Chibs makes a secret deal with Agent Stahl in order to protect his wife and daughter. Opie learns the true circumstances that led to Donna’s death and seeks both revenge and reconciliation.
“The outlaw had mercy.” -Opie
Sons of Anarchy season 2 episode 11 "Service"
The subtitle to this episode should have been True Confessions of the Sons of Anarchy. Wow. Everyone has laid their cards out on the table this week and things have now gotten verrrry interesting.
The good:
Gemma’s gamble pays off and the Jax/Clay rift is closed and sealed tightly. I got the warm fuzzies seeing Clay holding Abel while they discussed killing their enemies…
Tara’s diarrhea-of-the mouth string of openess to Jax. I actually had to giggle at her moment of craziness.
the sticky groping make-out scene with Tig & Gemma that says so much without saying anything at all. Tig needs to feel something other than guilt, Gemma needs to know that someone still desires her after she convinced herself that Clay will reject her since she was violated.
Tig’s inevitable guilt-consumed moment of spilling the beans. I wanted Opie to beat on him a little more, not take off after the blame was placed on Agent Stahl. But if he didn’t go after her he’d never have found out about Chibs’ deal
I love how all the various plot points are beginning to come together, like when Jax realizes that Zobelle is in bed with the Mayans and the implications of that partnership.
Opie’s confrontation with Stahl had me on the edge of my seat, especially when he handed her the empty magazine. Whoa. Ally Walker’s performance was great in this scene.
Gemma’s flirtation with religion boils down to the poignant conversation she has with the priest, which I would say directly impacts the scene she shares with Chibs later on. In fact, this episode it’s reiterated that she is *the* female epicenter of the club.
the “Guy-Love” scene with Opie and Jax. So glad to see them getting along again.
Ryan Hurst. Good lord he is great.
Clay, in a sense, is starting to “get it.” Finally.
The not-so good:
I kind of expected Jimmy O. to be more full of piss & vinegar during the chat with Clay. Perhaps this is a quiet facet of the character.
As much as I love how Opie handled everything with thought and quiet rage, didn’t you just want to see him go bat shit ballistic on everyone? But of course, that would be too obvious of a reaction for this show, right?
Sons of anarchy news
Ratings: Update: TV by the Numbers says:Tuesday night’s Sons of Anarchy tied The Jay Leno Show with a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating and beat ABC’s the forgotten (1.8). Tuesdays are Jay Leno’s best ratings of the week, too (so yeah, SOA’s 18-49 numbers beat the Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday airings of The Jay Leno Show).
Follow SutterInk on Twitter
This is a carry over from last week, but deserves to be repeated. If you’re on Twitter, a fan of the show and not following Kurt Sutter, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. He’s not only a direct line to the show itself, but he’s also candid, frank, brutally honest and still somewhat approachable (if you’re respectful and not a babbling idiot). He’s looking to build his Twitter followers, since there’s no official Twitter account for SoA.
There’s even some incentive: “loving the power of twitter. no SOA twitter account, so help me grow Sutterink. want 5213 followers by the finale. signed scripts for number(s) 3666, 4069, 5213.“
As of today’s post he is up to 4059 followers, so start following @sutterink and you could win a signed script!
Sons of Anarchy: Most Shocking Moments TV Without Pity has posted a photo gallery of them.
Next week:
Episode 2.12 “The Culling” The entire SAMCRO family goes on lockdown inside the clubhouse as Jax and Clay prepare to battle The League. A.J. Weston learns the truth about Ethan Zobelle’s business dealings in Charming. Applying what she has learned from Gemma, Tara ensures her position at St. Thomas Hospital.
This looks like it will be a cool line. Too bad it won’t be available until January, could have been some good gifts for holiday shopping. -RK
Press release:
A match made in motorcycle heaven
Fuller Hot Rods and Hot Leathers have teamed up to become the number one purveyors of coolness. Hot Leathers, the industry leader in motorcycle apparel and accessories and Fuller Hot Rods, the home of award-winning hot rod and motorcycle builder and designer, Bryan Fuller, have partnered to create a full line of clothing and accessories sure to top any biker’s wish list.
