The Netflix Original comedy series Disjointed is brought to us by the writer of Two & A Half Men and Big Bang Theory, Chuck Lorre. In it, legendary actress Kathy Bates is cannabis lawyer, activist and user, Ruth Whitefeather Feldman who owns Ruth’s Alternative Care shop in California and her son is one of her employed “bud-tenders”.
Every episode has a few really neat surprises and maybe a couple not-so-neat, but it balances out to be overall very funny. Each episode has cannabis related screen-wipe themes. Sometimes the subject is “high” up and sometimes the subject is “baked”, it’s actually kind of fun to figure out the themes. Every episode also has a truly fascinating *whether the viewer is partaking or not* animated segment, often these are unique looks into the PTSD riddled thoughts of a war veteran. It’s tough to describe how these animations can sometimes be so sad and dark, especially within a comedy series, and yet, they don’t drag down the mood of the show.
The laugh-track is no joke, and it very nearly broke this show for me, but once you give the show a little time, you rarely even notice the laugh-track because you’re laughing right along with it, but at first, it seems a little forced.
There are a couple characters I feel I should warn you about, no spoilers though, if you see the show, there should be little doubt about who I’m referring to. You are fully warned, these two are a mess. They’re stereotypes of Ruth’s typical *patients*. Everyone who frequents Ruth’s shop are *stoners*, but these two are the only ones in the show that really epitomize ALL of the worst stoner qualities. But like the laugh-track, while they are barely tolerable at first, they may even grow on you in time *pun intended*.
One thing I respected about the show, while it could be a little overly silly at rare times, it didn’t shy away from big issues. They deal with big problems in the relationship between Ruth and her son. The show also gives you a glipse as to how so many people are truly helped with cannabis as a medicine; mentally, emotionally and physically. And they show the huge problem that exists because while most states have laws allowing medicinal use, and many have even legalized recreational use, the Federal government still categorizes it as one of the worst, most harmful drugs. And it also does a great job of making fun of and helping dispel the myth of you’re average stoner.
I personally was not a Two and a Half Men fan, but I love Big Bang Theory and I’d have a tough time deciding if I like BBT or Disjointed more. And just as you didn’t need to be a nerd to enjoy BBT *but it might help*, you don’t need to be a stoner to enjoy Disjointed *but it might help*.
TL;DR: Kathy Bates is a Ganja Mom/Warrior in this deep yet delightful look at cannabis culture from the guy who brought you Big Bang Theory.
-Morgan@1063RL