Ep. 4 - "Super Lucky Happy"

Nancy gets a new Mexican bodyguard, Ignacio. He is portrayed to be smarter than Sucio, he knows English and has a dark sense of humor. Ignacio jokes to Nancy that he would kill a man and watch TV with her afterward. After tasering Andy, Ignacio sees Andy working out in ridiculous workout attire and comments that he looks like Jamie Lee Curtis. Nancy laughs and Andy is insulted.

Ignacio tasers a cop who has been spying on Nancy and while trying to put him in the bathtub asks for Nancy's help. Nancy, urging that she should be in a calm and friendly environment due to her pregnancy, tasers Ignacio and ties both the men to her bed post.

Ignacio is an interesting example of a Mexican portrayed in Weeds. He is on the white characters' level, because he can speak English and has a position of power above Nancy's friend Andy. Ignacio, Cesar and Esteban Reyes are the few English-speaking Mexican characters that have been shown to have power over some of the white characters in the series. Interestingly, they are all often shown being either outsmarted, or in some way depending on Nancy. These three characters are taken seriously by a white audience, as opposed to Sucio.

Ep. 3 - "Su-Su-Sucio"

The character, Sucio, is the only major portrayal of a Mexican in this episode, and it's not a good one. Sucio literally means "dirty" in spanish. He is most likely a reference to the common term for a Mexican, "Dirty Mexican." He is visibly dirty, sweaty and has stains on his clothes. Cesar states at the beginning of the episode that Sucio's comfortable with his "manly smell." He also cannot speak english and has barbaric instincts where whenever he sees somebody he doesn't know, he pulls out his gun. This is a very negative portrayal of a Latino. He is mainly used to provide humor.

Sucio is a character to give white audiences a laugh. Some Latino viewers might get very offended watching this episode, and would feel he is a very negative stereotype of a Latino. Based on this episode it is obvious that Weeds caters to an American audience who will not think twice about how Latinos are portrayed in the show.

Ramon Franco, who plays the role of Sucio, has been playing small Latino roles in films and TV all throughout his career. He has appeared in episodes of House M.D. and CSI: Miami. Franco has also worked been in the Clint Eastwood film Heartbreak Ridge and has been cast along with John Travolta in Chains of Gold. Franco has had a varied career in terms of roles he has been cast in. Most often he has been a soldier or a gang member.

Ep. 2 - "Machetes Up Top"

Nancy goes to prison to talk to Guillermo, who is locked up because of her. During their conversation, Guillermo threatens her that the only reason she is still alive is because she is pregnant with Esteban's child.

Cesar, Nancy's personal babysitter and Esteban's "goon," is following her wherever she goes. She gives him the slip in a humorous scene in a nail salon. This helps portray Cesar as outsmartable.

One awkward event that happens toward the end is when Nancy goes to meet Esteban. He is mad that she escaped from Cesar and that she is drinking and smoking while his son is inside her. He ends up asserting his male dominance over her by having sex with her.

Ep. 1 - "Wonderful Wonderful"

I find it funny that the show takes place partly in Mexico, yet it does not show many Mexican characters. Whenever these characters are shown, it is to either invoke a mafioso or buffoon image to the audience.

Esteban is the Mexican mob boss and Cesar is his right hand man. Esteban wants to kill Nancy for her previous betrayal (season 4), but Nancy reveals she's pregnant with his child. The first thing he asks her, as if this is what will determine if she lives or dies, is if it is a boy. Esteban is portrayed as a hot head with power.

Rudolfo is Quinn's boyfriend who is portrayed in an abusive relationship, with Quinn being the abuser. There is an obvious role reversal that takes place in this situation with Quinn being the boss in the relationship. Rudolfo's sensitive reaction to Quinn's violent, angry behavior adds humor to the situation.