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Disjointed
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
Opening theme"Jack, I'm Mellow" by Trixie Smith
ComposerJoseph LoDuca
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producers
  • David Javerbaum
  • Chuck Lorre
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time23–31 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseAugust 25, 2017 (2017-08-25) –
January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Disjointed is an American television sitcom created by David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre and starring Kathy Bates.[1] Twenty episodes of the series were ordered from Warner Bros. by Netflix,[1] with the first 10 episodes premiering on August 25, 2017.[2] The last 10 episodes were released on January 12, 2018. On February 14, 2018, Netflix canceled the series after one season.

Plot

[edit]

After decades of advocating for legalized cannabis usage, Ruth Whitefeather Feldman (Kathy Bates) employs her newly graduated son and a team of young budtenders to help run her Los Angeles cannabis dispensary.[3][4][5] Along the way, Ruth and the team run into "highs" and lows. Delving into marijuana history, activism, 4/20, misconceptions about stoners, and the personal lives of the whole team, the show touches on serious issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and highlights the medicinal benefits of the marijuana plant.

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

[edit]

Guest

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]
Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
12010August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)
10January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
Part 1
11"Omega Strain"James BurrowsChuck Lorre & David JaverbaumAugust 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Ruth's son comes back from business school to help his mom with her cannabis dispensary. The newest customer, Maria, is a middle-aged home maker whom Ruth introduces to pot therapy.

Carter's trip animation by: Gabriel Mangold[12]

Carter's trip music by: APM[12]
22"Eve's Bush"Rob SchillerTeleplay by : Taii K. Austin, Mike Dieffenbach & Will Hayes
Story by : David Javerbaum & Chuck Lorre		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

After they connect, Travis and Olivia hallucinate Ruth while making out. Tae Kwon Doug puts in a complaint against the dispensary so customers Dank & Dabby, a deceptively stereotypical 'dumb stoner' couple of youtubers, start a protest outside, resulting in Ruth jumping Doug in the parking lot.

Carter's trip animation by: Henry Bonsu and Damil Bryant (of Titmouse, Inc.)[12]

Carter's trip music: "At Sea Again" by Slime (feat. Selah Sue)[12]
33"Rutherford B. Haze"Jon CryerTeleplay by : Bill Daly, Angeli Millan & Kevin Shinick
Story by : David Javerbaum & Chuck Lorre		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Ruth is bailed out early the next morning by Travis and her employees. Back at the dispensary, Jenny receives a package from her parents, causing her to feel even more guilty for lying to them. Travis strikes a sponsorship deal with Dank & Dabby, who have more than 100,000 Youtube subscribers. Carter opens up about his past as Travis and Olivia decide not to date. Carter takes pot for the first time.

Carter's trip animation by: Anthony Francisco Schepperd[12]

Carter's trip music: "Karangailyg Kara Hovaa" by Yat-Kha[12]
44"Erschreckendglückseligkeit OG"Richie KeenTeleplay by : Mike Dieffenbach, Will Hayes, Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil
Story by : David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Pete meets his hero, a pot photographer. Ruth decides not to meddle in her son's love life. Pete's plants begin talking to him as of this episode.

Carter's trip animation by: Sol Burbridge and Greg Arden (of Bent Image Lab)[12]

Carter's trip music: "Brough to the Water" by Deafheaven[12]
55"Schrödinger’s Pot"Richie KeenTeleplay by : Bill Daly, Brenda Hsueh & Matt Kirsch
Story by : David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Jenny finally tells her mother she dropped out of med school. Ruth, Travis, and Carter play scrabble while getting high. To Doug's surprise, Pete presents him with a candle as a gift. Jenny dumps her mother's special tea into the recently cleaned water tank.

Carter's trip animation by: Jonathan Djob Nkondo[12]

Carter's trip music: "Siren Song" by Flying Lotus (feat. Angel Deradoorian)[12]
66"Donna Weed"James BurrowsTeleplay by : Bill Daly, Mike Dieffenbach & Angeli Millan
Story by : David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Ruth and Travis head to the funeral of a pot activist who was an old friend of Ruth's. The cannabis plants are doing better after being irrigated with the water infused with Jenny's mother's tea. Pete spends time with Doug, who wants to turn Pete away from pot.

