(S01E02) "I will not look the other way Jax." - Hale
I'm still on board with Sons of Anarchy, but there are just too many things that are rubbing me the wrong way. Much like my minor complaint on this season of The Shield, Jax's father's manuscript has reached the point of becoming über-important just like Cruz Pezuela's blackmail box (the one Mackey stole) without any solid explanation. One gets the feeling that without that manuscript, the story would just crumble.
If this thing is so important, then why didn't Gemma or Clay have it destroyed years ago? Did they even know it existed? It was just lying out in the open in the family storage unit. While I appreciate the tension that builds as Jax slowly reads one page at a time, I'm still unconvinced that when he gets to, I dunno, "page 86," that we're going to be that shocked when the inevitable bomb is dropped. Why else would Gemma want it so bad if there wasn't some horrible family secret buried in it?
Enough of my complaints though, because I really am trying to make an effort to enjoy Sons. I love the addition of Deputy Chief Hale and Chief Unser to the mix. Having only half of Charming's law in their pocket is already affecting how SAMCRO runs business and I like Hale as the thorn in Clay's side. He seems like a resourceful guy and I hope that Unser staying in his post for an additional six months doesn't derail Hale's motivation to destroy SAMCRO. Isn't there some other city official he could speak to? Someone else who would find Unser's decision to pull men from the warehouse fire site suspicious? Especially when Hale can attest to there being two bodies missing now.
I'm also really digging the simmering feud between Tara and Gemma. Why do they hate each other so much? What did Gemma do or say to Tara before she left Charming? If she's as good a pediatrics doctor as she says she is, then I doubt very much that she came back to Charming just for the job. She could have worked anywhere and she returns to the one place she hates? Clearly she and Jax have a past, but I'm waiting for a bomb to drop here too. She's either up to something or she knows something. Gemma definitely looked a little shaken when Tara pegged her as the one who slipped Wendy the needle. She acted tough, but she was worried.
More thoughts...
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Anyone else notice that Piney rides with an oxygen tank on his bike?
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I'd like to think the the Lodi police department (neighboring town of Charming) is semi-competent, so won't they see right through the set-up? Dead white guy, dead Mexican driver, and someone else's blood all over the place? Plus, the "M+N=Blood" threat on the window? Mayans plus Nords. I'm sure it will tip the cops in the right direction and Darby will surely get some of the heat since it is his SUV... but I need to see how this plays out first before I say yay or nay.
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How about Emily? She's so desperate for one of the SAMCRO guys to take her in as their own, that she'll do anything for them. Even screw the guy that cremates people. That's... love?
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I wonder if Wendy will actually remember anything when she comes out of sedated detox?
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Think Jax or Chibs will get tied to the mini-mart incident? Guy takes an ax to the head and I'd hope all angle would be explored. Jax must have left some blood or hair during the fight.
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I imagine we can expect Opie to do something foolish in the near future to make some cash. He's acting awfully whiny (as his Dad Piney said) and desperate. Plus, Donna is really breathing down his back, so that's uncomfortable too.
Next week, I'm hoping for things to ratchet up another notch. The episode, "Fun Town" features the addition of Jay Karnes (Dutch on The Shield) to the cast. He plays Tara's ex-boyfriend... and he's an ATF agent. Don't want one of those guys around when you're smuggling guns.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-11-2008 @ 10:32AM
K.V.C said...
Someone needs to tell the writes that buried bodies are usually EMBALMED. I don't care how incompetent the Lodi forensics team is, I think they will notice that!
This points out my biggest problem with this show. The writers don't know anything about police procedures, and it looks like they haven't even watched a CSI or two.
I don't think the box being there is so unbelievable. The big question is why did she burn that photo? (could they not hire someone who could do better Photoshopping??)
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9-11-2008 @ 10:54AM
D-Bo said...
Not necessarily, in my state embalming is not required.
All in all I thought it was another solid episode, setting the table for a feast of family conflict (both Jax/Gemma/Clay and Samcro). I too wonder what secrets the writings of John Teller hold. Until next week.
9-11-2008 @ 11:57AM
eric f. said...
Well, actually, they only needed to detour the forensics team for a short period of time while they removed the roasted Mexicans. Beauty in the details.
sorry about the double post, I meant to reply to you...
9-11-2008 @ 10:54AM
DavidM said...
The fake murder scene really got me, but I think the point isn't that the crime would look legit. The point is just to occupy the forensic team's time. If they see a murder in their town between a Mexican and a white guy, compound that with gun shots, that is going to be front page local news, and that is going to merit the mayor and police using all their resources to solve it.
The show is pretty good, I think everything is still being setup for the first big drop and so far so good.
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9-11-2008 @ 10:54AM
Herb said...
This show takes place in a small town. The police departments simply don't have CSI type resources.
On the flip side, there are two eye witnesses to the convenience store incident, and it's not that hard to find somebody in a small town (the jackets alone should be enough to ID them in the neighboring town).
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9-11-2008 @ 11:57AM
eric f. said...
