Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Review: 'Sons of Anarchy' piled on the plot in season 5

No magical CIA agents, but is the biker drama still over-complicating things?

By Alan Sepinwall Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012 9:05 AM

Kurt Sutter and Donal Logue in "Sons of Anarchy."

Credit: FX

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“Sons of Anarchy” wrapped up its fifth season last night. Geoff Berkshire has been reviewing episodes all year, and his take on the finale is here. Meanwhile, I have some overall thoughts on the season, coming up just as soon as I’m here for in vitro counseling…

So a few episodes ago on “Sons of Anarchy,” our conflicted biker hero Jax Teller told confidante Bobby Elvis about his latest master plan for getting the Sons out of the various jams the club inevitably winds up in.

Bobby pondered this new information for a moment, then said, “That’s a lot of moves. A lot of lies.”

I would try explaining exactly what that plan of Jax’s entailed, or the one he employed in last night’s season finale, but Bobby Elvis summed up both the plans and the series itself with those two sentences.

On “Sons of Anarchy,” at any given moment, there will be a lot of moves, and a lot of lies. And a whole lot of plot.

“Sons” creator Kurt Sutter has described the show as “an adrenalized soap opera, it's bloody pulp fiction with highly complex characters.” Seen through that lens, the sheer tonnage of story and conspiracies — with Jax simultaneously caught between a Mexican drug cartel, a prosperous black crime lord seeking revenge for his daughter’s death, IRA gun runners, and the machinations of his mother Gemma and stepfather Clay — makes sense.

And on a whole, the fifth season did better at dealing with all of its plot than did the fourth, which concluded with the out of left field revelation that the club’s cartel contacts were undercover CIA operatives with the power to make every single problem of the season go away. There were no cheats of that level this time around — no characters admitting that they’re actually extra terrestrials who moved out of the gated community from “The Neighbors” — and the various stories led to some brutal, unsparing conclusions in the finale.

Jax, who spent most of the last two seasons looking for a way out of town with wife Tara and their kids, instead was absolutely corrupted by the absolute power that comes with sitting in the club president’s seat, and elected to stay and consolidate his forces. (In parallel, Jax’s new business partner Nero declined his own retirement opportunities in favor of re-entering the violent but thrilling gang life he’d been on the verge of escaping.) Tara, ready to take the boys away on her own, was instead arrested for her unwitting role in a murder committed by incarcerated club member Big Otto, while the self-loathing, suicidal Otto(*)literally bit off his own tongue to avoid having to answer questions from investigators. Jax arranged for the murder of this season’s big bad, Damon Pope, and framed Clay for the murder, knowing that Pope had already made arrangements for his killer to himself be killed.

(*) Otto is played by Kurt Sutter himself. On both this show and “The Shield,” Sutter has demonstrated a flair for the stomach-churning, and he often saves the most extreme of those moments for scenes involving his on-screen alter ego. When Otto spit his tongue onto the table, half of me was wincing and the other half was thinking, “Of course!”

All of this was very effectively presented, as the show has embraced the toxic effect the club has on all who get involved with it — including the once-sympathetic Jax, whose surprising transformation into self-justifying villain was wonderfully written, and played by Charlie Hunnam. And as Pope and Nero, respectively, Harold Perrineau and Jimmy Smits turned in some of the best work of their careers.

Where the style of “Sons of Anarchy” still loses me, though, is in how busy and complicated the story inevitably gets each season, until you reach one of those Bobby Elvis moments where you just have to take a mental break to be sure you’re keeping track of it all.

It’s not even that the story is hard to follow (which it usually isn't), so much as it is that the contortions of the plot wind up undercutting these highly complex characters that Sutter talks about.