Carter's trip animation by: Taras Hrabowsky[12]

Carter's trip music: "Funkify Your Life" by The Meters[12]
77"Prom Night"Jon CryerTeleplay by : Will Hayes, Brenda Hsueh & Matt Kirsch
Story by : David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Ruth is annoyed that Pete continues to work out at Tae Kwon Doug's. Carter, Jenny, and Olivia decide to look for a customer who made a nice comment online.

Carter's trip animation by: Masanobu Hiraoka[12]

Carter's trip music: "Anthropoda" by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith[12]
88"Pyongyang Green"Rhiannon O'HarraTeleplay by : Taii K. Austin, Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil & Kevin Shinick
Story by : David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Carter asks Ruth for advice on his life. Jenny reveals to Pete that she dumped the tea into the water without talking to him first. Travis brings his super hot, way out-of-his-league new girlfriend Tina by the dispensary.

Carter's trip animation by: Harry Teitelman[12]

Carter's trip music: "Holy Land" by Jenny Hval[12]
99"Olivia's S***balls"Richie KeenTeleplay by : Brenda Hsueh, Matt Kirsch & Angeli Millan
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

Travis helps Ruth come up with a place to store her money. Olivia brings a box of delicious home made fudge swirls which look like turds. Travis suggests adding pot to their recipe, resulting in RAC's latest hit product, 'Olivia's Shitballs'. Jenny and Carter have a moment when mocking Dank and Dabby. Pete still hallucinates his plants are talking to him until 'Mary Jane', his hallucination of the spiritual embodiment of the cannabis plant, has sex with him and makes him harvest the plants.

Carter's trip animation by: Jake Fried[12]

Carter's trip music: "Form by Firelight" by Jon Hopkins[12]
1010"The Worst"Guy DistadTeleplay by : Taii K. Austin, Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil & Kevin Shinick
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		August 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)

After Ruth changes the ownership of the dispensary to reflect her and her son owning the business together, they are raided by the DEA, putting Dank and Dabby under siege on the roof. While the two get increasingly less high and more panicky, the DEA threatens Travis with prison, then takes all of the weed and the cash.

Trip animation by: Hideki Inaba[12]

Trip music: "The Poem of Ecstasy" by Alexander Scriabin[12]
Part 2
111"4/20 Fantasy"Richie KeenTeleplay by : Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil, Taii K. Austin & Kevin Shinick
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Pete questions if he can ever grow pot again. Travis and Olivia hash out the growing profits from Olivia's Shitballs. Maria makes up "prison" stories from when she was placed in custody for a short while after the DEA raid. Dank & Dabby help bring Carter and Jenny's relationship out into the open.

Pete's trip animation by: Grace Nayoon Rhee[13]

Pete's trip music: A distortion of "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart[13]
122"Helium Dream"Richie KeenTeleplay by : John D. Beck, Ron Hart, Brenda Hsueh and Will Hayes
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Ruth hosts Woman's Entrepreneurial Education Day with Rosie Bush, the militant lesbian, feminist and super judgmental pot farmer who runs Eve's Bush, the first all female, all-lesbian cannabis cooperative, and supplies RAC with the eponymous cannabis strain. First appearance of the Del Taco stoner ads as well as Cheryl, conspiracy theorist and inventor of the cannabis-based currency potcoin. Travis and Cater bond on the roof, Pete joins them and invites Tae Kwon Douglas along. Dabby sticks up for Ruth while Dank joins the boys. It turns out Dank & Dabby generate a yearly income of $190,000 on Youtube. Pete ends things with his "Mary Jane" hallucination who reveals her true nature, cursing him.

