The fact that a teenage boy bashing a woman on the head with a croquet mallet was only the second-most shocking season finale to air on Showtime last year really says something about the network's high-quality programming. (The 'Dexter' finale, of course, is number one.) Last year's OMG-filled finale of 'Weeds' proved that although the show was wrapping up its fifth season, the series about a pot-selling soccer mom had not grown stale.

Season 6, which premieres tonight at 10PM ET, sees the Botwin family on the lam yet again. This time, they're fleeing the wrath of Nancy's drug lord baby daddy, who's probably pretty upset that his wife's son just killed his longtime political adviser/BFF. Actor Alexander Gould, who plays teenage murderer Shane Botwin, spoke with TV Squad recently, and told us that his character isn't very bothered by his actions.

"Shane is very nonchalant about it, and almost finds humor in what he's done," Gould said. "You'd think it would be such a big deal, but it never turns out to be for anybody -- well, not for Shane. For everybody else it's a huge deal."

(S05E13) "Women are strong ... until they fall apart." - Nancy

It was zingers like the above quote that filled the season five finale of Weeds. I'm sure there were more, but I dozed off about three minutes into the show. Honestly, I'll check out the first few eps of next season, but at this point, I'm not committed to reviewing the entire season. It's no fun for me, and certainly no fun for you guys, if I'm covering a show I'm just not into. I really hope it improves enough to make me giddy, but I'm not holding my breath.

Nothing about this episode grabbed me, and for that, I'm sad. From the massage therapist that Pilar sent for Nancy ("Don't make me sit on you") to Doug's lame one-liners ("Wanna lick my crystal balls?"), it just wasn't there. I expect a season finale to be filled with eye openers, plot twists, and a fantastic ending that makes me cry that it's over and yearn until the day it starts again. Sorry, it simply wasn't there.

(S05E12) "I could use a little more snakebite on my lips." - Dean

Hmmm ... what to say about this episode? I kept waiting for something to jump out at me. Some fun witticism from Andy or Doug, or anything really. But it just wasn't there. At this point, I'm just glad there's only one episode left, and hopefully, they can do a major reboot and gain back a lot of the viewers who've left. As many of you have commented this season, what's really lacking is any sort of empathy for Nancy. She just seems lost and twisting in the wind.

(S05E11) "If you don't climax, the terrorists win." - Andy to Audra, after the anti-abortionists start throwing stuff through her window

This is probably my least favorite episode of Weeds so far this season. I know some of you haven't been digging this season at all, but I've been hanging in there, holding out hope that it'll end on a high note, and even loving an episode here and there. But aside from a few Andy-isms, I wasn't really feeling this ep much.

(S05E10) "No one is fine around you." - Silas to Nancy

Well, at least Nancy is starting to have some feelings for her sons again. I guess. I'm not alone in my thought that she seems to have lost the motherly gene she had at the beginning of the series. I dunno ... maybe she never had it to begin with. But since hooking up with Esteban, it's gone out the window -- until it slapped her in the face when Shane took a bullet meant for her.

Now she's all hyped up about Silas getting out of dodge and backpacking around Europe. Except she doesn't realize that it's too late for Silas. He's already grown and running his own illegal enterprises -- a skill he picked up from her. I know it's a TV show, but after the childhood these kids have had, they're pretty much ruined as far as having any sort of normal life.

(S05E09) "Night farts happen, especially since I've been dieting." - Andy to Nancy, about sharing a bed

The THINGS you see on Weeds! Sometimes I don't know whether to be amused or shocked, so this week, I chose a little of both. The sight of Andy suckling Nancy to ease the pain of her swollen breasts ... well, that just never would have occurred to me after I had my babies and found myself in that situation.

And I'm standing by my feeling that Andy goes above and beyond what's called for in a brother-in-law. Then again, suckling the breast of the woman you love probably isn't that much of a stretch for him. But swallowing the milk is a whole other story.

(S05E08) "I've come to reclaim my territory, Superfly." - Nancy to Andy, who's turned her room into a 1960s crash pad

First of all, for some reason, I find Alanis Morissette completely annoying as the doctor. I don't know if she's just boring or whether it's because she was mean to Andy: "You're unemployed, you're closer to 40 than 30, you drive a car from a TV show, and your greatest recent accomplishment was beating the upside-down kill screen in Ms. Pacman."

The only upside of her and Andy's date is that it got him to shave that ridiculous Geico caveman beard off. I really appreciate seeing his face again.

