--- title: "Weeds: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/weeds/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/weeds" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Weeds (2005): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 7 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Weeds, and the praise clusters on Mary-Louise Parker. Her widowed suburban mother turned dealer is called tough, witty and believable, and several reviews credit her with keeping the show grounded. The satire of suburbia is the other point of agreement: a witty script that lets real distress show through without turning sentimental, and a refusal to moralise about the drugs. Elizabeth Perkins is singled out alongside Parker, and the roles it writes for women in their forties are noted approvingly. The reservations are about tone. Variety finds it leans towards drama rather than comedy and takes time to find its footing, while The Hollywood Reporter calls it bleaker and less hopeful than its obvious suburban-secrets comparison. The AV Club notes early production values below HBO’s. No review is negative; the spread runs from lukewarm to warm, and the later reviews, written with several series to judge, are the more enthusiastic. ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2007. The series is a brilliant, smart female-centric drama about a suburban widow dealing marijuana after her husband's death. It withholds moral judgment on drugs and excels in its realistic, non-judgmental portrayal of characters and suburbia. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/weeds-season-one-review/) ## The Times — Joe Joseph Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2005. Weeds is a clever, beguiling satire of suburban life with a ring of truth and shimmering performances. The critic highlights the witty script that masks genuine human anguish without sentimentality and praises the classy cast and lavish filming. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/weeds-leaves-you-feeling-on-a-high-b2j5q79wxvq) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B+. 5 July 2006. The critic praises the show for delivering a caustic black comedy grounded by Mary-Louise Parker's performance as a resourceful suburban mom turned pot dealer, though it starts a bit shaky with production values below HBO standards. They single out Parker's tough, witty portrayal for making the character level-headed and real. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/weeds-1798201795) ## The Guardian — Richard Vine Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2010. Weeds is a brilliantly executed dramedy that explores a widowed soccer mom's turn to dealing marijuana. The critic singles out the rich, complex roles it gives to women in their 40s, particularly the performances of Mary-Louise Parker and Elizabeth Perkins. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/apr/30/weeds-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Barry Garron Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2005. Weeds offers a bleaker, less comedic and far less hopeful variation on suburban secrets than Desperate Housewives. The overwhelming theme is a struggle for survival amid hypocrisy and hidden desperation, with some darkly humorous moments. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/weeds-first-episode-2005-review-1132696/) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Rating **. 31 July 2005. The show has much to like, starting with Mary-Louise Parker's performance, but the complete package falls just short of must-buy TV as it leans more toward drama than comedy. It takes time to find its footing with the arrival of Justin Kirk's character. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2005/film/reviews/weeds-4-1200524160/) ## Collider — Eli Keel Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2008. The critic praises the show's ongoing risks with social satire, morality, family, and race while keeping the core story moving briskly without dragging. They note Season 3 is slightly less funny than Season 2 but still highly entertaining and recommend buying the seasons. [Read the review](https://collider.com/weeds-season-three-dvd-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/weeds.md