Yes, I’m increasingly enthusiastic about this season’s Sons of Anarchy, but this week’s episode had a certain mopping-up-from-last-week mood to it. (And did this week’s episode seem short to you?) We got Jax assuring Tara and us that “change will happen… it has to” — but then, he’s been saying that for a while, and fought Clay about it last week.
The retrieval of a gun supply by SAMCRO from Zobelle’s boys went wrong when Jax and a few other of his brothers were detained by the rival Mayans. This wasn’t so much suspenseful as it was inconvenient — for both them and us.
And I know Gemma likes to play big-mama to everyone occasionally, but her pot-luck supper, intended to unite some of the warring factions, was doomed as soon as you heard about it, didn’t you think? I mean, you can’t invite porn actresses over to the house with kids around and not expect Sons of Anarchy to set up a bitter, profane squabble.
The best moment: Seeing Tom Arnold with a boot on his throat. How many times do you think his co-hosts on The Best Damn Sports Show wanted to do that?
Still, much good stuff was set up for the future: avenging the death of Luann; Tara dealing with the aftermath of whatever threat Gemma made to her boss; and, I hope, a lot more Adam Arkin/Zobelle action — I can’t get enough of that.
Looking forward to next week, for sure.
I’ll keep it brief this week. Please tell me what you thought; thanks.
Comments (1-30) of 115 Add your comment
I’m glad to see your giving the show a chance Ken, after your “nothing to watch on Tuesdays” post last week. But I still think you’re missing the big picture, if you think the Tom Arnold scene was the best one last night.
Best show on tv!!! Haven’t missed 1 episode since it premiered last year!
This week definitely seemed short, and a little like they were just setting up all the payback to come. What I love about this show is that they can take what I expected to be an “Awww” moment (Chibs’ wife coming to the hospital) and totally turn it on it’s head by making her a serious threat to him, Gemma, and the Club. I just cannot get enough of this show!
It was certainly interesting that Chib’s wife seemed to put a scare into Gemma..wonder what happened wtih them?????
yea, if she scares gemma, she must be one crazy lady.
The rape really needs to come out, now they are just dragging it out. Tom Arnold was great, but he felt shoved into the episode.
I don’t really care that Luanne died, she wasn’t a big part of the show in any event.
Opie seems more level headed, he’s at least willing to talk to Jax.
Clay is just a moron at this point, he’s really blind to what is going on around him.
38:08 That is how this episode was…what a bummer the high point of tuesday night TV did not even last 40mins
Thanks for giving SOA the coverage it deserves again this week. I have to say I was stunned to see Luanne was killed. I really enjoyed her character, and the actress pulled off the middle-age-ex-porn star-turned-director bit with relish. What’ll happen to Jax’s legitimate money making scheme now that Luanne’s dead? Will Otto blame Jax for not keeping his wife safe after Jax promised he would?
Poor Gemma’s losing her touch, too. That supper sounded like a bad idea to everyone, but turned out even worse than anyone could have imagined. And what was she thinking when she threatened Tara’s boss?
Can Bobby keep pretending he doesn’t know Clay and Tig are responsible for Donna’s death? And when is Piney coming back? What’s up with Chib’s wife? Why on earth would Gemma fear her?
So many questions this week and no answers. This show is as compelling as it gets. Ron Pearlman and Katy Sagal are some of the best actors on television right now, and Charlie Hunnam has taken Jax to an amazing place. I wouldn’t miss a minute.
I think the rape is going to come out really soon because Gemma’s going to use it to unite the club. Jax and Clay will have to work together once they find out (at least you’d think so).
Can’t wait to find out more about Chibs’ wife. Didn’t think there was anyone Gemma’d be afraid of.
I think Bobby suspects about Tig and Clay, but his role as peacekeeper of the MC is going to take precedence over that.
Luann’s death was surprising, but there was so much going on in this episode I didn’t really dwell on it. Fave line: Jax to Clay:”I’m not the one murdering women!” Made me :-O lol
Ken, thanks for covering SoA. It definitely deserves it!!
