Hold onto your helmets because it looks like we are in for one hell of a ride this season. Season two left off with Jackson’s son Abel being kidnapped by the Gun running Irishman. He of course was sadly misled by the black hearted Agent Stahl into believing that Gemma Teller-Morrow had killed his beloved son. It starts off clearing up the details from last season. Jaxs has naturally fallen apart as anyone wound under such horrific circumstances. He’s shutting down and pushing away those that are the closest to him.
I’m happy to say that the lovely Tara grows up under the harsh realities of Half Sac’s death, the kidnapping of Abel and the framing of Gemma. The long and the short of it is that Tara grows a set and a large set at that; not only hanging onto her man but letting Agent Stahl know not to mess with her! You go girl.
As I said Gemma's on the run or the lam, forced there by the queen with a capital “C” Agent Stahl. The part is played to the hilt by Ally Walker. The writers have done this character proud and the actress knocks it out of the park! With that aside Gemma is now wanted in five states for the murders of the Irishman’s son and the daughter of the notorious Sobel. Along with the supposed attempt on the repugnant agent Stahl's life.
Far from home and at first in the dark about all the events that have taken place in her absence Gemma is sad. I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the comic relief thrown in as Gemma tries to hot wire a suburban finding she must find her cheaters first. If you’re over forty-five you’ll get a kick out of that one.Once she found out about Abel nothing and no one will be able to stop her. Gemma is in the protective hands of the ever loyal Tig. He tries desperately to stop her from heading back to her family. The truth is obvious Tig would rather wrestle with an alligator with his bare hands then go up against the iron will of Gemma. Yup the writers did her character proud. We all know nothing would ever keep Gemma Morrow-Teller from the people she loves! Not even the overzealous suburban owner whom she summarily stabs nearly in his junk. Oh well a girls got to do what a girls got to do!
Meanwhile the SOA crew is on the look out for leads as to the possible whereabouts of baby Abel. Everyone’s looking the cops, the 9rs and SAMCRO. There’s a great bike on car chase with a little gun play thrown in for good measure. The guys doing the actual riding after the car they are pursuing smashes into another car showed off the riders exceptional riding skills. The angle in which it was shot made it look exceptionally real. The only exception I take with any of this is that these boys continue to ride with their helmets unbuckled. Most of us that ride know all too well that if you don’t clip your novelty helmet it will land in the street moments after you hit any actual speed. Buckle up boys if we gotta then so do you!
Jax is despondent and Papa Clay is worried their search has turned up nothing. Meanwhile Pineys character is busy with funeral arrangements for the now departed Eddie or Kippy or Kip; the soldier and war hero and beloved SAMCRO Prospect, Half Sac. While watching this scene I noticed something I had previously overlooked. Piney the dinosaur club member and original Redwood Original is holding tightly to his past not succumbing to the new wave of black leather vests that everyone wears today. In the old days cutoffs were exactly that. They were Levi jackets with the sleeves and collars removed hence the term cutoff now abbreviated to cut. Good on whoever has been around long enough to remember that!
As the episode unfolds you meet Gemma’s estranged preacher father who suffers from dementia but thankfully remembers his long lost daughter. I don’t know where this will lead but Hal Holbrook is a stellar choice and I expect we will see more of this old man as the series unfolds.
As Half Sac is laid to rest and Clay calls bullshit on Jax wallowing in self pity unable to see past his grief. Clay Morrow the President, step-father and grandfather to the missing Abel throws down the gauntlet hoping desperately that Jax will pick it up. Funerals especially in the biker world are off limits to any and all bullshit, rivalry or retaliation. Over history rival clubs stand clear at club funerals staunchly demanding the same respect should they lose one of their own. It is one rule I have never heard has ever been broken. My hunch is that leaves the Mayan’s out out of the loop.
The twist of all great twists takes place at the very end. Then it jumps up and slugs you in the face with another. Holy crap did I just see that? I didn’t see the second one coming. Officer Hail, soon to be the new Chief of the Charming PD, is violently mowed down by the same van that unleashed a hail of bullets into the grieving crowd. The action was superb as people dove for cover not knowing where to hide or what to do. Innocent people were hit in the may lay. Unser empties his gun into the van yielding a live perpetrator who is being held at gunpoint by the armed police officers.
Both in the written script and the talent of the actors amongst this backdrop of ciaos you bare witness as Jax bends down picking up that gauntlet. His rage and pain collide in an explosion as he tosses the officers out of his way grabbing hold of his hooded nemesis. Jax smashes the man’s face into the asphalt repeatedly. As proud papa Clay played brilliantly by Ron Perlman watches from the sidelines before intervening.
Everyone involved with this deserves a pat on the back for making Tuesday the best night on television. It keeps you invested wanting more. I give this episode what else but six shots out of six. It’s just that good. Stay tuned until next week.
All the best,
SS Sal
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