Working overtime, the creative minds at Fuller Hot Rods and Hot Leathers have melded their individual fields of expertise and have joined forces to create a line of clothing that embodies Fuller’s motorcycle savvy and Hot Leathers’ unbeatable design and selection.
Fuller Hot Rods and Hot Leathers Create Clothing Line
Fuller Hot Rods, the inspiration for this new line of apparel, has been building innovative and award-winning machines for over five years. Fuller’s mastery and prowess in bike-building has set him apart from other builders. He is has currently the co-host of the oldest “how-to” car show on SPEED, “Two Guys Garage” and caught the eye of Hot Leathers, who is always on the look out for design inspiration.
“I’ve been looking to expand my existing apparel line and am stoked to have partnered with Hot Leathers,” says Fuller. “They have been an industry standard for years. They have provided me with great designs that I know everybody is going to love.”
In addition, Hot Leathers who is known for their unbeatable selection of motorcycle merchandise for over 25 years, has earned its place as one of America’s top 50 volume screen printers. If you love the bold and original merchandise that has become synonymous with Hot Leathers, you’ll love the all-new designs available through their new line of Fuller clothing and accessories.
“We’ve been looking to partner with a bike builder who shares our tastes and passion,” explains Hot Leathers’ retail operations manager, Andy George. “Bryan is the perfect fit and our type of guy. We’re thrilled with the new line and you will be too.”
For a superior product, innovative designs and huge selection, check out the new Fuller Hot Rod line of apparel and accessories available exclusively through Hot Leathers available online January 1, 2010
An extra-long episode billed as a 90 minute show is really about 54 minutes of content. If you don’t like extra commercial breaks then you might want to consider watching the next 90 minute episode (season finale) from your TiVo or DVR.
Agent Stahl takes notice at the handsome profits SAMCRO is reaping from the repo business. Meanwhile, the Jax-Clay standoff forces Gemma to make a difficult decision.
“This is just a detour on a very long road.” -Jax
Opie in episode 2.10 "Balm"
The good:
Piney makes a poignant return
Chibs giving the ATF a heart-attack when he confronts Edmund about the guns and HELLO TITUS, I mean, Jimmy O!
I am liking Agent Stahl this season for her cheeky yet no bullshit approach
learning the amount of damage that Jimmy O has caused in Chibs’ life (not to mention how diabolical he truly is when talking about Chibs’ daughter. Ewww.) “We both know he’s the devil.”
the scene where Jax & Gemma discuss him going Nomad is so amazing. As my Twitter friend, @robdale tweeted to me: “one of the most subtle SOA scenes is when Gemma asks Jax if he was going to tell her about going Nomad. She tells him to sit down. He goes into her office and sits down and removes his hat. Suddenly, he is just a boy talking to his mom.”
brass and fungi
Chibs’ limits pushed beyond his control
when Jax apologizes to Clay for assuming he was responsible for the fire at Caracara, Clay is less than responsive. It’s a juxtaposition of the prior scene with Gemma: she’s Jax’s loving mother who will do what it takes to keep him around. Clay is the evil step-dad that wants to remove a giant obstacle, which at this point is Jax.
“It’s cowarm!“
the minute Gemma says to Unser “you need to protect the club” we know exactly what she plans to do. And it made me squirm in my seat.
Opie’s coming out of the death spiral he was in, even if it’s a result of getting involved with a coke-head porn star. Think it’ll last?
Tig & Halfsack’s very different experiences on the “serious fungi”
I have no words that could do justice to the final scene of Gemma’s confession to Jax & Clay. The acting is so unbelievable in the most subtle way possible: through their eyes. Tara’s silent encouragement. Clay’s realization of the suffering his wife has been going through. Jax’s hurt and anger that someone could defile his mother so completely.
The stillness of the scene is what makes it so powerful. You can feel the tension in the room and the stunned silence of everyone when Gemma drops this bomb on them. That they didn’t react in what could have been formulaic television drama makes it so much more powerful (sure Jax has that one outburst slamming his hand on the table, but let’s cut him some slack. He’s had an incredibly shitty day that just got an assload worse).