Well, actually, they only needed to detour the forensics team for a short period of time while they removed the roasted Mexicans. Beauty in the details.
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9-11-2008 @ 12:10PM
eric f. said...
I love that this show is ready to shock. The crime scene creation with them rolling over the guys head was crazy. And I don't think anyone saw that axe coming in the convenience store. The second it happened I said aloud, "Holy SH!T!!!"... and then a second later Jax said the same thing. funny.
oh, and Jonathan, "How about Emily? She's so desperate for one of the SAMCRO guys to take her in as their own, that she'll do anything for them. Even screw the guy that cremates people. That's... love?"
Huh? Where did love come into the picture? Emily obviously has a "hard-on" for biker guys. That's why she had Jax put on his jacket before she screwed him.
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9-11-2008 @ 12:13PM
Jonathan Toomey said...
eric f. --
That's essentially what I said. She's in love with SAMCRO and the lifestyle those associated with it get to live. She'd do anything to be a permanent fixture (girlfriend, wife). I don't see how you thought my comment came out of nowhere.
9-11-2008 @ 12:17PM
kubiac said...
Yeah Amber or Emily or whatever her name is? She's just a group, and Samcro is the rock band. I think Jax called them "Crow-eaters" in the crematorium scene.
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9-11-2008 @ 2:52PM
az1324 said...
I think we're gonna find out that Gemma and Clay conspired to kill Jax's dad and take over the club. Then we will see some real anarchy.
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9-11-2008 @ 5:25PM
Carissa said...
I really, really, really wanted to like this show. I watched the first episode and thought it had potential. And Jax is hot. That always helps matters. But this week? Gah.
The more I see an entire town (called CHARMING no less) run by bikers in their embarrassing gear 24/7, running around with their Barney Fife law force....ick. The last scene, with them all at a dinner together looking like a "family" really killed it for me. While the Sopranos were bad guys, they pretended they weren't. They really didn't get that they were bad guys, in a way. The Sons know exactly what they are doing, and they are not nice, even to each other.
The suspension of disbelief is expected to be so incredibly wide that I don't think I can go on. The sad thing is, this is giving bikers in general a bad name. The bikers in the small town I know are completely different. They do things like rides for vets and Christmas rides to Children's Hospital. These bikers are trash, pure and simple.
Audios SAMCRO!
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9-12-2008 @ 10:38AM
DavidM said...
what makes you think Tony Soprano and crew didn't know what they were doing was wrong? They knew they were criminals but it was their life and they ignored it, it is the exact same with the Sons.
9-12-2008 @ 10:39AM
K.V.C said...
The Sons know exactly what they are doing, and they are not nice, even to each other.
(How aren't they nice to each other?)
I think thats going to be the major point of the show. Jax wants to remake the Son's into what his father wanted, not what his mother and Clay have turned it into. (Gemma said, in the first episode, she wants Jax to follow the "right" Father, meaning Clay and not what his real Father was...)
9-12-2008 @ 10:39AM
Drew said...
I think the bikers in the small town of Charming have a different sort of lifestyle than your friends. There's just not that much drama in rides for charity.
9-12-2008 @ 10:38AM
barbcarnright said...
I really, really, wanted to like this also. After the pilot, I told my husband I was going to watch it again to just give it a chance. I don't know though. One more time.
It's all too unbelievable. Someone has to get caught.
Also, for those of you who didn't catch it, Clay is Jax's real father.
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9-12-2008 @ 10:39AM
Carissa said...
I agree someone has to get caught, too. I wish I could put into words what it is I don't like about them, but I can't.
I really wish I could reply to a reply, but since I can't I'm going to just drone on!
To DavidM, the Sopranos were more subtle. Maybe the mob was like the Sons when they first started, but this is a brand new organization in contrast to the mob that has been around for generations. They are raw. It shows.
How are they not nice to each other K.V.C.? Gemma trying to force Donna and her family back into the group for her own agenda. The offer of groceries was almost a veiled threat. Gemma isn't even cool to her own son.
I think it's great that you all seem to love it; I don't. I wanted to, but I don't. I'm sure we'll find something in common in the future!
9-12-2008 @ 10:39AM
Bill said...
Was Katey Sagal the one singing in the "Son of a Preacher Man" cover at the end? Really sounded like her.
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9-16-2008 @ 1:37PM
T said...
I really love the show....written like Sopranos....showing outlaws lives, loves, family ties, triumphs & disappointments...besides their crimes. And yeah.... I am sure it is not that close to reality....but neither was Sopranos....just very entertaining and close enough.
What does SAMCRO stand for ?
S=sons A=Anarchy M=motorcycle C=club.... whats the R & O stand for ?
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9-16-2008 @ 1:38PM
Jonathan Toomey said...
Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original
9-17-2008 @ 1:17AM
rachellesmom said...
Sons is crazy fun entertainment ! Charlie Hunnam's acting is astounding ! He has really got his american accent down ! Good job Charlie... BTW Charlie is so HOTT !!! I am glad i can enjoy you once a week : ) I hope you become my son in law some day !
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