed embarrassed by her questions and looked for motherly support. From Nancy, Silas? It's season eight. Get with the program! She makes selfishness seem charming. To her credit, Nancy has been trying this season and these are odd circumstances. I'm with Nancy.

Over lunch, Nancy brought up her hesitations about joining the workforce on a southern tobacco planation. Her examples included "slavery" and the "indonesian baby who smokes ten packs a day." It seemed, at first, as though Nancy may have just been overprotective of Silas. There is something about tobacco that Nancy Botwin just doesn't trust.

As it was explained, Silas would get into legal trouble if his plants were discovered before the legalization process. They just want to get the ball rolling now so that they can have a product when it does happen. Nancy did a good job of hiding her "I told you so" face. She doesn't want her son tied up with a bunch of powerful business men who don't care about him.

After all the tobacco talk stress, Nancy went for a smoke break on the front porch of the plantation house. There, she met the father of the company. They were a lot alike. Nancy likes the south. The south is about legacies and traditions. The north is about sarcasm and iced coffee. The old man advised her, as well. If you want your sapling to grow into a tree, you have to bend it just right. Their only problem, their saplings don't bend. Nancy seemed saddened to hear that he actually hadn't spoken to his son in two years. She doesn't want that to happen between her and Silas.

After a heart to heart in the barn, Silas got his point across, too. He doesn't want to hide behind medicinal marijuana. He wants to embrace his role as a dealer. He wants to keep his work organic. Nancy drew lines before she started dealing. She fears Silas will go off the rails. This episode largely concerned the advancements in legalizing weed. Nancy isn't concerned with the future of marijuana, she's concerned with the future of Silas.

Afterwards, Silas shook on a deal with the Montgomery company. Nancy questioned the lack of contracts. The company is nothing but a sack of money and an idea. What's stopping them from stealing the money? This old-school southern business man has faith in Silas. Where do you think this will go?

Doug (Kevin Nealon) spent the episode dealing with the repercussions of fooling the state into thinking he was running a homeless shelter. Now, he actually has to run a full-time shelter! Doug's problem is that the homeless hate him. The state sends them to Doug, who shoves them in an office space. He offered them yoga mats. It wasn't until he offered up his credit card following a jail threat, though, that he started to gain a following. Doug's storyline is out there, but it is a funny one.

Shane (Alexander Gould) and his girlfriend Angela seem like they're getting closer. This episode, though, they found themselves in trouble. Shane continued pressing his luck with his gig in law enforcement and borrowed a sports car from the impound lot. He took a very hesitant Angela for a ride, only to stumble across some thugs. These specific thugs were friends of Icepick, the owner of the car who is currently incarcerated. They left Shane and Angela on the side of the road, in their underwear, and stole the car.

Showtimes "Weeds"

Andy Botwin (Justin Kirke) continued his existential crisis. He's about to hit male menopause and he hasn't begun his life yet. He feels as though he's stuck in perpetual purgatory. With a student who was left forgotten at Hebrew school by his mother in tow, Andy bumped into a confused Rabbi Dave (David Julian Hirsh). The students had been spreading gossip about Dave sleeping with Nancy, and after confiding in Andy, the threesome went out for pancakes. The kid hates his mother's twenty-nine year old tool of a boyfriend. Dave feels like he's cheating on his dead wife. Their waitress, Jo, seemed great! She even gave Andy complimentary blueberries in his pancakes, just because they were in season.

Andy attempted to explain to Dave just what Nancy needs. She hasn't really been in love since Judah died. She needs someone who is the opposite of what she has been seeking out. As Andy describes what Nancy needs, he realizes that it's also what he needs. As he glances up, he sees Jo, the waitress, helping out an old man. It was then that he had the revelation.

Back at the Botwin residence, Rabbi Dave showed up at Stevie's baby pool to talk with Nancy. She always visits his pool at night, so he thought he'd try hers. There was a kiss. Last time, it was all sex. This time, it was romantic.

After hours, Andy and Jo got to know each other. She is Andy. Andy has never really dated anyone who was like him. Andy is missing two toes, and Jo had to have two fingers reattached. They both love bikes and kids. They got married! Weeds had a spontaneous wedding this week! I believe this is number two for the series, the first being Nancy's business arrangement wedding to Peter. Watch out, Andy. We know that Nancy Botwin always wants what she can't have. That's part of why we love her.

What did you all think of the episode? How will the series end? What do you want for the Botwin family? Do you think Silas' arrangement will work out? Do you think Andy's marriage will work out? Did you miss Jill? Are you sad or excited to see the last few episodes winding down to the finale? Discuss!

Showtimes "Weeds"