I also love the little vignettes at the beginning of each ep with the opening credits. Tonight's featured a file drawer with a "Weeds" file and a "Jenji Kohan" file. I also picked out a "Power of Attorney" file, which came into play later in the episode.

(S05E07) "We have to get the fuck out of here right now. These people bludgeon innocent golfers for sport." - Shane to Nancy

Oh my gosh. There were so many funny scenes and quotes in this episode of Weeds, I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with Shane, who surely is the smartest kid on TV right now. When Nancy had him look up the mysterious woman (Zuzao) in Esteban's life on Wikipedia, Shane's translations were spot on:

• Sole heir to a vast telecommunications company: "media manipulator"
• On the Board of the Mexican Stock Exchange: "inside trader"
• Philanthropist: "tax evader"

I mean, really. I'm not sure how old Shane is -- I'm sure one of you will tell me -- but that's darn smart for a kid of any age.

(S05E06) "I've decided that we will get married." - Esteban to Nancy

Anyone know Spanish and can translate what that gal said to Esteban at the end of this episode? Because him proposing to Nancy sure seemed like a done deal -- well, as much as a done deal could be with him giving her a faux engagement ring that turned out to be the champion ring from the soccer team he owns, and then giving her the REAL ring later.

I would have been royally ticked at that lame proposal. But Nancy seemed to go for it. And then the babe rant came along at the end and the deal's off. What the heck? Maybe he's still married?

(S05E05) "These are very dark waters you're swimming in, even for you." - Andy to Nancy

Well, hmmm ... just when we all thought Nancy had gone completely over the edge and was unredeemable, she brings it back a little and becomes a mom again. ("I can't live like this anymore! Shane was a good kid! Now he's robbing his teacher!").

So she makes Shane go apologize for shaking down his English teacher (hey, the guy deserved it for driving off with Shane's weed) and shooting his bird. And then she goes all mama-bear by cutting off the teacher's air supply after he pushes Shane down.

The guy's a jerk. Give Shane back his weed! I'm sorry the bird got caught in the crossfire, though. I'm sure no birds were harmed in the making of this episode.

(S05E04) "They were going to sell my gallbladder to the Japanese. Fortunately, my body is a toxic pit." - Celia to Nancy, trying to convince her to let her move in

I know some of you will disagree with me, but I thought this was a really great episode. Maybe Jenji Kohan is listening to us, because it brought back the unique blend of fun and drama that I loved about the early seasons of Weeds. And oh, the quotes! Like this one, when Esteban meets Nancy and clan at the house, after they've been on the run:

Silas: "So you're the mayor of Mexico or something?"
Esteban: "Or something, yes."
Shane: "And you stuck your penis inside my mother at least once."
Nancy: "Ok, then. Good night, Shane. Go upstairs."

The new season of Weeds starts on Showtime June 8, and the cable channel has a couple of new ads out to promote the show. The one below features Kevin Nealon giving a speech with a familiar theme (not to mention that poster behind him...).

(S04E12) A lot can happen in two weeks! Weeds took a short break and returned in the form of an action-packed drama. If this episode set the tone for next week, we can expect the finale to be a departure from the flaky, in-over-her-head Nancy from seasons past. Things have gotten serious on our little drug comedy.

Fortunately, there were some lighter moments. Naked Andy always mellows things out, and Celia gave us some laughs as well. Naturally, her rehab breakthrough came from a selfish place, which led to some hilarious backhanded apologies. Will there be any time for humor in next week's season finale?

(S04E11) The truth hurt almost everyone this week. The stress of having both a deflowered son and knowledge of the tunnel's other uses took its toll on Nancy. Harsh reality set in for the others as well. Doug's faults weren't lost on Maria, Celia's lack of insurance affected her recovery, and Bob Odenkirk made me lose confidence in commercial airline pilots. Where's Jimmy Jam when you need him?

(S04E01) So, the Botwins are beach people now. The opening credits gave us one last look at Agrestic/Majestic before taking us to Ren Mar, Nancy's new home. We spent a lot of time getting acquainted with some of Judah's relatives, Lenny and Bubbie. I'm a little squeamish when it comes to serious health issues, so Bubbie already gives me the creeps. Weeds used Dean's serious injury to get some laughs last season, and now we're dealing with someone in a vegetative state. I'm repulsed, yet intrigued. Welcome back, Weeds!