Sons Of Anarchy – Recap & Review – Albification

photo: fx

Sons of Anarchy
“Albification”

Original Air Date: Sept 8, 2009

Tom R. – Sr. Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com

One simple rule for a second season, and so few shows seem to follow it…Raise the Stakes.

The second season of Sons of Anarchy does just that, opening with a loud, aggressive punch. The gang shoots target practice, with an amped-up version of The Who’s “Slip Kid” underneath. There’s the standard montage of character introductions, but nothing to take the focus away from that initial energy. Another nice contrast to the opening episode of season one, where Jax was driving alone at night and the music was a little more bluesy.

The feud between Jax and Clay is still building, as evidenced by Jax’s taking the lead during negotiations with the new IRA gun runners. The tension continues as the Opie storyline continues to unfold, but new enemies might force them to put that on the back burner.

Creator Kurt Sutter does not waste any time building up these new conflicts or, for that matter, teaching new vocabulary words. (The title of the episode is defined as “The act or process of making white”). Deputy Hale is brought by his brother to meet Ethan Zobelle (Adam Arkin) and A.J. Weston (Henry Rollins), two businessmen who are looking to set up shop in Charming. During the meeting, Hale learns that they are with the League of American Nationalists. They are looking to take over Charming, and expect Hale to run SAMCRO out of town as soon as he has replaced Unser. Weston meets with Aryan gang leader Darby, offering to fund their operations in Charming. He and Zobelle then confront Clay and the gang at the clubhouse, setting the tone for the conflicts to come.

Rollins and Arkin are amazing additions to the cast. Rollins’ character shifts the entire balance of power away from Darby (Mitch Pileggi) in just one scene, advising Darby to cover up his swastika. Not to stay under the radar, but because Darby hasn’t earned it yet. Arkin is equally effective, looking every bit the polished, corporate executive. But he never loses the sense that something sinister is lurking below the surface.

Meanwhile, Jax tries to keep Opie from learning the truth about Donna’s murder. He convinces Piney and Hale to keep quiet about their suspicions. At a clubhouse meeting, Clay shifts the blame away from the Niners and onto the Mayans. He claims to get a fingerprint and an ID of the shooter from Trammell. As Jax, Opie, Chibs and Tig head out after him, the factions begin to develop, Jax protecting Opie and Chibs and Tig displaying a lack of trust. Opie wants the Mayan to confess before he kills him, but when Tig takes the first shot, Opie has no choice but to finish the job.

After the confrontation with Zobelle and Weston, Bobby is released and returned to the clubhouse. Jax leaves the party early to return home to Tara and Abel. By this point, Gemma had talked to Tara and recommended she get “full disclosure” from Jax. She presses him for his activities, and he confesses to killing a man.

The episode ends with Gemma being abducted and raped by the LAN members. Even creepier that the masks they wear is Weston’s apology to her before he lets her know that it’s a message to Clay.

Rev up the engines, folks…We’ve got a long ride ahead of us.

So there’s my two cents…What did you think? Got a favorite line? Favorite character? Favorite shot? Drop your comments below, or drop me a line at: tom@thetwocents.com .