At the risk of sounding like a blood-lusting savage, boy, was I looking forward to watching SAMCRO inflict some damage on the League, and last night on Sons of Anarchy, we pretty much got the battle we, or at least I, had been waiting for.
But first: The episode started with the SAMCRO leadership puts the families of the club under lock-down — precautionary protection before the revenge the big boys plan to exact from Zobelle and the League. Spending some quality-time together, Gemma tells Tara that the rest of the people in the club will now show her “respect” because she’s “Jax’s old lady” and “not some CRO-eater.” (This was one of those moments when I thought, am I really rooting for this machismo-fuelled gang of motorcycle thugs who still call a girlfriend an “old lady,” as though the ’60s had never passed? Then I considered how cleverly crude the phrase “CRO-eater” was, and decided I was being unnecessarily prissy and enjoyed the rest of the hour.)
There was a lot of good, fast deal-making early on here. Chibs, Jimmy, ATF agent Stahl, plus the Asian, the “Mayans,” and the black gangs all variously bargained, committed, or betrayed. A consensus was forming, however: None of these folks wanted Zobelle and his alliance with the League to interfere with them anymore. Bad ol’ white supremacy: it brings disparate groups together!
Some superb moments bullet-pointed:
• Gemma calling Chuck — he of the chopped fingers, save for his index digits — “Stubby,” with Chuck proving to be of great help to SAMCRO
• The look on Weston’s face when Jax tells him that Zobelle is “in bed with the Mayans” (ooh — race-mixing! Westin can’t abide that!)
• I could swear that when Westin then confronts Zobelle about this, he said, “You race-traiting sonofabitch!” “Race-traiting”? Did anyone else hear this neologism, or was it something else? If that was correct, my hat is off to SOA creator Kurt Sutter once again for his bending of the language
• Zobelle’s ultra-creepy behavior with his daughter, Polly, kissing her on the lips a bit too passionately, and, before that, sniffing her fingers and murmuring, “You smell of the Irishman” — b-r-r-r-r….
• Tara’s “assault” upon the hospital administrator who’s been giving her a hard time (again, I know I shouldn’t be enthused about such violence, but… well, judge me if you will)
• Gemma’s heartfelt declaration that she believes it is her mission in life to be “of service” and that “God wants me to be a fierce mother — that’s my path,” thus freeing her to be both devout and righteous in her fury from this day forward
• Weston, when the League brings guns to the site of the SAMCRO fight after having promised not to: “Fair is for losers; I’d rather win” (I realize Henry Rollins has only two expressions — contempt and rage — but he does these very well)
• The fight between SAMCRO and the League, a good, thorough, bloody one
• Zobelle’s clever way of getting out of Clay’s clutches, giving himself up to the police by pointing out the drugs in his cigar store and telling the cops to arrest him and his daughter (and in the process, pitting Unser and Hale against each other in that moment)
• Jax’s episode-ending promise to Zobelle: “We’re gonna kill you”
This late in the season, it’s clear that the overarching theme has been the crucial importance of trust, of keeping one’s word. In thriller literature, this is one of the most important codes of behavior, and Kurt Sutter and his writers are working territory that novelists from Dashiell Hammett to Jim Thompson to Ross Macdonald kept vibrantly alive. Sons of Anarchy is working in this great tradition.
Only one more episode left. (An extra-long one, too.) So I ask you: How do you think the season will end? Will Zobelle get what’s coming to him, or find a comfy bed in prison? What devillishly clever cliffhanger will Kurt Sutter construct for Jax, Clay, and the club? Please post your ideas below; thanks.
(You can follow me on Twitter @kentucker.)
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I thought Westin was yelling “race TRADING” as in Zobelle was trading with the lesser races. Your theory works too, though. Also, you will get no judging from me. Every moment you loved, I did as well. Especially Tara going all badass on that overbearing, smug hospital admin who was so far from “just doing her job” and into agenda territory it was ridiculous.
Excellent episode! I don’t feel bad for rooting for Tara to beat that administrator’s @$$, LOL. “Stubby” did good work for the club. Zobelle and his daughter kissing was really creepy, and explains something I sensed about those two early on. This was a very satisfying episode, after watching SAMCRO fumble around all season.
great episode. The cold open with the CCR cover was great. And the lead up to the battle at the end was terrific too. My guess is that one of the guys that got arrested will get killed by the SOA member that lost his eye. (I know that he’s the creator of the show…I just can’t remember his character’s name.)
Otto.
i really hoped that tom arnold’s character(who killed otto’s old lady)
would get put in jail & otto would pay him a visit XD that;d b an awesum twist.
& also 1 of the members of L.O.A.N getting killed by otto would b kool 2 lol
I totally agree, I loved the opening. What song was that? Do you know the artist?
