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June 16, 2009

Weeds, Season 5, Episode 2

Posted: 01:27 PM ET

NEW YORK – Last night, I watched a rape on television. It was a dramatized rape. But it was jarring, just the same. Weeds, Season 5, Episode 2.

Mary-Louise Parker, star of "Weeds"

I have always loved Weeds for its black humor, for its honesty. I love the way in which the show forces us to question our righteousness, our ability to pass judgment on our friends and neighbors, despite the disorder of our own houses. As a criminal defense attorney who cut her teeth on petty drug cases, I like most the show's "There but for the grace of God go I" premise.

But I'm not sure where this rape fits in. Or whether it fits in at all.

Weeds was created by Jenji Kohan, who is also the head writer. Jenji is a woman who, until now, has seemed to get womanhood; Weeds, after all, is so firmly rooted in our power, as women, in some circumstances and our complete powerlessness in others.

Nancy Botwan, the main character who deals with her husbands sudden death by dealing pot in her suburban neighborhood, certainly understands the power of sexuality, the relative powerlessness of single motherhood and the foolish ways in which men respond to women in crisis. So Jenji must know about all of this too. She writes it. Its her show.

And she must also know a thing or two about this age-old problem of rape. She must have known what she was doing with this rape scene. Even assuming we should ever dramatize rape (a debate that raged in the days and weeks after the release of the film, "The Accused" in the 1980s) there must be some point to it. But they lost me on this one.

No matter that the victim is in love with this man who rapes her; no matter that she is pregnant with his child; no matter that he has said he loves her; no matter that they were in a relationship. It is still a rape.

Most disturbing is that this victim seems to enjoy it. And that's where fact and fiction diverge dramatically. Because rape, as we all know (or should all know), is not sex. It is violence. And it is a crime. No matter who the perpetrator. A husband can rape his wife and, sadly, it happens all the time. And when we suggest that women like it, I fear we encourage it. I don't know that to be true. I just worry that is will be.

I am not sure what to do with all of this. I firmly believe in artistic freedom, even when I don't understand the point the artist is trying to make. But we, as the consumers of art, also have the right to walk away if the message offends.

Recently I have seen the word "boycott" graffitied on billboards for Weeds. I thought it was an anti-drug message and scoffed at the messenger who clearly hadn't watched (or perhaps misunderstood) the show. But I now believe that message is about the rape scene. And if so, the messenger is right that rape should neither be tolerated nor celebrated.

So will I boycott? Will I stop watching Weeds? I don't know. But I'm thinking about it. If I do, I will miss Silas and Shane and Celia and all the whacky characters as they struggle with the fallout of Nancy's bad choices. I will miss Nancy most of all. But then again, this is not the Nancy I've come to love over 4 seasons of loyal viewership. This Nancy (and her rapist boyfriend/drug kingpin/father of her child) may not be worth watching at all.

-Jami Floyd, In Session anchor

Filed under: Uncategorized


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Halle   June 16th, 2009 2:48 pm ET

The show just sucks period . It's boring beyond belief . It could have been so much better , as it is a very probable situation . Too bad . Most people just watch it because it's about drugs , man .

Erika   June 16th, 2009 3:35 pm ET

Get over it. The show is amazing and is very entertaining. If you can't handle a show that includes drugs, sex and even a rape scene don't watch HBO. It happens, and Kohan was showing that it can happen to even Nancy.

Tony   June 16th, 2009 3:50 pm ET

I've only occasionally watch the show and the episodes I've watched were pretty much entertaining. I din't catch this particular episode but what I can't seem to understand that when events that happen in real life are shown, why all of sudden do some people find it offensive? I read the nespaper everyday and there has not been one day when I haven't read about a rape, a murder, a kidnapping etc. some giving all the gory details of the event. People, wake the heck up! There are are a lot of really horrible things happening in this world, sad to say, and the only two ways it will change is A. People change or B. Someone will change it for us.

jimmyjam   June 16th, 2009 5:27 pm ET

this show should have been canceled after the 2nd season. 1st season was very promising.

kathy garan   June 16th, 2009 5:41 pm ET

The detective who just testified in the Woman's suicide/murder, he is on "The First 48" on A & E too!

Michael   June 16th, 2009 7:31 pm ET

I too was shocked by the rape scene and how it depicted an act of brutal male dominance and power. I do NOT believe that she enjoyed it., although it appeared as if she went through a mix of emotions- possibly being turned on at first a bit, but then realizing that hey, "I am getting raped and there is nothing I can do about it." You could see it in Nancy's eye's how powerless she must have felt, which is also testament to her amazing acting!