Olivia's trip animation by: Quique Rivera Rivera[13] & Screen Novelties

Olivia's trip music: A parody of "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves (performed by Elizabeth Alderfer)[13]
133"Buds Lite"Richie KeenTeleplay by : Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil, Taii K. Austin & Kevin Shinick
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Dank & Dabby get in trouble for smoking weed in a national forest. Olivia and Travis are interviewed by anchor Sabine Dortmunder for stoner channel 'Cannabis News Network Now' (CNNN) when a viral video from Olivia's past as 'Whatnot Girl' catches up with her. Pete thinks he is cursed when his plants start to die for no apparent reason. Ruth defends Dank & Dabby in court. Jenny gets a reconciliatory package from her mother.

Dank & Dabby's trip animation by: Matt Taylor[13]

Dank & Dabby's trip music: "Face of a Clown" by Witch Cross[13]
144"Weed of Fortune"Richie KeenTeleplay by : John D. Beck, Ron Hart, Brenda Hsueh and Will Hayes
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Dank & Dabby have to spend two days in court with Ruth as their lawyer deciding to make a whole big thing out of fighting the system. Meanwhile, the others organize a "re-birthday ritual" for Pete to lift the curse he imagines to be under.

Travis' trip animation by: Paper Panther Studios[13]

Travis' trip music by: Joseph LoDuca[13]
155"Travissimo Private Reserve"James WiddoesTeleplay by : Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil, Taii K. Austin & Kevin Shinick
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Tae Kwon Doug joins Pete on a trip to the forest without realizing Pete's goal is to retrieve the last surviving miracle weed plant. Jenny gets jealous of Jasmine, Carter's new therapy parrot. Meanwhile, Dank & Dabby have acquired an intern/minion named Zach and Ruth refuses to see a doctor about her sprained ankle.

Doug's trip animation by: Mike Roush[13]

Doug's trip music by: Gledden, Dymond and Pedder[13]
166"B.Y.O.P.F.U."James WiddoesTeleplay by : John D. Beck, Ron Hart, Brenda Hsueh and Will Hayes
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

At the dispensary, Ruth meets first-time pot user Walter, a retired accountant, while Pete obsesses over the miracle weed seedlings rescued from the forest. As an ad/intermission, Ex-NFL players from the Gridiron Cannabis Foundation argue the league should legalize medicinal cannabis for its players. In the evening, Dank & Dabby throw a party where mumbling CNNN anchor Sabine Dortmunder appears to move on Travis and Carter tries his stand-up act while Ruth finally makes Maria realize her husband cheats on her with housekeeper Rosita.

Maria's trip animation by: Dylan Carter[13]

Maria's trip music by: Terry Devine-King[13]
177"Emperor Shennong"James WiddoesTeleplay by : Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil & Kevin Shinick
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Slimy pot personality Angelo DeStevens, another huge idol of Travis, wants to get into the Shitballs business with Olivia. While Maria is on a break with her cheating husband, Ruth and Walter start dating. Pete has bought Biowave, an electronic contraption supposed to help his weed plants grow. Tae Kwon Doug and Carter join an epic Cornhole battle for the parking spot.

Jenny's trip animation by: Sachio Cook[13]

Jenny's trip music by: L. Grounds and M. Pearse[13]
188"A-A-R-Pot"John FortenberryTeleplay by : John D. Beck, Ron Hart, Brenda Hsueh and Will Hayes
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Biowave starts talking to Pete and taking over the world. At the dispensary, Ruth hosts a cathartic „Puff And Paint Night“ and embarks on a relationship with Walter. Meanwhile, Angelo DeStevens secretly tries to cut Travis out of his and Olivia's cannabis edibles start-up.

Cheryl's trip animation by: Mathieu Labaye[13]

Cheryl's trip music by: Adam and Dan Skinner[13]
199"Dr. Dankerson's Revivifying Wellness Tincture"Rhiannon O'HarraTeleplay by : Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil & Kevin Shinick
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Carter bombs at his first stand-up gig at open mic night in front of a real audience. Since Olivia has bailed with Angelo DeStevens, Travis hires Dank & Dabby as 'celebrity bud tenders'. They immediately turn their stint at the dispensary into a clichéd rom com while Biowave takes up annoying Tae Kwon Doug. Out of the blue, Walter declares he wants to end things with Ruth.

