Episode 3.01 “So”
Is everyone recuperating after watching last night’s episode? (Don’t worry, if you didn’t get to see it yet I will not spoil anything…yet. You will get fair warning when I get into the nitty gritty).
After what felt like a loooooong hiatus, a lot of build up and hype counting down to the new season, the premiere episode did not disappoint. With a new season you never know what you’re going to get, especially when the dynamic of the show switches up like SOA has.
Ok, now I’m going to get into details of tonight’s premiere. If you haven’t seen it and don’t want to know any details, STOP READING. Here’s a nice photo of Charlie Hunnam. You can gaze into his pretty face for a little bit and then take a hike (or skip all the way to the bottom to watch the pre-show chat video with Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter).
For the rest of you, be prepared for my stream of consciousness and thoughts throughout the episode.
just lookit that mug!
“Every time I think maybe I’m heading in the right direction, I end up in a place I never even knew could feel this bad.”– Jax
“Dad’s Gonna Kill Me“–Richard Thompson
Random thoughts & tidbits about the episode:
- Charlie Hunnam does a great job conveying a hollow, exhausted Jax full of despair.
- Hey, it’s nice to see Chuckie!
- Ladies, aren’t you glad that Mr. Hunnam doesn’t mind taking his clothes off? But, what’s with the bad hair extensions?
- OK, can the debate finally be ended now: HALF-SACK IS DEAD.
- With the power struggle that was dominant in season 2 between Jax and Clay, that big hug between them made me go “aww…”
- Maggie Siff has taken Tara to another level. I never particularly liked her character, but tonight she may have changed my mind. It’s been interesting watching her struggle and begin to crack after all she’s been through. Oh, and I still want her car!
- This probably amused me more than it should but did you catch “Uncle Rico” from Napoleon Dynamite as the passport forger, Mr. Magoo?
- Jacob Hale is back. You may recall he is running for mayor of Charming (against Oswald, the guy who owns the lumber mill and bailed the guys out of jail last season) and will no doubt add another layer of trouble for SAMCRO.
- Gemma’s anxiety to get out of that hotel room made me antsy.
- Cameron’s boat is named “Dithreabhaigh” which means “The Homeless.”
- I thought the car chase scene was a little lame. The Sons took the time to put their helmets on and still managed to catch up to the car, all while maintaining perfect ride formation. And the barbed wire around Opie’s leg? What was that all about?
- Piney: I love the dynamic between him and Jax and how he acts as the spiritual guide.
- Oh, Agent Stahl: How we hate thee! Ally Walker is once again great as the hateful, narcissistic, dirty agent.
- Much needed comic relief: Gemma realizing she needed her reading glasses to hotwire that car!
- Clay’s dual role as caring father and club leader was an interesting juxtaposition. He is trying to be gentle and supportive toward Jax after this horrible thing has happened, and yet as SAMCRO’s leader he needs to stoke Jax’s anger, to get it to rise up and set an example for the rest of the club. Who knew it would come out so violent and unpredictable?
- 3 new prospects will be around to replace Half Sack: Filthy Phil, Shepherd and Miles
- Seeing all of the SAMCRO members milling around in front of the funeral home did raise a flag for me. They looked like sitting ducks. Especially when the time was taken to show each character and where they ended up outside when exiting the building. A slow, approaching van is NEVER a good sign!
- Just like the end of the premiere episode for Season 2 (the gang rape), this episode ended with such intensity that I nearly fell off the edge of my seat. A calculated drive-by shooting on SAMCRO at Half-Sack’s wake. My first thought was “Oh, it’s the Mayans” but I quickly dismissed that. Then I went through the next in line: White Power or the Irish? But…I remembered Jacob Hale, mayoral candidate and hater of SAMCRO. Conveniently he is there in the crowd at the wake, but just out of harm’s way. I’m going to put my money down that he’s behind it. Sadly, his brother ended up a casualty.
- And if anyone is wondering: HALE IS DEAD. The rear tire of the van ran over his head, that’s what that smashing pumpkin sound was. His brains were on the pavement. Please don’t ask if he’s really dead. HE’S REALLY DEAD. (And Hale packing up his office and moving into the big “Chief” office should’ve been a tip-off. I’m mad at myself for not picking up on that, but I’m glad that I didn’t because that was the big “Holy Shit” moment that I needed and wanted.)
- Um, hey Charming police. Sure, your almost-new Chief just got his brains smeared all over the road, but you might want to stop that desperate and enraged biker from turning your one lead to that unprovoked shooting into bloody red paste on the pavement. Just sayin’…
So, what did you all think? I got some instant Twitter reaction, but now that you’ve slept on it, what are your thoughts?
If you didn’t see the pre-show chat with Kurt Sutter and Katey Sagal, here ya go! (It takes a bit of time up front to get going.)
Next week’s episode: “Oiled”
Jax and the club help a bounty hunter track someone down to get information on Abel’s whereabouts. At Half-Sack’s wake, the club press a source for answers the SAMCRO way. Also Gemma deals with her father’s dementia.
Sons of Anarchy, Season 3 Episode 2 "Oiled"
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