Alex   June 17th, 2009 8:19 pm ET

Wow......just watched the rape scene and I really don't know how I feel about the show right now........I bought the first four seasons and totally enjoyed it and couldn't wait for season 5. After watching the 2nd episode of season 5 I was left feeling really angry, not just at the person doing the rape but the writers for making Mary Louise play this part that could ruin their series. I would have much preferred her getting to the gun and blowing the bastard's brains all over the room. Revenge is sweet! Really hope episode 3 cleans the show up.

Jen   June 18th, 2009 3:46 pm ET

I'm done with this show. That last episode was the last one I will watch. Frankly, I think the show has been going steadily downhill ever since they left Agrestic (with the possible exception of many choice scenes with Albert Brooks). But the final straw was the rape scene. It's one thing to be a dark comedy. It's another thing to just be dark. This show used to be funny – Doug, Heylia, Conrad, Celia – all hilarious. There's nothing funny about rape. You lost me, Weeds.

Miriam   June 18th, 2009 4:17 pm ET

I have never watched this show and I am glad that I didn't. I agree with you Jami on this – it is nice that we agree on this one. Thanks for being open about where your heart truly is. Life is to be celebrated not raped!!

Amanda   June 18th, 2009 7:29 pm ET

I think my issue with it was that it happened to Nancy. With the exception of a few tears in the first episode of the season when Cesar forces her to go to a Spanish-speaking doctor, Nancy rarely shows emotion. At all. So, I sometimes think that the writers run with that and throw anything her way because her character will react stoically to everything. If we have to bring up rape, can we do it with a character who might actually react? Doubt she will.

gh_   June 23rd, 2009 9:45 am ET

How is rape on HBO off limits? I see murder on network tv all the time.

It was done well, I though. For turning informant on the mexican mafia, I'd say she got off easy. Would it have been better for you if they showed her getting dismembered and fed to coyotes in the desert?

Jon   June 23rd, 2009 3:35 pm ET

Love the show. I think she may have been trying to shed some light on an area of rape that most people don't think of, but yet happens everyday all over the world. She sheds light on a lot of things people don't think about, but those things are happening daily. Sometimes we just get too caught up in our own "reality" that we forget about the true reality.

Paul   June 24th, 2009 3:13 pm ET

Honestly, I don't think that rape scene was the worst that's ever been shown in the series. Yes, it is a touchy subject, but get over it; it's television.
As for the dispute about the show's quality, Seasons 1-3 were very good. Season 4 was slowly going downhill, and so far Season 5 has been tanking.

Katie   June 25th, 2009 12:33 pm ET

If you've watched the third episode, they had addressed the situation and Nancy referred to it as "rough sex" not rape. Perhaps the writer realized the negative social impact of the scene and wanted people to know that wasn't their intention. I do not think they condone violence against women, but as other poster's have mentioned it is not uncommon. Weeds is one of the only show's that doesn't sugar coat the ugliness in this world. Although I will say I much preferred the previous seasons (dialogue and music) I will continue to support this show and see how Jenji is able to write herself out of this corner.

Muziki Ulimwengu   June 29th, 2009 2:52 am ET

I too have been a fan of Weeds. Many of the HBO and Showtime series have been known for "pushing the envelope", however last week's episode that included a rape scene was neither necessary to the story line nor appropriate. I am not only upset and disgusted with the writers and producers of the show, but with the actors that would agree to go along with such a scene.

Why would you promote the ultimate of violations?

I will boycott the show and encourage friends and family to boycott as well.

Andrea   June 30th, 2009 3:19 pm ET

You were offended by this "rape" scene, and thus questioning if you should continue to watch the show?? Are you insane?? There has been murder, torture, and various other acts of physical and emotional violence so far on Weeds, yet only this bothers you because it calls into question female rights?

As a female, I was not offended by this scene in the least. Nancy entered into a relationship with Esteban knowing that he was a horrible person–guilty of murder, trafficking, and countless other horrible and illegal things. She sought HIM out, because she was fascinated and attracted to his dangerousness and his power. She called the DEA on his actions, and then lied about it to him. Then, rather than try to lay low or escape, she went to his house, screamed in his face, pushed him around, and shoved a gun in his face, asking him to kill her. He then threw her on the table and had sex with her, which she CLEARLY enjoyed. I don't consider any aspect of this situation to be "rape". The whole scene was about the sexual tension between them, as SHE had put HIM in a bad situation with their relationship.