I guarantee there wasn’t a dry eye in anyone’s house after Jax gets up and takes his mother’s hands in his own.
And the irony is that this one act that Zoebelle thought would tear SAMCRO apart will actually have the opposite effect. If Gemma had told them straight out right after it happened, the outcome might have been what Zobelle was counting on. We’ll never know. She kept it secret for so long to maintain the club’s stability. By picking the moment before it almost fell apart irrevocably would hopefully bring Jax & Clay back together. It was a big gamble on her part and when Jax grabs his patches on his way out of the door, it looks like it’s going to pay off.
The not-so good:
We still don’t know whether Chucky or Darby died in the fire at Caracara. I’m assuming this info will be revealed in the near future.
Poor Tara, despite doing right by her man and the club, she still gets cornholed at the hospital by being put on suspension
Abel. It’s a nitpicky thing but we all know that kids take up a lot more time than this kid does. He must sleep a lot. And spend a lot of time with the nanny.
Only 3 episodes left of the season!
The interesting:
For a second time, Jax is referred to as the “Prince”-this time by Agent Stahl.
Does Gemma really think that John Teller committed suicide or does she know that he was murdered by Clay?
Opie twice makes reference to Clay as Jax’s “father”. At first I thought that he was so wrapped up in his own familiar turmoil that he was trying to imprint it on everyone else, but in watching it again it occurred to me that he’s trying to use the father/son bond (as loose as it is) to remind Clay & Jax of the basic nature of their relationship. This reminder, on top of the anvil that Gemma dropped on them at the end of the episode, helps build the bridge that closes the rift between them.
Good GOD if Katey Sagal doesn’t get some sort of Emmy nod it will be a crime! The show itself has already been overlooked for a People’s Choice Award…
I think Charlie Hunnam needs a nod for his performance as well. Katey Sagal is so good as Gemma that she can overshadow others easily. In “Balm” Charlie has takes Jax and boils him down to what he really is: a scared kid. He looks to his elders for advice all episode long. He finds some solid advice from Gemma and Bobby. But twice he’d gone to the only father figure he has looking for acceptance, and twice he was shot down. Clearly the decision to go Nomad was not something he truly wanted to do, evident by the dejected look on Jax’s face after the vote is unanimous for him to go. He had hoped that the club would fight for him to stay. And then of course there’s that final scene…whew! Nice job.
Sons of anarchy news
I’m keeping the news aspect light this week since my observations of the episode were so lengthy.
Ratings TV by the Numbers reports that the 90 minute episode averaged 3.38 million viewers, making it basic cable’s most watched show in primetime with adults 18-49. Compared to its season one average, Sons has shown an increase of 64% in total viewers.
Follow SutterInk on Twitter
If you’re on Twitter, are a fan of the show and not following Kurt Sutter, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. He’s not only a direct line to the show itself, but he’s also candid, frank, brutally honest and still somewhat approachable (if you’re respectful and not a babbling idiot). He’s looking to build his Twitter followers, since there’s no official Twitter account for SoA.
There’s even some incentive: “loving the power of twitter. no SOA twitter account, so help me grow Sutterink. want 5213 followers by the finale. signed scripts for number(s) 3666, 4069, 5213.“
He’s roughly got 3600 followers at the moment, so start following @sutterink and you could win a signed script!
What he has to say about “Balm“:
“Glad people dug balm. Knew I wanted to play out that reveal and have gemma use it to help heal. So proud o my cast and my beautiful wife.”
“To all you fucking whining about the commercials last night-90 minute ep is a seven act structure. More act breaks, more ads. It ain’t hbo.“
See? Brutally honest and frank.
Next week:
Episode 2.11 “Service” Chibs makes a secret deal with Agent Stahl in order to protect his wife and daughter. Opie learns the true circumstances that led to Donna’s death and seeks both revenge and reconciliation.
Harley-Davidson has declared November “Military Appreciation Month” to honor the services of active and retired U.S. military personnel. Ever since the first American troops rode Harley-Davidson motorcycles during the Mexican Expedition in 1916, the Motor Company has enjoyed a bond with the men and women who have served our nation.