Clay spent all of last season ruthlessly scheming against Jax and anyone else who stood against him, telling any lie necessary to escape his latest jam. He began the new season in a reduced capacity, struggling to move or breathe without an oxygen tank, seemingly remorseful over all the misdeeds that cost him his crown, his wife, and the respect of those around him — but it was eventually revealed as part of a long con that Clay hoped would get him back the club presidency. By the time the story went back and forth and back and forth, Clay was once again acting filled with regret, but by then it became impossible to take any of his words or deeds at face value.

There were definitely times when the plot overload wound up illustrating a character arc, like the way Jax’s worst impulses took hold as the threats to the club and his family mounted. The scene last week where he injected his recovering addict ex-wife with heroin to head off a custody dispute was chilling in how uncompromising it was. Almost as good was Tara’s reaction in the finale to Wendy telling her about it; where once she would have been in denial about it, here she quickly accepted that, yes, this is who and what her husband has become.

I think a piece of self-described bloody pulp fiction can have great characters, just as great characters can be at the center of an adrenalized soap opera. (“Breaking Bad” fits both those descriptions at various times.) But when “Sons of Anarchy” returns next fall, I’d love to see it ease back on the throttle just a bit, and find a way to explore these great characters without piling problem upon problem upon twist on top of them.

A few other thoughts on the finale, and season:

* As a fan of both "Terriers" the show and Donal Logue the actor, I'm glad to see the plot set in motion for Lee Toric to stick around as an adversary for the club. And I'll be curious to see whether he was the one who found something implicating Tara for conspiracy, or if Gemma lived up to her threat to keep Tara from taking the boys away by any means necessary. (Certainly, Gemma has mounted a stirring comeback from that point at mid-season where all the characters rightly wanted nothing to do with her.)

* When I last wrote about the show, I said I wanted to see what Sutter and company had in store for the repercussions of Opie's death before I judged whether eliminating one of the show's best characters and actors was a good idea. Ultimately, I think the impact the death had on Jax — who seemed to push much deeper into the territory of by any means necessary in the wake of Opie's murder — was worth it for the arc of our main character. I just wish the episode(s) after Opie died (the first one in particular) did a better job of capturing the impact of his absence from the club and the series, rather than just diving into more beefs with more adversaries for Jax to resolve.

* That said, the SAMCRO roster is awfully thin right now, whether Clay (who already lost his patch and had his tattoos blacked in) dies (which I doubt) or simply rots in prison. Time to bring in even more fresh blood next year, or will we learn that the remaining nomads and other charters have started to (rightly) view Charming as a place to be avoided at all costs?

* I traditionally do a season-ending post-mortem interview with Sutter (he even belatedly agreed to do one last year). This year, I didn't request to do one, simply because I hadn't been doing weekly analysis of the show, which helps fuel the kinds of questions I ask during those interviews. I didn't pay any less attention to the show this year, but it's still a different way of watching for me, and I'd rather not do the interview if I can't do it right. (And before anyone asks, I'm not beefing with Sutter; our last interaction was very cordial, and he even answered a few questions for my book.)

Alan Sepinwall may be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Related Searches: Sons of Anarchy, Kurt Sutter, Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, Ryan Hurst

renton

Since he can't speak, maybe Otto will open a Twitter account now.
December 5, 2012 at 10:28AM EST Reply to Comment
- tique How does not speaking let Otto off the question-answering hook? Can't he just write the answers out?
  December 6, 2012 at 12:40PM EST
- Dezbot Otto's Tongue should have the account.
  December 6, 2012 at 12:52PM EST
- JoLo I suspect Otto has already given a statement implicared Tara, and bit his tongue off so he doesn't have to elaborate
  December 8, 2012 at 11:49AM EST
Steve

