'Weeds' season five review

We last saw Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) penning goodbye notes to her children—via a call to 1-800-Flowers—as she sped across the Mexican border to tell her kingpin boyfriend (the one she'd just sold out to the cops) that she was pregnant with his child.

Life has grown complicated. And though the season opener may not kick-off with Nancy's unceremonious execution, as she seemed to think it would, her future is looking grimmer and grimmer. At least her baby dad will avoid killing her for the duration of her pregnancy. That extra nine months means she gets to deal with this season’s big subplots, like a visit from her petty sister, Silas’s foray into peddling legit medical marijuana, Andy’s burgeoning love for his sister-in-law and Celia’s kidnapping.

The buzz: As has been the custom for the past few seasons, the big news around the return of "Weeds" revolves around the famous faces they've recruited as guest stars. The newest crop of episodes picks up with the temporary addition of Jennifer Jason Leigh as Nancy's sister Jill and Alanis Morissette as Nancy's her obstetrician. Both characters have Andy fever.

The verdict: Viewers who weren't feeling "Weeds"' darker turn last season should take note that it's only getting darker, but we’ve had more than enough time to adjust to the shift in tone. Mary Louise Parker remains one of the best actresses on television, and watching her navigate her increasingly unhinged life more than makes up for the wavering humor.  

Did you know? Nancy's post-Agrestic home of Ren Mar, California, may not be real, but the fictional town's name draws some real life inspiration. The series is shot at Renmar Studios in Los Angeles.