Mark   July 3rd, 2009 12:09 am ET

Rape? Are you kidding me? HELLO??? Rape: A sexual engagement AGAINST somones will. So he didnt ask for it, maybe THATS why she liked it! Never once did she say no. Being some sort of lawyer you should have picked up on that. I don't know about you, but my lawyer would have the charges dropped with one question... "Mrs. Botwin, at any time did you make any physical or verbal attempt to stop the sexual encounter?" Case dismissed. I have sex with my wife all the time without asking... if she don't want it, she will push me away.

Diane   July 6th, 2009 3:31 am ET

You say you love Weeds for it's honesty, well, honestly Nancy should have been raped about 10 times over since season 2. I mean really, let's be honest:

- She would have been raped by U-Turn, and the Armenians at the end of season 2.
- She would have been raped by Guillermo and the 4-5 other men she did the 'brick' dance for in season 3.
- She would have been raped and/or shot dead by any of the Mexican thugs she encountered in the tunnel or in the garage during season 4

People have been complaining that Nancy has been way too lucky; that despite her stupid actions she has always walked away without a scratch. Well, Weeds finally got real and now people are complaining about that! Guess what, Esteban is not a nice guy. She ratted out his operation, lied to him about it, then got drunk and came to see him with the intent of provoking a reaction. What on Earth did people expect? How does this not "fit with the story?"

Frankly, she STILL got off easy!! He did not slap, kick or shake her and even the sex act itself could not have been too bad – judging by her reaction.

In my opinion, the most disturbing aspect of the scene was that she seemed to enjoy the abuse. But again, she's a twisted sister and that really didn't surprise me much either.

I'm a 33 year old woman working in the social services field. Every day, I read about the horrible violence carried out by the violent Mexcian drug cartels on our border and I also see first-hand the chilling effects of drug-abuse, domestic violence and poverty in our country. Rape happens, ESPECIALLY to people associated with the drug trade. If a woman is stupid enough to CHOOSE to associate with violent criminals – she should expect to be raped at some point. That's reality.

tom   July 14th, 2009 2:06 am ET

one thing that has really started to bother me about this show, is that there isn't a single character (at least at this point in the timeline) that has a good heart.
sure, i get it, people are flawed, everyone makes mistakes, blah blah blah. but this show isnt full of good people who make bad choices. it's full of selfish, irresponsible, truly corrupt people. the only person who had at least some sense of honor or code was conrad, and he's ghost in the past at this point.
my point is: for the longest time, i was so hooked on weeds because i actually cared what happened to the characters. i ACTUALLY cared if nancy was going to get killed, or busted. I ACTUALLY cared when silas got his girlfriend pregnant. i even at one point, cared about what happened to doug. but now that the show has dragged on like it has, i've gotten to the point where i don't care about anyone in the entire show. they ALL suck. they ALL suck really really hard now.
note to the writers of weeds: start giving your characters actual souls, or we will ALL lose interest very very soon.

paul   August 7th, 2009 10:53 am ET

The enjoyment displayed by Nancy's character isn't about the sex, as you imply was meant. It's about finally being able to accept her powerlessness in her relationship with the drug kingpin ... because she's forced to finally get behind her denial that she's in control of her life.

meelee   September 29th, 2009 11:11 pm ET

I agree with Amanda's comment above. When does Nancy take a stand? When does she muster her will to not just react to circumstance, the vagaries of life, money, or strong, charismatic men but to her own sense of ethics? Ratting on Esteban and then surviving through the trump card of pregnancy ( a male child, no less) and paying the penatly through rape? Is that all there is? too dark. Give us a little light, a little wisdom touched with humor, lif'e's sweet, wise spice. Show a path through the extremes of mindless suburbia and mindless drug traffiking and violence.

Disgusted   December 2nd, 2009 4:52 pm ET

This scene was disgusting. I have never approved of the show, but this was the last straw. She was raped and did not even seem to care. In any case, the entire show has an awful message. Saying "who cares, it's television" doesn't excuse it–and in any case, are we so busy protecting artist's rights that we cannot take a minute to think about the artist's responsibilities? Doesn't this perpetuate the idea that women are sex objects and that they enjoy being dominated? That men can use force to get what they want or to indicate their manliness? I have decided to boycott Weeds, and would thoroughly encourage anyone else who chooses to.

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