Carter's trip animation by: Patricio Plaza and Santiago Bou[13]

Carter's trip music by: DeVore[13]
2010"Main Street, USA"Richie KeenTeleplay by : John D. Beck, Ron Hart, Brenda Hsueh and Will Hayes
Story by : Warren Bell & David Javerbaum		January 12, 2018 (2018-01-12)

Biowave takes over Pete's brains via Bluetooth. Travis' quest to replace Olivia continues while Jenny's mother finds out she is a bud tender and the resulting conflict threatens Jenny's romance with Carter. Olivia becomes increasingly disenchanted with Angelo DeStevens' marketing of her Shitballs while Ruth has a hard time processing Walter's revelation of his impending death.

Ruth's trip animation by: Simón Wilches Castro[13]

Ruth's trip music by: Joseph LoDuca, performed by Kathy Bates[13]

Production

[edit]

In December 2016, Jessica Lu's role was recast with Elizabeth Ho taking on the role.[14][9]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 19% of 37 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.70/10. The website's consensus reads: "Bland and uneven, Disjointed does more smoke-blowing than joke-telling – though it's further proof that Betsy Sodaro is a comedian to watch."[15] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 43 out of 100, based on reviews from 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[16]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Disjointed

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
is an American multi-camera sitcom created by David Javerbaum and Chuck Lorre that aired on Netflix from 2017 to 2018. The series centers on Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, portrayed by Kathy Bates, a cannabis activist who operates a medical marijuana dispensary called Strain Land in Los Angeles, navigating the business alongside her employees amid California's legalization efforts. Featuring supporting cast members including Aaron Moten as botanist Travis, Elizabeth Alderfer as receptionist Olivia, and Tone Bell as security guard Carter, the show depicts workplace dynamics infused with marijuana culture, patient interactions, and advocacy themes. All 20 episodes were released in two batches on August 25, 2017, and December 29, 2017, marking a departure from traditional weekly airing but aligning with 's binge model. Produced by Television, the series drew from Lorre's signature style seen in hits like , yet it received largely negative critical reception, earning a 19% approval rating on based on reviews citing uneven humor and reliance on stilted marijuana stereotypes over substantive comedy. canceled Disjointed after this single season in February 2018, attributing the decision to underwhelming viewer engagement and buzz despite Bates' Emmy-winning draw. While lacking notable awards or cultural staying power, the show sparked minor discourse within advocacy circles, with some community members criticizing its portrayal of users and culture as mocking or reductive, potentially undermining serious narratives. This backlash, though not a primary cancellation factor, highlighted tensions between depictions and real-world , underscoring Disjointed's failure to resonate amid growing mainstream acceptance of by 2017.

Premise and format

Plot summary

Disjointed centers on Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, a longtime cannabis legalization advocate who operates Ruth's Alternative Caring (RAC), a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles. She is joined by her son Travis, a recent MBA graduate who applies corporate strategies to the business, and a staff of budtenders including Olivia, Jenny, Carter, Dank, and Dabby, each bringing distinct personalities to the workplace dynamics. The narrative unfolds through episodic stories depicting daily dispensary operations, such as patient consultations, product recommendations, and compliance with regulations, interspersed with internal conflicts like staffing disputes and romantic entanglements among employees. Recurring plot elements include flashbacks to Ruth's activism, illustrating her early protests and arrests for marijuana , which contrast with the modern legalized context. Key arcs involve family tensions between Ruth's countercultural ethos and Travis's profit-driven outlook, ethical challenges like dealing with shady suppliers or patient dependencies, and the staff's personal growth amid California's evolving laws, culminating in business threats from competitors and internal betrayals over the 20-episode run from to 2018.

