I caught the first two episodes of Weeds last night and it struck me as curious and revealing that the viewer is invited to sympathise with the predicament of the main protagonist, Nancy Botwin (played by Mary Louise Parker). Recently widowed, without a job of her own or, apparently, the benefit of a decent life assurance payout, she has taken up as a pot dealer to her fellow (white) middle class, middle aged suburbanites to keep herself and her two sons in the comfortable, affluent lifestyle to which they have become accustomed. Now, leaving aside my own views on drug prohibition - the "war on drugs" is a disgrace and there's no reason why dealing in marijuana should be illegal - in this world, dealing drugs is illegal and a sole parent of two kids with no apparent income and who makes regular trips to, presumably known, suppliers is taking a huge risk engaging in this career. For what? She has a huge house, bigger than mine (which is already quite big!) a massive jeep and, fer-crying-out-loud a live in maid!
The second episode featured an intended-to-be heart-wrenching scene when she left her wedding and engagement rings along with her expensive jeep at the considerably more modest house of her (black) supplier as collateral for an advance on some product. Why is she supposed to deserve a big house, jeep and maid while the woman she's scrounging off has to make do with a smaller, crappier house in a shabbier area? How dreadful to have to drive an ordinary car with blankets on the seats.
The risk she is taking - and putting the squeeze on small time dealers is a great way of hooking the bigger fish up the line - is not so that she can put food on her kids' plates, nor to ensure they get a good education. It is to keep up with the Joneses. We are supposed to laud this? Sack the maid, sell the house, sell the car and get a regular job, like other people have to do!
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