"I know it seems unfair. You and your son are caught up in a very ugly struggle, and I'm sorry for that. The things I do are not just about my Irish loyalty, but about keeping promises to your family." - Father Kellum
On the one hand we could say much has happened this season on Sons of Anarchy. The club has had its shootouts. They've had their run-ins with the law. They've been on wild goose chases looking for Abel. They've begun delving into the past of the club. Heck, they've even taken off on a little European jaunt. The guys and gals of Charming, CA have been nothing if not busy. But this season of Sons of Anarchy has really been written in the scenes we don't see. The conversations we don't hear. The history and back story we don't know. And that lack of seeing and hearing and knowing can be frustrating.
I think this general lack of specifics is indicative of writers wanting us to see a mystery through the eyes of Jax, Gemma and SAMCRO who don't understand what's happening any more than we do. Jax said as much in tonight's episode when he commented on the relative murkiness of the stories fed to him by the IRA, or Father Kellum or Jimmy O, or SAMBEL, or really everyone. We're watching a group of characters trying their damnedest to figure out just what the hell is going on in their once, very cut and dry, but now beyond confusing world.
Tonight was an exercise in this confusion and indicative of the season as a whole. We got a great deal of action, movement and violence without knowing the ends justifying everyone's means. Even when Gemma asks bluntly to Father Kellum, "Why are you doing this to us?" we get an answer shrouded in generalities about promises and family and trust. Whether Father Kellum is running SAMCRO through the ringer out of loyalty to John Teller or just out of his own power play is unclear as ever. And the questions don't stop with him. Why wouldn't Jimmy O just put a bullet in Gemma? Why would O'Neal blow up his own brothers? Why would Gemma not try to stop Jax and Trinity from possible incest? Why would Fiona stop Gemma from taking down Jimmy? Why? Why? Why?
Like I said, it's nice to think we're seeing this all through the eyes of Jax and company. As some kind of mystery we're all trying to solve. And no doubt the writers have answers planned. But television is not wont for examples of shows that end up posing too many questions and clouding too many log lines. The answers end up getting lost in the noise of more questions.
"Turas" left us pretty much at the same place as "Lochan Mor." Where we thought a change of scenery would spark some onset of resolution for SAMCRO, Ireland hasn't proven anymore enlightening than sunny California (although it seems a hell of a lot more dangerous). But the Sons spun their wheels in Charming for the first half of the season, and that wheel spinning hasn't stopped in Ireland. For them, and us, more questions just lead to more questions.
Other thoughts:
- Tonight's episode was an interesting look at how Jax and Gemma view their family's predicament. Jax views it as an unfortunate byproduct of operating almost solely in a violent and dirty business, a punishment for past sins. Gemma plays their problems up as not-so-passive victims of circumstance. Jax sees himself as the center of the problem. Gemma is the innocent bystander. While neither really has an accurate view of their roles in the machine, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
- I purposefully left out Tara's kidnapping from the main write up mostly out of frustration. Maybe her getting picked up by Hector Salazar serves a greater purpose, but it just seems another distraction for, well, everyone. Much of this season has been about Tara's willingness to stay with the club even with the risks involved. She's proven ready to do so, even at Jax's insistence against it. Do we really need to put her in more danger? Is there a point here?
- But her abduction and the problems with the Unfrozen Caveman Hale Brother are the writers way to keep the SAMCRO kids, whose parents didn't sign permission slip for the class trip to Ireland, somewhat in the story. After all, time doesn't just stop in Charming when the big biker gang goes away. That being said, the Charming story should be playing a bit more of a backseat to the Irish. Too many irons in the fire makes a weird hour of television.
- Fiona and her daughter still have a big part to play by the end of the season. I think she makes good on her promise to put down Jimmy O.
- Completely cringe-worthy scene after the explosion. Weird lighting. Odd music. Seemed very daytime soap-ish. I'm willing to almost look past the "Jax sees his dead dad in a vision" thing because the father-son-stepfather theme is a major one for the show. But everything else about those post-bomb moments were very odd television.
- What other apps besides "Blackmailz" do you think Salazar has on his phone?
- Speaking of cellphones: when will television characters learn that it's never a good idea to take an incriminating phone call, put the phone down, duck away from a nosy loved one and immediately get in the shower? What is other person going to do? Not look at recent calls? Come on Agent Stahl, you're better than that.
