General Discussion

This is the first season that I have watched Sons of Anarchy week to week and not in marathon format. I have spent a lot of time figuring out if my problems with this season are due to the fact that I am watching this way or if it truly is a lackluster season. I came across a Rolling Stone review that said this has been the best season yet. Personally, I don't think that could be farther from the truth. While there have been moments of intense drama and action – both emotional and physical – the dead air left in between is enough to make it a chore for me to watch. This week was an extended 90 minute episode, and I found myself looking at my watch wondering when it would be over about 20 minutes after it started. Once again, we spend another episode setting up more convoluted plots from the members of SAMCRO and I think I have lost sight of what is the actual endgame. It redeemed itself some in that tt was an interesting episode in that there was a role reversal and character development with some of the characters, which I appreciated.

I was happy that Jax did bring Juice into the fold, and has him working to help the club – not because I want him to betray Clay, but more because I am happy that he is just not going to be up and murdered. The show has the tendency to kill of main characters without any remorse, so I am comforted by the fact that Juice will be kicking around for awhile. It also will be interesting to see which side he actually ends up choosing.

Then there was the juxtaposition of the characters of Jax and Clay in this episode and they had a role reversal, in that Jax is now becoming the tough murdering SOB. I am beginning to wonder if whatever his plan is to get the Sons "out" is actually worth it. He has not been the same since Opie's death and while I thought he would always be the rational level-headed leader, I'm not so sure anymore. He claims he has a plan, but everything just leads to more shiftiness and more violence. He even talks about how there is going to be a lot more blood spilled before this is over. That's all well and good, and I do think he has honorable intentions, but I'm not sure if he has the control that he thinks he does. With Clay working Juice and the other side of the cartel, it will be a slippery slope for Jax to be the one to come out on top.

I'm not sure if it can be trusted, but there was a visible shift in Clay's character last night. For the first time he seemed to actually show regret for his previous actions. I really do think he was being sincere when speaking to both Juice and Gemma about how much they mean to him. Whether his statement that Gemma is the only thing that matters was true, I am not sure. However, it was nice to see him in a vulnerable place. In fact, for a moment I actually found myself rooting for the Clay side of the SAMCRO equation. I know he claims it is all for his plan, but ever since Jax has been President, the world of the Sons has been a complete and utter mess. I feel like that isn't why I watch the show and I miss watching the unity of a club that will do anything for each other. While Clay is all about the power, he at least always knew how to keep the club members happy together, and that is more than I can say for Jax, who at this point has promised the murder of Tig and has forced both his wife and mother to put themselves in awful, traumatizing situations.

Which brings me to my big question about the Tara and Otto storyling. I was very confused in last week's episode when Tara gets home from visiting Otto and quietly decides to um, touch herself. It made no sense in the context of the story. In the recap of last week's episode it showed a moment of Otto breaking down crying and going to touch himself. Is it just me or was scene cut out of the original airing of the show??? I watched it on iTunes and went back and watched and couldn't find that scene, so I'm wondering if it was non-existent or if I completely missed it somehow? The lack of the scene was very confusing because it showed major character development with Otto and Tara. Jax has become so consumed by all of his plotting and planning that he virtually ignores his new wife, and she is so desperate for attention that the small amount she gets from Otto is enough to make her feel excited and good about herself. That makes what Otto ended up doing to her even worse, and I truly do feel bad for Tara in this situation. She got reeled in and played by Otto and I'm not sure if the possible accessory to murder charge or the deception by Otto will be harder for her to handle.

I keep hoping that each week my opinions of this season will be changed and I will be blown out of the water. It hasn't happened yet, and with only three episodes left, I'm beginning to worry if there will be salvation. It's Sons of Anarchy so I will never give up hope, and will wish for a bang up last few episodes to wipe all of this disappointment away.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree this season has been lackluster or are you on the other side of the coin and loving it?

This season has been a lot like season3 for me. Despite having a large goal like "get Able back" just seems kind of aimless. Everyone is just scheming 24/7 only none of them are doing a good job at it.

The bit of Otto violence this episodes just man that was probably the most brutal thing I've seen on the show. The way the blood splattered onto the shirt o just brutal. And this is coming from someone who hasn't batted an eey at the death of Opie.

I wonder how much of a rat race will happen between Gemma, Juice, Unser, and Cheif Rosevelt on getting evidence to Jax. Is he going to grant their wishes if say Juice gets the documents to him before Gemma dose? Jax this season I almost don't want to belive the dude has become so cold to about everything.