In honor of Military Appreciation Month, we’ve put together a number of different ways for us all to salute men and women who serve our country.
HD declares November "Military Appreciattion Month"
A special section of the Harley-Davidson web site
http://www.harley-davidson.com/thankyou – allows visitors to salute active and retired military members on electronic postcards featuring H-D motorcycles and fellow rider and U.S. military supporter Marisa Miller. Watch the behind the scenes video from the recent photo shoot.
Free schwag
Participating H-D dealerships have free military-themed posters, postcards, and calendars featuring Marisa Miller (calendars available only to those with a military I.D.). While you’re there, don’t forget to sign the H-D flag that will be sent to troops overseas.
Contest
The “Harley Salutes the Military Contest,” created in partnership with Maxim magazine, gives active or retired personnel the chance to win a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle of their choice – delivered personally by Marisa. The winner will also receive Rider’s Edge training and four tickets to attend the Jan. 2, 2010, Ultimate
Fighting Championship event in Las Vegas. Visit http://www.maxim.com/salutes to enter and get exclusive downloads.
Hard to believe we’re already talking about toy runs already. Wasn’t it just summer?
Press release:
Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Heats Up in Preparation for 2009 Toys in the Sun Run
Start this year’s holiday season off with a bang by attending the 11th Annual Fort Lauderdale Harley-Davidson Bikers Bash benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. Bike enthusiasts from across the country will converge on Fort Lauderdale for the most happening motorcycle event in the Southeast on December 3-6. Weekend festivities will kick off Friday evening, December 4 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for the Bikers Bash VIP event and will culminate at the South Florida President’s Council 22nd Annual Christmas Toys in the Sun Run-the world’s largest motorcycle parade.
11th annual Toys in the Sun Run
Biker Bash festivities begin Friday, December 4 with a police-escorted ride from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to the Admirals club Marine Academy and then along beautiful A1A to the Quarterdeck Restaurant on Las Olas. The kick-off party at the Quarterdeck will include lunch, cocktails and VIP motorcycle parking.
The Bikers Bash celebration will commence at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ballroom. Hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the 11th Annual Bikers Bash is the premier VIP motorcycle event of South Florida. This year’s event will include dinner, live entertainment and a Charity Auction all to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. This year’s event will feature the musical styling of the Jake and Elwood Blues Revue- the #1 Blues Brothers act in the world and the only Blues Brothers act sanctioned by the Belushi estate and Dan Aykroyd. This high energy show will surely be one that you won’t soon forget.
Also performing will be the Purrfect Angelz. This elite show troupe of talented women includes dancers, singers, fire twirlers, aerial artists and acrobats and are top in talent and beauty. You won’t want to miss this stunning and sexy performance.
Attendees will also have the chance to see a number of great bikes from an impressive line-up of builders. Industry giants Paul Yaffe, Eddie Trotta with Lorenzo Lamas, Rick Fairless, and Athena Ransom will have motorcycles on display at the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse as the last stop for 2009. Also featured will be the last bike that the late Jerry Graves built before his death.
Dave Perewitz
The highlight of this year’s Biker Bash VIP event includes a drawing for a FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide donated by Bruce Rossmeyer Harley Davidson. Tickets are $20/piece or 6 for $100 with all proceeds to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County.
The weekend culminates early Sunday morning for the 22nd Annual SFPC Christmas Toys in the Sun Run. Touted to be the world’s longest motorcycle parade, the ride will be held Sunday, December 6, with all proceeds going to benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation. Riders will meet at the Aero Toy Store for a continental breakfast then line up for a Bikers Bash police-escort to the Pompano Race Track in Pompano Beach where tens of thousands of riders will gather for the parade ending at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida.
The event cost is $10 and one unwrapped toy per person. Those arriving at Markham Park without a toy will be charged an additional $10 entry fee. However, riders will be able to purchase toys at Markham Park before entering the event. No preregistration is required unless you wish to be a VIP rider. Bikers Bash VIP’s will assist in leading the world’s largest motorcycle parade along Interstate highways I-95 to I-595 to Markham Park where the festivities of the day will take place. A VIP catered tent will provide home-base for Bikers Bash participants to park and enjoy the catered lunch, concert, vendors, bike show and much more.