Yeah you don't know what u are talking about SOA is the best show in TV right now,It's the second best show in history right behind The Shield. You are not that bright if you can't follow the story or the plot. This is why you are not successfull and not well known. I will be the number 1 critic in the USA by the time 2013 ends, so save this comment and one day you can frame it on your wall! Here is a little sample of things you will find on my site soon. Greatest show ever to be canned: LIGHTS OUT (FX) Top 5 shows of all time: The Shield,SOA,Breaking Bad,Justified,Prison Break
December 5, 2012 at 11:07AM EST Reply to Comment
- Matt Wow...just....just wow.
  December 5, 2012 at 11:29AM EST
- normajeanmonster So 3 of the 5 greatest shows of all time were on FX? Did you forget to put batteries in your remote?
  December 5, 2012 at 11:37AM EST
- Ed G. Darnit Alan, you missed writing about Prison Break in your book!!!
  December 5, 2012 at 11:55AM EST
- bhietanen The book mentioned that The Shield had the best series finale, but he must have forgotten Prison Break finale! Kellerman returns! Scylla!
  December 5, 2012 at 11:59AM EST
- dan Steve - Every year, there are dozens of new critics named "Steve." We're going to need a full name from you in order to properly justify framing this comment come next year at this time...
  
  -Daniel
  December 5, 2012 at 1:13PM EST
- RileyJMU Wow. I didn't know FX produces cared that much to comment on hitfix.com. I hope this guy can live on food stamps because that is about all he will earn each month if he plans on writing like this. Top 5? Really? The Wire is not considered. What a joke
  December 5, 2012 at 1:44PM EST
- sepinwall Okay, folks, much fun has been had at Steve's expense, but let's shut this down now. Rule #1 around this blog: TALK ABOUT THE SHOWS, NOT EACH OTHER.
  December 5, 2012 at 1:48PM EST
Mike

Alan,

Without a weekly review, there wasn't a good place to ask what your reaction was to Walton Goggins' appearance this year lol.
December 5, 2012 at 12:58PM EST Reply to Comment
- sepinwall Ah, yes, Venus Van Damme. Twitter spoiled that for me before I saw it, so a lot of the shock value was gone, but I appreciated how sincerely and confidently Goggins played it.
  December 5, 2012 at 1:06PM EST
- markmovies Reply to comment...
  December 6, 2012 at 5:48PM EST
- markmovies I liked Timothy Olyphant's appearance on The League better.
  
  December 6, 2012 at 5:49PM EST
bigperm33

I like Sons, but I have a problem with almost the foundation of the last few seasons - Tara is a surgeon. She isn't a housewife like Carmella Soprano with no real out. She is a surgeon, who get paid extremely well. She has no reason to stick around, and long before Jax got so deep at the head of the table, he could have left with her. He kept saying he just needed to get some money, but no he didn't. His wife was a surgeon.

and maybe I am remembering differently, but the first few seasons were about a motorcycle gang that would cross the line into criminal activity, but not like this season was - how many people were murdered this season? i couldn't keep track.

and lastly, can someone please tell Jax that when he struts around every place he walks, he looks absurd.
December 5, 2012 at 1:06PM EST Reply to Comment
- Brandon Roughly 12% of the entire series is just Jax strutting around while wearing a hoodie under his cut. And a majority of those struts take place in Charming's local hospital. He's been doing it for 5 years, why stop now? :-P
  December 5, 2012 at 1:36PM EST
- AHodges I've always had trouble buying Tara's willingness to compromise everything she has worked her whole life for just to be an "old lady." It takes a long time and a lot of perseverence to become a surgeon, and the kind of woman who does all of that does not trade it for an old-fashioned, man in charge kind of life. I can see how Tara might have been tempted to have some excitement and hot sex with a bad boy, but marriage and kids? No no no.
  
  Guys like Jax have a twisted (and incredibly immature) idea about what it means to be a man, and they do not give up a life of crime and violence so their wife can be the breadwinner. Jax's entire identity is wrapped up in the club, without it he's nobody. And like it or not, Tara is tied to all of it as well. She's dreaming if she thinks Jax is going to enable her to get out of Charming and go off to Oregon. As he's shown, he's not above doing deplorable things and ruining lives to get what he wants.
  