This episode has made the season far more cohesive and worthwhile, Stacey. I think you have to look at it less as the previous seasons. In those seasons, the character development came through plot twists and turns. In this season, it's about role-switching, straight character development, and setting up for more seasons. If anything, I think it's interesting that Kurt Sutter has kind of hinted that there are maybe two seasons left, and here we have Jax constantly talking about "the end game" and how he can "see an end in sight". These were some major revelations in character development across the board.

• Bobby is losing his grip on being VP and questioning his Prez.
• Chibbs is firmly in Jax's corner now after popping that dude off.
• Eli is becoming Unser. This episode showed a moment of Eli waiting outside for Jax to get home at the end of the episode. Jax showed that he was firmly in control. It makes me think and wander about how Unser came into SAMCRO's pocket in the first place as well. This was an interesting moment.
• Juice is between a rock and a hard place. He betrayed the club, plain and simple. He's the lost child in the whole mix.
• Clay isn't changing. He's using people as always. Yes, there was the moment that he told Juice that he's some some sinister shit, but it's him trying to use Juice just like he has been doing. With Gemma, he truly does love her. We know that. However, we also know he'll use her to no end in order to get what he wants. With the cartel meet-up, he said there was no deal. Why? He doesn't have enough intel on the cartel. If they seriously do shift Clay's character into a direction of seeking some type of redemption before his eventual death, I would honestly be disappointed.
• Jax has swung hard into the face of "we have to do what we have to do in order to get to the end game and get out of this shit" mode. Yes, he's gotten bloodier. He's also President now, and he's realizing that the chair requires a much more stern approach on things. He isn't leaving loose ends. When he throws out his reasons for doing something, they are justifiable reason. He presents them and they are thought out pretty well. He could turn into the villain, but I don't see it happening. I do see him doing everything necessary to protect the club. It's going to be hard as hell for him.
• Tara touching her is an interesting plot point, and then in this episode, she bangs on the piano in Thomas' room with her feet to wake him up. She was showing no remorse for her actions anymore, believing that she needed to harden up and follow in the path of Gemma. Because of that, she has lost touch with who she actually is. It's interesting when you go back to the previous seasons and look at her character, as this season has made her the most changed character out of them all. She wants attention and can't get it. She wants life to be good, and it's not happening soon enough. The one thing a lot of people haven't caught is that she is LOSING FAITH IN JAX. You can tell it in her actions and her motives - she tried doing this shit with Otto in order to take some weight off Jax, but also because she didn't think he could get it done. Meanwhile, at the prison...when Otto shanks the attendant, that was flat-out Otto trying to find the balance for Luanne's death. Hurting Jax puts them in an even square. Of course, this is going to lead to what is likely the cartel getting Otto's death expedited and a story put together that completely gets Tara off the hook, but further deepens the ties that Jax and the cartel HAVE to have.

Let's also look at another big thing here that some people probably AREN'T thinking about: what about ties with the Yakuza, the Mayans, and the multiple other places that SAMCRO has alliances? We just have Jax turn his back on the Grim Bastards. He's betrayed the Niners. He's teaming up with Mayor Hale for Charming Heights in order to get legit money coming in for SAMCRO. He's working with Damon Pope as well, looking for a bigger connection. How long before all these previous ties are cut off and only new ties exist? What type of conflict does that create? A lot of people probably don't remember all the conflict with the Mayans in the beginning seasons. Could things go back to being like that?

It was an incredibly deep episode that appears shallow. You have to look at everything at a distance and watch how it all weaves together. I am in the same boat as you: I've been watching it episode to episode for the first time rather than the whole season as a chunk. It's been weird doing so, but this episode was the one that really brought it all together.

Also, we have to realize that there is NO MAIN VILLAIN in this season. In the previous seasons, there was always a clear cut villain. In this one, paradigms are shifting, so it's unusual for us. However, the character development is the driving factor for it. We were ready to jump on Damon Pope being the main villain, but they threw us for a loop on that. We were ready for the prison guards to be the main villains, but they are just retribution material. We were ready for the Niners to be the main villain, but they aren't. The cartel has barely been a factor. Hell, even Clay and the home invasions hasn't been the MAIN villain.

The main villain is the club. The main villain IS SAMCRO. It's the internal struggle of keeping the shit together, how fucked up things can get and how you can either find compromise with it or retribution with it. It's about why each person is sitting at that table, can they be trusted, and how long is it before they betray someone.

As for Tig, I don't think that Jax would turn him over. I think part of that end game plan involves using Tig as leverage to keep Pope on the up-and-up with the club.