I couldn’t root for Tara, did enjoy the episode though, it all came together nicely, good set up for next week.
Great show last night….Zobelle will probably get a comfy bed in prison at least for a little while until Jax finds a way to get to him. I think Tara may be in trouble on the last episode and Jax will be tending to that…Glad to see Clay bitch slap Zobelle’s daughter last night…long time coming!!
I think that Ken is right in that he said “race traiting” as in the adjective version of Zobelle being a traitor to his race. Westin considers him a race traitor.
Did anyone notice Jax sitting on the bike at the end of the ep with clay in the background staring at him? Build up for the future?
i thought it was cuz jax was pissed that they didnt kill weston n zobelle n they only went 2 jail
Ken, I have to mention that it was nice to see Kurt Sutter go to his deep bench of stars in Kenny Johnson (aka Lem from the Shield) as small addition to SAMCRO’s Tacoma chapter who obviously has some longstanding beef with Tigg. I hope that we see more of Kenny in the future cause that TNT show he is on is horrible, and he deserves to be on a show of SOA caliber. With Chuck getting out the fire does that mean Darby also got out? Cause I don’t recall ever hearing anything out him after the fire.
I don’t knwo if Darby got out either considering there has been no mention of bodies being found at the fire but at the same time they beat Darby before burning the place to it would seem unlikely that he could make it out.
He’s Ham from Saving Grace!
TNT cut Saving Grace so now he’s free to be anything he wants to be I suppose.
Thank you! I kept thinking, I have seen that guys ass before. I know that guy!
I was also REALLY excited to see Kenny Johnson and hope he comes back for more.
What if Chuck got Darby out and Darby is the one that gets Zoebell or Weston??
Wow! That would be a nice twist and poetic at the same time.
Lemmansky is the best! Man I missed him. This ep could have been awful (it wasn’t) and I still would have been thrilled. His soft tough guy inflection alone is enough to make me love him. More of him on this show please please please.
This season really needs some EMMY love. The writing is incredible and Katy is one of the best actresses out there right now. Aren’t the voters sick of nominating those idiots on Grey’s Anatomy yet? I mean come on, Gemma vs Izzy, is there really any competition?!?!?! SHOW SOME RESPECT EMMY VOTERS!!!!!
Damn right. Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, Ron Pearlman and Charlie Hunnam all deserve nominations. And it better be Kurt Sutter picking up the Best Drama Emmy as well, this show was 1000x better than “Mad Men”’s third season. Not a single boring episode in the mix.
I love this show. Every episode delivers for me. It is one of 3 shows that I have to watch the night it is on no matter how late I get home (others being Office and Lost). I have to say that Tara’s actions mean she is fully in now, head first into the club and everything because there is no backing away from what she did
Best line of the episode – “He may only have half a sack, but he’s gotta whole lotta balls”
He is obviously in, so who’s the next prospect?
Also what was with the Sgt at Arms from the Tacoma chapter that apparently has a beef with Tig? Was that Lem from “The Shield” looked like him? Possible new cast member? Clay may still be unsure about Tig’s ability to fill his role.
That was Lem! Very excited to see him.
How funny is it that he is already feuding with Tig? I’ve always thought Tig was the Shane (from The Shield) of Sons of Anarchy.
he’s also Ham from saving Grace – - what a bod on him!!!! whoooo!!
Great episode! So glad Tara b*tch slapped her way to justice! Can’t wait for next Tuesday, but then when do they come back?
Im still hanging on to this show because Im still waiting for one(if not all) of the Sons to bite the bullet. I think after this season, that’s it for me. Sorry folks but I find nothing appealing about any of these characters.
Great episode for sure! i’ve been questioning all season when they were gonna give prospect his patches.. after everything he’s done for em this season I think he deserves it. I also like how Jax told Zobelle how he’s gonna kill em right in front of the cops! haha
Then why, if you don’t mind my asking, are you watching at all?
Go watch a procedural.
Now jason don’t be a buzz kill .Its great tv if u can get into it.
are you watching the same show as the rest of us?!?!
I must say, since the Shield series ended and I lost a heart beat, I’ve gained a heart beat back from this show. The actors are great, it’s got humor, romance, actions, drama. The show is great, I hope there are many more seasons to come.
I agree totally.
Ditto. Best show on TV. Already ready for Season 3.
Agreed. Best show on television. Can’t remember the last show I’ve watched that has reeled me in like this one. Sutter brings all the emotions to the screen. Great job in casting and writing. I want more episodes, but can’t see how Sutter could come up with more…he has to be exhausted!
Last nights episode was terrific. I am glad that Tara is finally realizing her power in the club. Gemma is just awesome as the club “Mom”. I never want this series to end. Reminds me of my “old Lady” days in the 70’s!!
I agree Pam seeing Teara with the power is kinda cool and hot all at the sametime.