photo: fx
Balm
(Special 90 minute episode)
Original Air Date: Nov 10, 2009
Tom R. – Sr. Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com
The central characters on Sons of Anarchy have always been Jax, Clay and Gemma. While Tara is a logical extension, and the rest of SAMCRO has gotten their share of attention (Opie in particular), this “tripod” was always meant as the backbone of the show. While it’s easy to imagine a ninety minute episode that ends in gunfire and bloodshed, the ending here is quiet, confessional, and absolutely perfect.
Jax needs unanimous approval from the MC before he can go nomad. But Piney worries about the line of succession without Jax, and everyone else worries about him riding with no protection. When he tells Gemma, she directs him to a page in JT’s manuscript, where he confesses to his own temptation to leave SAMCRO. After discussing the arson with Unser, he stops blaming Clay, but this doesn’t solve all the issues, and the MC votes unanimously to let him leave.
This was one of those scenes where I was almost talking back to the screen, between rooting for someone to stop him and watching him cut the patches off his leather. When an episode can get me to do that, it’s firing on all cylinders…writing, acting and directing.
True to form, though, it’s still the matriarch who comes to the rescue. Gemma realizes there is only one way to reunite the family. She summons both men to the table and confesses the secret that she and Tara have been hiding. She tells about the abduction, the attack, and who was responsible. After a moment of consolation, Jax leaves the house, but stops on the way out to reclaim his patches. For all the testosterone promised by the previews, this is one of the best vehicles on TV for actresses. Creator Kurt Sutter had prophesied that this role would make people forget Peg Bundy. Although he has a vested interest, he’s not far off the mark.
Meanwhile, Chibs comes front and center, emerging from the hospital with a vengeance. We have seen his wife in the past few episodes, but here we find out that she and Chibs’ daughter are now with arms dealer Jimmy. This gives Agent Stahl new ammunition to shut down the IRA gunrunners. Chibs agrees to turn over some connections on his terms: Immunity for his family, no MC members are arrested, and the charges are dropped concerning their raid on Zobelle’s church.
The ninety minute timeframe gives the writers more time to share the wealth among the entire cast. Chibs (Tommy Flanagan) says more in this episode than he has all season. More solid work from Opie (Ryan Hurst), who is still my favorite character. Piney (William Lucking) has a pivotal scene at the top of the show, and there is some unexpected comic relief from Tig (Kim Coates) and Sack (Johnny Lewis). Unser and Hale aren’t in the mix, but this is about club business. We’ll see enough of them soon.
According to the previews, it looks like they’re about to use Zobelle’s game plan against him. What do you think? Post your comments below, or drop me a line at: tom@thetwocents.com .
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