Love that Tara’s not afraid to lay into Gemma either. Btw, Gemma really should’ve known better than to force all these personalities into one room for dinner right now. But it made for some excellent TV!!
You should be writing the blog on this! Great questions – great show.
Does Bobby realize, or when will he figure out that it was his son that was the target for Tig? Donna’s hit was a accident. Clay believed that Bobby’s son had turned, because all his bills had been paid by FBI etc..that whole setup early on in the series?
Bobby isn’t Opie’s dad, Piney is. And Piney already knows what Clay did, that’s why Jax can call on him to stand by him when he needs him.
The episode seemed to be very hurried and disjointed which ofcourse is exactly where the Kurt Sutter wants us all right now (He succeeded). With multiple wars brewing on varied fronts it will be interesting to see how SAMCRO pulls it back together and what unpredicted collateral damage happens to the members and their property (Wives, girlfriends,kids, and assets). Obviously the turmoil within the club will continue as Opie is just now starting to in someway get his balance back. I wonder what type of payback is coming when he discovers the truth about Donna’s death? Zobelle, the Irish, Tom Arnold’s character (Poor Otto, he is all alone on the inside and now on the outside too), and the Mayan’s have payback coming. Which one comes first and with a huge rift within the members?
The Mayan’s dealing with Zoebelle; I don’t think they know what Zoebelle really represents and his intent for the town of Charming -when the Mayans find out they have been used by a “white supremacist” organization -
they will go at Zobelle – and maybe call a truce and team up, sort of, with Samcro.
In a way, the blowup at dinner could put Opie and Jax on the same side again b/c Clay and Tig were both getting on Opie for not being at the gun drop despite all the effort Opie’s made at showing his heart’s with Clay. It’s also Jax’s smooth but tough talk that got them out of the Mayan beef intact. Also, do you think Opie might have heard enough of Jax’s comments at dinner to finally figyre out what happened to Donna?
I also wondered what Opie would think of the comment about “murdering women” that Jax made to Clay.
I think Jax came very close to spilling it with the comment (or something to the effect), “How about you and killing innocent women.” when he was yelling at Clay. When Opie finnally figures it out, he will probably try to kill Clay. Damn, this show is good.
I dont think Opie will figure it out just yet. Jax just said im not the one killing women. I think Opie will take that as Luannes murder, not Donnas.
OK I know this is corny but I cannot wait til Clay and Jax make up and team up to get Zobell. Tara is so funny about hating the porn girls. Do you blame her? Although she is taking it out on the wrong porn girl. Loved when Jax wouldn’t give his jacket up!!
Its a cut not a jacket and yes yes yes, that was the bomb! The show tells a story in a slow, very well planned manner. I think Gemma will def let the cat out of the bag and I do think it will somewhat unite the club. Clay has to see that his actions/decisions are the ones putting the club in jeopardy. I think even Tig is seeing that. Luan being killed in such a brutal manner is going to pull these guys together for Otto. Wondering what will happen to the porn company, Hale, and Chibs wife….want more of that story line for sure!
I have to admit the show started as a guilty pleasure, but i’ve mentioned it to a few people and they all watch it every week too. Love it! For the most part unexpected TV (awesome) and some great dramatic (though brief) moments in every episode. Show’s only getting better.
I am waiting…and waiting…for the rape to come out and SoA to band together and go for blood. I’ve been waiting for that to happen since episode one. Great show.
I empathisize with the good doc…in love with such a cute bad boy. Oh, my, my, such dilemmas.
The Rapeand beating. I think a lot of women viewers including me are waiting for it to come out and for Clay and Jax go absolutely nuts for blood!!
Did anyone else, just for a moment, think that the girl at the bottom of the hill might be Tara’s boss? I did until they panned around to the Corvette. Hehe.
Nah, Tara’s boss wears sensible pumps and prissy middle management coordinates.
I did think it might be Lyla, though, or the girl that Tara’s been clashing with over Jax.
At first, because I didn’t look too closely, I thought it might be her boss (after all, you know Gemma!), but the pan to the car sealed it for me. Poor, Otto.