Series format and style

Disjointed utilizes a multi-camera format filmed before a live , incorporating a that provides rhythmic comedic cues typical of traditional network television comedies. This approach marked a departure from the predominantly single-camera, laugh-track-free style prevalent among originals in 2017, as the platform had largely favored cinematic production values over multicam setups associated with creators like . The series innovates on sitcom conventions by interspersing main narrative segments with experimental stylistic elements, including faux television commercials satirizing products and , animated interstitials depicting surreal -themed scenarios, and hallucinatory sequences featuring anthropomorphic talking such as Dank and Dabby. These interruptions mimic the fragmented, altered often linked to marijuana consumption, blending broad humor with visual kineticism that disrupts linear . Episodes average 25 to 30 minutes in length, allowing space for these stylistic flourishes within a structure that retains core tropes like ensemble workplace dynamics and punchy dialogue exchanges. This hybrid format aims to evoke the eclectic aesthetics of subculture while challenging viewer expectations for uninterrupted streaming content.

Cast and characters

Main cast

stars as Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, the activist and owner of Ruth's Alternative Caring, a medical marijuana dispensary, where she mentors her staff and patients with a mix of idealism and pragmatic advice. Bates delivers the role with authoritative warmth, leveraging her experience in portraying complex matriarchs to anchor the series' exploration of themes. Aaron Moten plays Travis Feldman, Ruth's recently graduated son who joins the dispensary staff, navigating personal growth amid family dynamics and workplace chaos. portrays Olivia, a knowledgeable budtender with straightforward expertise in strains, serving as Travis's romantic interest and contributing to the ensemble's youthful energy through her no-nonsense interactions. Tone Bell depicts Carter, the dispensary's security guard and Iraq War veteran, whose skepticism toward marijuana contrasts with the group's enthusiasm, adding tension and grounded realism to the core staff interactions. The anthropomorphic cannabis plants Dank, voiced by Chris Redd, and Dabby, voiced by Betsy Sodaro, function as recurring comic narrators in variety-show-style segments, offering satirical asides on the human characters' predicaments and enhancing the show's surreal humor.

Recurring and guest characters

portrayed Maria Sherman, a recurring customer at Ruth's Alternative Caring who uses medical marijuana to manage the stresses of suburban motherhood and family life, appearing in 16 episodes across the series. Her storyline highlights personal coping mechanisms through , including interactions that explore dependency and daily application in non-clinical contexts. Michael Trucco played Tae Kwon Doug (full name Douglas), a recurring neighbor and owner of a tae kwon do studio who frequently antagonizes the dispensary staff over perceived nuisances like and foot traffic, while dealing with his own post-divorce personal struggles. His appearances, spanning multiple episodes, advance subplots involving community tensions and disputes, often injecting through his enthusiasm and awkward attempts at reconciliation. Other recurring roles included Cass Buggé as various supporting figures in dispensary operations, contributing to episodic depictions of customer service dynamics. Notable guest appearances featured cannabis icons Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong as themselves, providing brief but culturally resonant cameos that underscored the series' homage to marijuana advocacy and humor in episodes focused on industry history. Alicia Witt guest-starred as Rosie Bush, a character tied to regulatory or personal vice-related subplots, while Harry Groener appeared as Judge Nelson, embodying legal hurdles faced by the dispensary in compliance and permitting challenges. Jessica Tuck portrayed Ms. Carol Harris in guest capacity, further illustrating bureaucratic obstacles. Richard Kind played Special Agent Dunbar, a federal investigator whose episodes emphasized external threats from enforcement agencies. These guests collectively amplified themes of external pressures on the cannabis business without delving into core staff arcs.

Production

Development and conception

Disjointed was created by television producer and writer , with the project originating as a focused on the operations of a medical marijuana . In July 2016, acquired the series straight-to-production with an initial order of 20 episodes, marking Lorre's debut venture with the streaming platform after a string of hit multi-camera sitcoms on , including , which had premiered in 2007 and achieved top ratings through its 12th season. The conception drew from the burgeoning cannabis industry in California, where medical marijuana had been legal since 1996 under Proposition 215, but recreational legalization gained momentum leading up to Proposition 64's passage on November 8, 2016, which permitted adult use starting January 1, 2018.) Javerbaum, formerly head writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and Lorre aimed to satirize the quirky dynamics of dispensary staff and customers, capturing shifting national attitudes toward marijuana amid expanding state-level reforms and a cultural normalization of its use. Netflix's 20-episode commitment was structured for release in two batches of 10 episodes each—the first on August 25, 2017, and the second on February 14, 2018—accommodating the service's model while allowing for potential viewer feedback between drops, a departure from traditional network scheduling but aligned with streaming's flexible content delivery. This approach reflected decisions to adapt Lorre's signature live-audience format to Netflix's on-demand ecosystem.

