Ep 2. Free Goat

Nancy Botwin, the protagonist of the show Weeds, is finding it difficult to make ends meet. With her husband dead, she needs to provide for her two sons, Silas and Shane. In episode 2 of season 1, "Free Goat," we see Nancy exploring an unconventional way of making some quick cash.

Nancy gets a job working in the bakery section of a grocery store. She's still finding her footing, but her colleague, Guillermo, helps her out. However, she soon learns that her job may not be enough to pay the bills. She speaks to Andy, her brother-in-law, about finding a new hustle.

Andy suggests that Nancy starts selling fake IDs. Nancy is hesitant at first, but Andy assures her that it is lucrative. They get to work immediately, but things aren't as easy as they had hoped. When they are trying to get started, they spot Guillermo making a deal with a customer for some illegal substances. Andy contemplates going to him to get some marijuana, but Nancy insists it's too risky.

Meanwhile, Nancy's youngest son, Shane, is having trouble adapting to the life of a single-parent household. He is missing his father, and it has made him become more introspective. Silas, on the other hand, seems to be handling the change just fine. He wants his mother to find a boyfriend, but Nancy isn't ready to date anyone yet.

As they continue to work on their fake ID business, Andy and Nancy realize that they need to get reliable printers to create the IDs. They ask for help from Doug, a councilman, who promises to lend them the printers. But they soon realize that they have mistakenly taken one of the printers from his office, along with some secret documents.

Things take an unexpected turn when Guillermo catches Nancy selling the fake IDs and demands to be in on the business. He threatens to reveal their illegal activities to the authorities if they don't let him in. Andy, always ready with a plan, suggests that they give him a cut of the profits without actually involving him in the business.

Towards the end of the episode, Nancy decides to go on a date with Peter, a customer she'd met at the grocery store. Things start off well, but she becomes uncomfortable when he starts talking about his ex-girlfriend. She lies about needing to pick up groceries for her sick child and hurries out of the restaurant.

As she is walking back home, she spots a goat lying on the street. She recognizes it as the goat she had bought for her deceased husband's birthday party. She takes it home, and the boys are excited to have the goat back. However, when they realize the goat has been castrated, they become angry and set it free. This scene mirrors the shows title - Weeds; just as weeds are free, so is the goat as they watch it run off.

In conclusion, "Free Goat" is a fantastic episode of Weeds. It has a perfect balance of drama and humor, and it continues to develop the characters in exciting ways. Nancy's decision to venture into the fake ID business adds a layer of complexity and gives the viewer insight into the bleak reality of a single-parent household. With the introduction of Guillermo, the storyline takes an unpredictable turn. Overall, episode 2 of season 1 is a compelling watch and leaves the viewer eager to see what happens next.