Yeah I thought the same thing that it was Tara’s boss, just for a flash. I never thought it was Luann. Can we pleeeeese have more than 13 episodes next season this is the only tv show that I can’t wait for every week. Even my 76 year old mother is hooked!!!
I thought the woman was Lila because Opie warned Georgie that she was “with him now”. Realize it was Luanne as soon as they showed the car
I also thought that the dead woman in the ditch was Tara’s boss until they got closer. Of course us as viewers do not under-estimate Gemma in anyway shape or form!
At first I didn’t feel that Luanne’s death was all that important but now I see how Kurt Sutter’s brilliant writing is bringing everything full circle with Donna’s death. I wonder how he will play out the secrets to come. (Rape, Donna etc.)
I hope we as viewers receive our vindication. I don’t know about you all but I might hate Zobelle’s character and the League as much as SAMCRO does. I cannot wait for things to unfold and the MC to start KICKING @$$!
Clay has Donna’s death on his hands and now Jax has Luanne’s
I disagree. I don’t think Luanne’s death is Jax fault at all. He was doing what she wanted him to do by getting revenge. Or at least getting the lap top back. I think she had it coming in a way… Her death isn’t even comparable to Donna’s. In my opinion…
Let’s not forget that Luanne had been stealing from the clubs business from the start and Bobby had found that out. Not saying she had this coming but you could see her ending wasn’t going to be a very good one anyway it went. Still not sure Zobel isn’t a very deep cover fed, and the blond posing as his daughter is his partner.
I think it’s 2 different situations though. Clay directly caused donna’s death by ordering the hit (even though it was ordered on Opie, he still ordered a death-he just got the wrong one), while Luanne’s death was in retaliation to Jax trying to protect Luanne & her girls. I think harm to one of the porn girls, Luanne or someone else, was inevitable & Jax just tried to stop it by playing hardball with Georgie, & it didn’t work out.
Leslie, I think you’re right on your assessment.
Zobelle is always at least one step ahead of SAMCRO. They keep walking into traps. I can’t wait until things all come to a head.
Oh yeah, everytime Gemma and Clay talk about how Jax is just like his father, I get the sense that maybe Clay killed his dad, and Gemma was in on it, or at least knows about it. Anybody else think that?
Yes definitley. I remember in season 1 when Gemma and Clay were discussing something about Jax’s dad and a truck etc. And how Jax can never find out the truth. It was the episode where their tow truck driver (also a meth head -can’t remember his name) found out the truth about his dad. When the cops found that buried body on the highway. But I agree. I have a feeling that will be a storyline later to come. The truth on John Teller.
I agree that there’s something strange about the whole situation; maybe, after Clay ordered the secret hit on Opie, another member of the club, Jax is suspicious that Clay could have dirtied his hands in that way before…
Check out what I just found on wikipedia regarding the comparison to Hamlet… “Katey Sagal’s Gertrude-like Gemma resembles Lady Macbeth because—while it is never entirely clear from Hamlet how complicit Queen Gertrude is in the murder of Hamlet’s father—it is obvious that Gemma has willingly participated in the cover-up of the death and may even have encouraged Clay in his treachery.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Anarchy#Shakespearean_influence
Malaika… you are exactly right… Clay did have something to do with Jax’s father’s death and Gemma knows what happened! This show is crazy and awesome and I love it!
I get the vibe that Clay is actually Jax’s dad. and is Tom Arnold connected to Zobelle? Great series!
I have a feeling Zobelle is connecting himself to EVERYONE that has a connection with SAMCRO its his only way of taking them down. In example the Mayans (even though he is a racist)… I wouldn’t be surprised if he has ties to Georgie Porgie sometime soon!
Yes, that was in Season 1.
If it’s loosely bases on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, then that’s all part of the drama. Did Claudius kill Hamlet’s father or is it all in Hamlet’s head? Did Clay kill Jax’s father? I love the idea of Hamlet in Charming
.
By far one of the most underrated shows on tv. Well acted, good dialogue, great action…what’s not to like??? I love the disjointed feel to the episode because it completely mimics what is going on with the club.
I’ve thought that since the second episode. I’m just wondering why it’s not being explored more. Is Jax’s ex gone for good?