  And yeah, I'm not sure what's more ridiculous, Jax's strut or his little boy mean-mugging. I thought he was hot as hell the first few seasons, but I don't find him attractive at all now.
  December 10, 2012 at 1:02AM EST
bill

So. Glad pope is. Dead. But. It wasso Dumb the way. It went down. But. I. Should expect dumb. Plots by now... poor. Clay. Lol. Pope wasv murdered at. 2 pm. And they had a warrant for clay. By. 3. Pm. Hysterical. He was so. Close to leaving...if i see juice almost cry one more time. Im gonna. Shoot myself...jax and gemma better hope clay don't get out...hope jimmy smits come back next season
December 5, 2012 at 1:23PM EST Reply to Comment
- Brendan Bill.....Shatner?
  December 5, 2012 at 3:55PM EST
- Danny My guess is typing on his phone using swype. I have more periods in place of spaces then I know what to do with. But I also liek thinking this is Bill Shatner. Time will. Tell
  December 5, 2012 at 8:36PM EST
kro_lin

Good god when do these characters have time to eat!!!!
And...scene!
December 5, 2012 at 1:33PM EST Reply to Comment
- Lee Filthy Phil looks like he has plenty of time to eat. And with this, I claim the record for the most Filthy Phil comments ever on a SOA review.
  December 5, 2012 at 3:25PM EST
- Lee Big Otto eats cold cuts. He's partial to tongue.
  December 5, 2012 at 4:13PM EST
J

I think Sutter and his crew deserve applause for Season 5.I think this was the best season since S2. All of the plot that Mr. Sepinwall writes about is what kept me engaged this season as opposed to previous seasons. I agree with Mr. Sepinwall though, that next season needs to be less tense and high stakes. I don't think the characters can survive another season like this one.

P.S. I hope we don't ever have to see Otto again. I find the character to be a one trick pony and completely over the top.
December 5, 2012 at 1:36PM EST Reply to Comment
ron mexico

I always thought of SOA as stylistically and tonally similar to The Shield, though inferior for many of the reasons that Alan cites. That said, even though SOA has a tendency to get lost in wayward storylines compared to the laser-like focus The Shield had, SOA is still solidly entertaining - and has the capability to surprise if Otto's tongue was any indication.

I enjoyed the finale as it seemed to bring things to quite a satisfying end...and makes me wonder where it goes from here (I'm under the impression that SOA has only two more seasons left). I could see this going the way of The Shield with some interesting parallels. For example, I could see Donal Logue's character playing out much like Forest Whitaker's character did, attempting to bring down Jax and the club - and laying the groundwork for pulling it off - but ultimately failing while destroying himself in the process.

The finale felt very much like some of The Shield's season finales, with the business storylines resolved but turmoil from destruction in our antiheroes' personal life (Jax had Tara arrested, Vic had Corinne leave with the kids). If the series was heading towards a storytelling finale that you might have expected given the initial suggestion of the series (that Jax would choose between his father's path or Clay's path), last night could have been a good series ender. But with two more seasons of stories to tell, I suppose it could take a tack where Jax makes a self-sacrifice to eventually steer the club towards one inspired by his father's philosophy, or go The Shield route and bring the entire house of cards down.

Enjoyed Jimmy Smits this season and really pleased to see that he didn't die at Clay's hand (as I thought he would).

I also liked the way Clay's storyline was resolved, and it gives Sutter a couple of ways to write Clay out, though if he were to leave him in, it'd be a pretty daunting task to figure out how to plausibly write Clay back in.