Casting process

Kathy Bates was announced as the lead actress portraying Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, the owner of a Los Angeles marijuana dispensary, on July 13, 2016. Bates, an Academy Award winner primarily recognized for dramatic performances such as in Misery, was selected for the central role in this multi-camera workplace comedy created by Chuck Lorre and David Javerbaum. Casting for the ensemble continued in August 2016 with announcements for supporting roles among the dispensary's budtenders and staff, including as Jenny on August 1 and as Olivia on August 25. In December 2016, replaced Lu in the role of Jenny, marking a notable recasting adjustment prior to production. Additional series regulars, such as as Dank, were added in February 2017, completing the core group of actors depicting the dispensary's young employees and security personnel. The multi-camera format necessitated actors comfortable with live-audience tapings, as Bates later noted her return to performing before such crowds after prior experience. The selected ensemble included a mix of comedic performers and emerging talents to populate the roles of budtenders and related staff.

Filming and technical aspects

Principal photography for Disjointed occurred primarily at in , utilizing Los Angeles-area facilities. Filming spanned from November 1, 2016, to June 23, 2017, allowing completion ahead of the series' August 25, 2017, premiere. The production adopted a multi-camera setup filmed before a live , aligning with creator Chuck Lorre's established methodology seen in series like . This format facilitated rapid episode turnaround but incorporated deviations, such as interstitial animated sequences depicting hallucinatory elements like talking plants, voiced by and produced by animation studios including Bent Image Lab. These visuals were composited into live-action footage, often requiring green-screen techniques for seamless integration and to evoke psychedelic effects tied to character experiences. The central set was built as a practical interior replicating a real Los Angeles medical marijuana outlet, complete with psychedelic posters, glass display cases holding actual products, and period-appropriate fixtures to reflect California's post-Proposition 215 environment. Props adhered to state regulations in effect during production, prioritizing non-consumable displays while using simulated effects for any implied usage to ensure legal compliance and set safety.

Release and episodes

Episode structure and airing

Disjointed comprises 20 episodes released across two parts on . The first part, consisting of 10 episodes, premiered on August 25, 2017, while the second part, also 10 episodes, was released on January 12, 2018. Episodes adhere to a multi-camera format, with runtimes typically ranging from 23 to 31 minutes. Each installment generally employs A and B plotlines centered on dispensary management challenges and individual character backstories, contributing to a largely episodic, anthology-style progression without pronounced multi-episode arcs in the initial release. Later episodes in the second part incorporate incrementally intensifying external pressures from regulatory scrutiny, providing loose continuity amid the standalone narratives.

Viewership data

Netflix does not publicly release granular viewership data for original series such as Disjointed, relying instead on internal metrics like hours viewed, completion rates, and subscriber retention to inform renewal decisions. The show's cancellation after its 20-episode first season on February 14, 2018, signals underperformance in these proprietary measures, with reports citing low overall viewership and failure to sustain viewer completion rates as key factors in the platform's assessment. Independent analytics from Parrot Analytics indicate that Disjointed generated audience demand equivalent to 3.2 times the average television title over a 90-day period leading into 2025, rising modestly to 3.6 times in the subsequent 30 days, reflecting limited but persistent niche interest rather than broad commercial traction. This places it below the demand thresholds typically associated with Netflix renewals for comedies, especially when benchmarked against contemporaries like other on traditional networks, which routinely achieved syndication-level audiences exceeding 10-20 million weekly viewers per episode during peak runs.