This show rules, best on cable right now!
I 100% agree!
Thanks for giving some blog space to Sons Of Anarchy! It’s a great & underrated show that deserves more attention imho. Good episode last night; it felt a bit like a filler/setup episode until the explosive last 5 minutes.
This show is so amazing, I can’t wait til Tues night to watch it. I am trying to get everyone I know on the bandwagon. And yes Malaika, I think you’re right, Clay did the deed, and Gemma is in on it. I really can’t wait for the rape to be “known” to see how all ribbons make a bow!
Loved the episode, as usual! Even the shortened length worked for me! It was harried and that’s the feeling Kurt Sutter wanted the viewer to feel, IMO!
That had to be the worst, most exciting dinner on TV! Ha!
This is a great show all the way around and I love the music, especially the song when SOA went in the mtg and a old slave song was playing the in the backgound…priceless! Thanks FX
I LOVE this show. I swear, every person I have lent the first season out to, has come back a big SOA fan. I heard that Sutter is looking into telling the John Teller story next season. Right now, I hate to see the second season end….but we all know its gonna probably the most talked about finale.
Hey where did you hear that he’s looking to tell the John Teller story? I would LOVE that! Thats what I figured would be the next storyline to unfold… the death of John Teller. Yet another rift btwn Jax & Clay. Dun dun dun…
hey all – i’m a new viewer this season… love the show, but don’t know the backstories yet. Can anyone help? Why did Clay want to kill Opie, and how did Opie’s wife(?) die instead?
Oh its a very complex situation that means you must catch up on Season 1. You will not regret it. You can watch it online for free just about anywhere by simply googling “watch SOA season 1 online free” or rent it! Its completely worth it!
Stahl with the ATF set Opie up to look like he had turned on SOA in hopes of actually getting him to turn. Donna took Opie’s truck to run an errand and Tig shot her in the back of the head.
Jump on hulu or another site and watch the first season to get the background. There is wayyyyy too much history to cover in print.
“Dinner with mom.”
Love this show. I think that when the rape of Gemma is finally revealed, that will be the catalyst that reunits the warring factions within the MC. (If only for a short time.)
gtrgrl….Clay thought the FBI had flipped him and Donna was killed by mistake, it was supposed to be Opie……
This weeks Episode was really good i liked it but it was a tad short and i myselp wanted to step on that guys throught especially after the killed the porn star director. On the other hand i am ready for the club to reunite as one and quite fighting against each other and i wonder if Chipps wife is really mean
I don’t really think she is a man. I think she just has knowledge of something that scares Gemma. Either that or she is a bigger badass then Gemma and that scares her.
I’m thinking Chipps wife may know what really happened to Jax’s dad because Gemma is no punk (she’ll fight a man w/a quickness)
I have a feeling they brought Chipps wife in to bring the story of Tara’s job into turmoil. I love Tara’s character and I love her and Jax together but I can’t shake this feeling that something bad is going to happen btwn the 2 of them. A drama TV show is not all hunky dory. I am sure it will unravel soon but I feel she was brought in just for the purpose of Tara and Gemma’s feud getting back on track. If she was not there Gemma would not have threatened Tara’s boss to keep Chipps in Tara’s sights… Just my thoughts.
I am totally with Amanda… can’t wait for SOA to totally kick some Zobelle/Weston rear!
I started watching this show this season. On sunday I did a marathon and knocked out the entire 1st season so now I know everything about it. I gotta admit i wasn’t interested in this show at all when I heard about it but man is it good! and now that I’ve seen the 1st season I gotta admit this season is seriously that much better. the part at dinner when Jax called Clay a woman killer was perfect. That has been on the verge of comn out of Jax’s mouth all season. Clay has made nothing but mistakes with the club and is completely responsible for everything wrong right now. The highlight for me lastnight hands down was when the gun was to Jax’s head and Jax said “you’ll have to kill me before this leather is comn off my back” thats a true gangsta right there!!!!
its the best show on tv since deadwood.chib’s old lady must be something to scare gemma.
Love this show. I DVR it every week so as not to miss any of the action. Looking forward to seeing what chibs wife is up to.