God, Alan must be sick of dealing with the "Sutter feud" questions. Occupational hazard, I suppose.
December 5, 2012 at 2:48PM EST Reply to Comment
Gordon Harries

If Clay survives in prison by turning 'rat' (what does he owe the club at this point? what can be further taken away from him) then he becomes a much bigger problem than if he were out in the world running a rival crew (as some have suggested)

Ultimatlay, he survives because the narrative of this series is Jax Vs. Clay and everyone else takes their chances, to varying degrees.
December 5, 2012 at 2:54PM EST Reply to Comment
- SeanOC I'm always wrong with show predictions, but I think that ending might have spelled out the series finale pretty well. My first reaction as they cut to Gemma was that Jax would confess to Pope's murder and in turn discredit Gemma's testimony against Clay, as well as Tara. This is assuming a lot, but it'd fit. But then again this is SoA, so I'm sure there will be a crazy fire fight in lieu of logic. Also, I know Sutter (as well as FX I’m sure) will want to bleed a 7th season out of this show. Seems way too long, but at least Season 5 was an improvement over 3 and 4.
  December 10, 2012 at 5:54PM EST
Gordon Harries

Also, I'm not a Tara hater. I think Maggie Siff is petty terrific in so far as that goes, but good god what's it going to take for her to leave? they way she's stood by the last few seasons watching all her options close isn't heartbreaking (which I suspect is the intent) it's galling.

I love a lot of this show, but I hate how it treats it's woman.
December 5, 2012 at 2:57PM EST Reply to Comment
Lee

Filthy Phil finally got something useful to do...he carried the injured dog inside. Really, does this character serve any purpose at all?
December 5, 2012 at 3:21PM EST Reply to Comment
- David Phil doesn't even get to kill people like Happy does every once in a while.
  December 5, 2012 at 4:06PM EST
shipwreckedcrew

I think Sutter screwed up this series in the manner in which he structured the seasons, and the sequence of events. The worst part of the show is the fact that the unresolvable break in the relationship between Jax and Clay happened at the end of Season 1, and has now been maintained for 4 more seasons with one convoluted plot contrivance after another. If he really had a seven season story arc in mind when he started, Sutter should have spent 3-4 seasons bringing them closer together, then 3-4 seasons breaking them and the club apart.
In restrostpect, the trip to Ireland should have been season 1. It would have provided a great back-story on SOA and its Irish connections, with the resolution of Abel's kidnapping having strengthened the bond between Clay and Jax. It could have introduced late in the season the revelation that Clay and Gemma might have been involved in John's death. The return from Ireland could have coincided with the arrival of Tara back in Charming, trying to get away from her ATF boyfriend. Killing him, and the implications for her new life, could have wrapped up the season.

Season 2 could have been the white supermacist, just as it was, with the Gemma assault further strengthening the ties of the club while under assault from the outside.

I haven't thought through the rest, but in looking back, the sequence of the narrative has made the show more and more difficult to watch.
December 5, 2012 at 4:43PM EST Reply to Comment
- Kmarko I think you're right that the Jax/Clay split should have been delayed. The Ireland stuff couldn't have been season 1, though--there never would have been a season 2 that way.
  December 7, 2012 at 10:48AM EST
Jason

Best moment of the night for me:

Otto bites off his tongue, and the following conversation occurred...

Wife: That's gruesome, why'd he do that?
Me: So he can't talk and give his statement.
Wife: Couldn't he still write a statement? Why even go in that room then?
Me: I think it's a meta moment. Otto is wasting their time just like Sutter has wasted most of our time this season.

This show still has its occasional moments, but I no longer consider it good.
December 5, 2012 at 4:49PM EST Reply to Comment
- shipwreckedcrew Otto biting off his tongue was pretty stupid.
  