Reception

Critical reviews

Disjointed garnered predominantly negative critical reception, with a Tomatometer score of 19% on based on 37 reviews, where the critics' consensus deemed it "bland and uneven" for prioritizing "smoke-blowing" over substantive humor. On , the series scored 43 out of 100 from 22 critics, categorized as "mixed or average," reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with its execution. Contemporary reports in August 2017 identified it as the lowest-rated premiere of that summer, initially dipping to 13% on amid early reviews. Critics often commended ' energetic portrayal of Ruth Whitefeather Scalli, praising her as a standout amid weaker elements, with outlets like highlighting her as the series' primary draw. Nonetheless, recurring critiques targeted the program's formulaic scripting, erratic sketch-style interruptions, and dependence on uninspired stereotypes that failed to evolve beyond conventional stoner comedy tropes. The New York Times labeled it "one buzzkill of a pot comedy," faulting its clunky delivery despite the propitious context of expanding marijuana legalization. Similarly, Variety noted the show's "disjointed format" blending multi-camera scenes with faux ads and animation as visually kinetic yet ultimately sluggish and unfocused, undermining its potential amid timely themes.

Audience and commercial response

Disjointed garnered mixed audience feedback, with an user rating of 6.8 out of 10 based on 12,109 reviews as of the latest available data. Viewers supportive of often commended the series' humor, character dynamics, and lighthearted depiction of operations, particularly highlighting the chemistry between leads and . However, widespread complaints focused on the multi-camera format's reliance on a , perceived as dated and intrusive, alongside critiques of forced jokes, uneven pacing, and overt preachiness in its advocacy for marijuana legalization. Commercially, Netflix pursued niche marketing tie-ins within the cannabis sector rather than broad advertising campaigns. In August 2017, the platform partnered with a West Hollywood medical marijuana to sell strains inspired by Disjointed and nine other originals, such as "Bojack Horseman Kush," available exclusively during promotional weekends. This initiative, developed with , targeted legal marijuana consumers but saw constrained reach beyond urban, legalization-friendly demographics, reflecting the show's appeal to younger, pro- audiences familiar with streaming and culture. Showrunner David acknowledged this focus, stating he would accept an audience limited to "stoners who watch ."

Cancellation reasons

Netflix announced the cancellation of Disjointed on February 14, 2018, after the release of its single 20-episode season, divided into two parts in August 2017 and January 2018. The decision aligned with 's data-driven renewal criteria, which prioritize shows demonstrating strong viewer engagement, subscriber retention, and completion rates to justify ongoing costs; Disjointed failed to meet these thresholds, as evidenced by its inability to generate sustained popularity despite the platform's initial experimentation with multi-camera sitcoms. Contributing factors included lackluster , with a 23% approval rating on , which likely diminished word-of-mouth promotion and organic audience growth. The series' multi-camera format, involving live-audience filming and higher per-episode production expenses compared to single-camera alternatives, amplified financial pressures amid underwhelming performance metrics.

Themes and analysis

Portrayal of cannabis culture

The series Disjointed presents the Strain Brain as a vibrant, communal centered on therapeutic use, with Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, a long-time activist, guiding patients and staff toward healing through various strains and consumption methods. Budtenders are shown recommending specific hybrids like indicas for relaxation or sativas for energy, mirroring practices reported by industry professionals where strain selection aids symptom management for conditions such as or anxiety. This depiction emphasizes an idyllic, countercultural ethos of shared highs and mutual support, often through animated sequences illustrating euphoria and relief, which glamorizes operations as inherently benevolent and free from commercial pressures. In reality, legalized markets face ongoing regulatory hurdles, including compliance costs exceeding $1 million annually for some operators and taxation rates up to 40% in states like , sustaining sales that captured 62% of the state's volume as of 2023 despite efforts since 2016. The show's comedic normalization of frequent consumption, including on-site use by staff and patrons, underscores medical claims like pain alleviation but omits empirical findings on dependency, with affecting 9% of users and escalating to 17% among daily consumers, alongside chronic cognitive deficits in , , and executive function documented in longitudinal studies of long-term users. While humor highlights observable short-term relaxation effects, causal analyses link heavy use to motivational deficits and impaired learning, risks heightened in adolescents but persisting into midlife even after abstinence periods of weeks. Profit motives, evident in real dispensaries through markup strategies and inventory management, are understated in Disjointed's portrayal of idealism-driven and patient loyalty, diverging from observations of market-driven expansions where operators prioritize amid competitive licensing and supply chain constraints.

