(S02E03) - "I'm talking about creating a temporary problem that allows you to flush out the permanent one." - Ethan ZobelleThe thing that surprised me most about this week's episode are the number of times it made me laugh. That's hard to do for a show that cracks more skulls per episode than a plastic surgeon.
It doesn't do so by sacrificing the things that make it great. It's still just as hard-edged, emotional and violent as before. You're just chuckling for all the right reasons, this time.
The opening scene of Bobby doing his best Elvis at a bar-mitzvah intertwined with Luanne's Mad Men porn parody had me laughing because it was just so weird and out of place for this show. It had me wondering if I had the right channel on the dial.
Of course, it wastes no time moving right back to the problems facing SAMCRO and the rest of Charming. The scenes where Gemma and Clay interact in the wake of her rape that she refuses to share with anyone except Chief Wayne and Tara takes its slow toll on their relationship. It's hard to know at this point if she'll crack and let her emotions get the best of her, but her ties to the club run deep. It's more than a living or a way of life. It's her family. She's willing to sacrifice her relationship and even her love to keep it alive. The best revenge against the Aryans is to keep them from winning.
Speaking of the Aryans, I love how the show just feeds you tidbits of Alan Arkin and Henry Rollins' characters without spilling everything all at once. They make interesting villains because we know absolutely zilch about them. And you would expect Rollins' cold, psychopathic attitude to be the one harboring more anger but it turns out it's Arkin who reveals that his dead wife killed in a drive-by is the reason he "got into the game." Anger is a strange fuel. It turns good men into monsters and it just may make Arkin the more dangerous threat than Rollins, even if Arkin doesn't look like he could pick up a man over his head and throw him through a plate glass window.
The ultimate climax (ahem) for this episode was the porn queen trying to step into Tara's sensible shoes by making a play for Jax. She really ramps up the crazy and brings Tara even more into the fold when she catches him making a play for her boy, and Gemma tells Tara she needs to set an example by kicking her tight, toned and tanned hide in front of the other pro-sluts. The move that Tara makes was creative and unexpected, but a little disappointing. It's not every day you get to see a porn star/girl next door face off without having to give someone your credit card number.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-23-2009 @ 2:50AM
elorack said...
Another great episode! The nod to Mad Men was hilarious. "You're a bad boss Mr. Draper." One thing not mentioned is Opie's crazy deathwish. At some point his rage and recklessness is going to bite the club in the butt. I just hope that Opie doesn't end up dead. Alan Arkin is great!
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9-23-2009 @ 9:23AM
Steve said...
the show fails to disappoint.
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9-23-2009 @ 9:47AM
Jen said...
Another fantastic episode.
The only thing bothering me is Gemma turning to a bible for comfort. It felt cheap. Hopefully as she begins to heal she'll remember the strong woman she is, the woman who believes in family not fables.
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9-23-2009 @ 9:57AM
Steve said...
some people need that "crutch" hehe.
9-23-2009 @ 10:43AM
TopiaryCow said...
Agree the humor makes the show great--the Don Draper being spanked was hilarious, and is doubly funny since Maggie Siff (Tara) was Draper's girlfriend in the first season. Talk about a cross-over!
The scene of Jax and Tara having a day off was great but the interruption was a little unbelievable--does he truly have NO time off? Is Luann being upset truly such an emergency that Jax has to drop everything to attend to her?
And what about free will? Jax doesn't have to ferry every girl around on his motorcycle just because the lady wants it. Would have liked to see Jax stand up for himself and have Half-Sack or somebody act as chaffeur.
Charlie Hunnam has mentioned in several interviews that this show is about "Integrity."
Disappointing to see Clay getting his rocks off at a party because he's unable to go three weeks without comfort from Gemma. Bobby betraying the club for sex with an aging, married embezzler--is he really that desperate? And most disappointing of all Sheriff Hale, hitherto straight-arrow, betraying his badge and the club because of some slick story by the cigar-store owner.
This is not only disappointing but also not too believable. Jax and Hale teamed up last season after Donna was killed, agreeing that there were some lines that shouldn't be crossed. But now he sells out the club, the town and his belief in the rule of law and opposition to drug dealing because of one discussion? Just not believable.
Gemma, oh please, what a cliche, this hard, biker chick turns to the Bible? Gag me with a spoon. Please don't go there, Kurt.
Glad that Tara found a better way to mark her territory than following Gemma's advice to kick and scratch. Not really her style, though Tara doesn't seem to have a problem slapping and pushing Jax!
Agree, the humor is the saving grace of the show, turning it from another action/violence showcase to something clever, entertaining and different.
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10-14-2009 @ 12:09AM
sonsofanarchygirl said...
I am not commenting on any particular episode I am a big fan of them all, I just wanna say Son's of Anarchy kick's ass. I love Jemma she is one hot woman as well as Jacs, Opie, and Clay I love them all. I just hope this show continues to get better every new show is better than before, I mean these bikers come off as hard asses who sell guns but deep down they really are trying to do the right thing. I hope this show has many seasons to come.
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