Join in this year’s Biker Bash festivities to include a myriad of police-escorted rides to some of the area’s hottest spots, great food, open bars, live music and casino fun as motorcyclists celebrate their passion for riding while helping the children of Southern Florida.
When SAMCRO’s adult-film business becomes a hindrance to the club, Clay seizes the opportunity to revive the gun-running cartel. As Jax and Clay continue to clash over club activities, their relationship reaches a new level of antagonism.
“I’m going Nomad.” -Jax
episode 2.09 "Fa Guan"
The good:
the short, yet completely devastating opening scene of Jax visiting a physically (and now mentally) broken Otto. Kurt Sutter may be a fantastic writer, but in this scene also a fantastic actor with all of the subtleties conveyed. He’s in jail for the club, his wife died because of the club and while the club is all he has left, he wants nothing to do with the club. Extra twist of the knife in the heart seeing the wheelchair in the foreground as Jax walks away. Ugh!
maybe its just me, but the fact that Bobby made banana bread is really awesome
Clay’s complete contempt for Jax & the porn biz (it’s “dirty”-really Clay? Running guns and killing people is tolerable though)
Zobelle still trying to muscle Hale into working together and Hale’s surprising reaction of going to Clay to handle the problem. Wonder how Hale is going to justify jumping into bed with the club further down the line and maintain his integrity. Or will he end up just like Unser?
Tig’s position with Clay is (ironically) threatened by Opie, who we see teetering on & almost going beyond the point of no return. The scene at the judge’s house was intense to say the least.
Chibs & Tara working the hospital system
Darby gets his come-uppance
the return of the homeless girl from last season, who seems to be an enlightening guide to Jax and Gemma
another instance of Gemma looking for peace in church
god bless Charlie Hunnam’s derriere!
The not-so good:
being reminded that Unser is an ill man and the fragile mortality of this great character
I’m stuck at the casting road block of Mitch Pileggi as that sleaze-bag Darby. I still see him as A.D. Skinner on “X-Files.” I guess now it doesn’t really matter!
Did Chucky make it out of the fire? If not, I don’t accept that…
And a few observations that amuse me: I think this is the first episode that we actually hear Jax referred to as the “Little Prince.”
Holy sexcapades: you gotta love how far Kurt Sutter pushes network television with all of the sex scenes in this episode. It makes me wonder what this show would be like if it were on a cable network…
Sons of anarchy news
Ratings: TV By the Numbers says last night with a 1.8 adults 18-49 rating (same as last week) and 3.5 million viewers (up a touch from last week). It will again be the #1 scripted drama on cable this week.
Monsters & Critics sent a letter to John Landgraf, the president of FX, asking where the order is for Season 3. Read: “John, where’s the beef?”
How does Charlie Hunnam feel about being naked on the show?E!Online asked him:
“I’m very glad that I made the choice to have the back patch tattooed on me. Me and Opie (Ryan Hurst) both have it. I’m very glad, because it’s always exciting to see that piece of artwork, because otherwise it would just be me standing there, totally gratuitous.” (We’ll take it.)”
gratuitous nekkidness!
The fighting Irish
As we already know, SoA have a tie in with the IRA when it comes with gun-running and we learned that some even more high-profile members are coming stateside. Last week we met Fiona, who is Chibs’ (ex?) wife and one of the few women who scares Gemma. She is 3rd generation IRA and the woman behind the ominous, Jimmy O (played by the fantastic Titus Welliver), whom we’ll have the pleasure of meeting next week.
Ask Ausellio: You must tell me when Gemma tells SAMCRO what happened to her on Sons of Anarchy! —Cindy
Ausiello: …the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth comes out in the Nov. 10 episode.
Speaking of next week: a 90-minute episode!
Episode 2.10: “Balm”
Agent Stahl takes notice at the handsome profits SAMCRO is reaping from the repo business. Meanwhile, the Jax-Clay standoff forces Gemma to make a difficult decision.