Social and political undertones

The series portrays interpersonal dynamics through the strained relationship between Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, a 1960s-era activist prioritizing personal freedom and vice as forms of resistance, and her adult son Pete, who embodies a more disciplined and initial resistance to the dispensary's permissive culture. Their arcs involve gradual reconciliation as Pete integrates into the , navigating conflicts over reliability and moral compromises, such as Pete's discomfort with recreational sales versus Ruth's embrace of them as liberation. Dispensary operations introduce subtle ideological tensions regarding , with Ruth viewing profit-driven expansions and regulatory compliance as erosions of her countercultural purity, framing business growth as a comedic betrayal of ideals. This critique is tempered by depictions of entrepreneurial viability, as the Strainicopia collective achieves operational success through innovative strains and customer loyalty, illustrating commerce as a pathway to amid legalization's economic opportunities. A prominent storyline centers on security guard Carter, an veteran experiencing PTSD symptoms including and , where colleagues suggest as a targeted alleviant, emphasizing its role in personal symptom management. The narrative highlights these individualized benefits—such as reduced triggers and improved interpersonal functioning—without exploring potential drawbacks like cognitive impairments from chronic use or the unexamined societal costs of promoting over comprehensive therapies.

Controversies and legacy

Debates on marijuana advocacy

Disjointed's explicit pro-legalization messaging, embodied by protagonist Ruth Whitefeather Feldman's lifelong activism and operation of a cannabis dispensary, fueled debates over its role in shaping policy discourse amid expanding state reforms. Supporters, including observers, viewed the series as advancing mainstream acceptance, aligning with recreational legalization in states like and Washington since 2012, and California's impending 2018 rollout following Proposition 64's 2016 approval. Critics argued the portrayal downplayed causal risks, such as progression to harder substances under the contested gateway hypothesis, and overlooked post-legalization access dynamics, though federal data from the CDC reveals no substantial usage uptick—past-month among high school students held at approximately 15-17% from 2017 to 2023, with overall adolescent initiation declining 18% between 2014 and 2023. Conservative commentators highlighted glamorization of and familial strain, positing the show's comedic lens ignored evidence of chronic use correlating with reduced workplace output and executive function deficits. In contrast, progressive analyses commended undertones addressing prohibition's racial inequities, where Black Americans faced arrest rates over three times higher than whites pre-reform, framing as . Yet, empirical scrutiny notes the series' 2017 airing predated broader federal reevaluation, while sidestepping peer-reviewed links between heavy consumption and heightened odds ratios (up to 3.9 for daily users) or anxiety exacerbation. Such omissions drew fire from skeptics wary of media narratives minimizing harms, given institutional biases favoring advocacy over longitudinal causal data.

Broader cultural impact

Disjointed contributed to early streaming depictions of dispensaries amid California's Proposition 64 in November 2016, portraying a workplace set in a Los Angeles marijuana shop just months before the recreational market's formal launch on January 1, 2018. The series' release on August 25, 2017, positioned it as a precursor to normalized weed-themed content on platforms, though its multi-camera format and reliance on broad humor limited broader adoption. Within cannabis-focused outlets, Disjointed ignited debates on representational accuracy, with some praising its mainstream visibility for operations and narratives, while others critiqued its amplification of like perpetual stoner over substantive industry insights. Publications such as Decider acknowledged it as a "significant cultural milestone" for celebrating the revolution in form, despite execution flaws, fostering niche conversations that persisted in enthusiast forums post-cancellation on , 2017. As Chuck Lorre's inaugural venture, the show's swift end after 20 episodes exemplified frictions between his broadcast-honed multi-camera style—evident in CBS successes like —and streaming's push for boundary-pushing narratives unbound by advertiser constraints. Lorre later reflected on the experiment as a departure from network formulas, but its lack of renewal underscored adaptation hurdles for traditional creators in the on-demand era. Overall, Disjointed's footprint remains confined to mid-2010s transitional media landscapes, with scant references in subsequent entertainment analyses.

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