  How about his instead:
  
  "I'm in custody? Where's my lawyer? On the advice of counsel, I invoke my rights under the Fifth Amendment to not answer any questions on the basis that anything I might say could imcriminate me."
  December 5, 2012 at 5:08PM EST
- AHodges "Way to commit." haha
  December 10, 2012 at 1:12AM EST
Nick

Alan, did you have any thoughts on the mysterious homeless woman showing up again. Jax definitely saw her outside the dog fighting place.
December 5, 2012 at 6:25PM EST Reply to Comment
- Jeannie THANK YOU! I thought he had seen her before. Didn't he see her in the park right before Tara got "kidnapped" (when her hand got injured?). And then one other time, too?
  December 5, 2012 at 10:26PM EST
- Nick Yes, if memory serves, he saw her at the cemetery in season 1. Alan has commented on her before questioning what her significance is. Just wondering if he had any thoughts after this scene. I couldn't quite make out what she said, but it was something about love.
  December 6, 2012 at 12:51AM EST
- HISLOCAL I thought for sure she was going to end up being important because of the way the shot lingered on her, but then they didn't show her again. Now that you're telling me that she's shown up before (I never noticed her and also don't recall Alan or other commenters pointing her out, my bad), I'm super intrigued. I love stuff like this, it's like an easter egg.
  December 7, 2012 at 2:54PM EST
Moshe the Mean

I'm a big fan of SOA, been watching since the first episode and will continue to watch moving forward

But for me, what keep this show a notch below the upper echelon of TV dramas is that so often you can feel the hand of the writer pulling the strings of the characters.

Case in point: The entire Tara story arc which culminated in the season ending shocker of her being arrested. From the second Otto requested that she sneak his wife's cross into prison for him, did anyone think, "Well, I'm sure this will end nicely and without incident"?

The viewer is honestly expected to believe that Tara, with the intelligence to have received a full medical school education and who has seen all sorts of crazy, violent hijinks go down during her time involved with the MC, is simultaneously so naive and moronic as to not give it a second thought when a deranged, violent, vengeful adversary asks her to sneak a potentially danger item into prison for him? These sort of plots, which occur with frequency on SOA, make it difficult to just lose myself in the story because it feels less like the natural, inevitable sequence of events and more like characters behaving exactly as it requires in the moment to amp up the drama to maximum levels, believable or not.
December 5, 2012 at 6:45PM EST Reply to Comment
- (forgot my password) Leo At the time she brought him the crucifix, I really thought that she believed it was to comfort him and she felt sorry for him. I kind of bought that part.
  
  But bottom line for me and what sealed her fate (and rightfully), was when she decided to go into that prison to persuade a witness to change his testimony. (THAT'S what Tara would be charged with in the real world, not necessarily the murder charge. She would go to prison for this in a heartbeat.)
  
  When she made that decision, she (again rightfully) threw away her medical license and her freedom.
  
  I know we're supposed to sympathize with Tara and of course people do foolish things for love all the time, but speaking as an ex-prosecutor here, Tara is basically supporting an organization that is responsible for such grief for the innocents in this world, despite the show doing all they can do to avoid us seeing that. i.e. the drugs (which we never see the guys smoking meth, the weapons (those rockets!), etc etc etc. Here Tara is as a pediatric surgeon. And here she is supporting an organization responsible for the deaths and mayhem of children.
  
  Sorry to be the proverbial stick-in-the-mud, and you know I enjoy the show because I've been here every season commenting on these boards, but sometimes I have to step back to look at this through different eyes. And maybe even Sutter is trying to say something about this as well, and that's why there may not be (and probably shouldn't be) a fairy tale ending for any of them.
  December 6, 2012 at 2:57PM EST
WonkYouOut

Filthy Phil was in last night's Raising Hope, wearing his cut. It was completely random and awesome.
December 5, 2012 at 6:46PM EST Reply to Comment
- jan Glad you mentioned that. I was going to, but now it's been done. Loved it!
  December 6, 2012 at 3:22AM EST
Will

Opie's death will have repercussions next season as there is no obvious VP for Jax. Unless Chips steps up and Happy becomes SAA
December 5, 2012 at 7:00PM EST Reply to Comment
west coast ram

Is JAX the only biker you have ever seen that wears white tennis shoes and I mean "white" as it appears that he wears a new pair every day.
December 5, 2012 at 7:50PM EST Reply to Comment
- HISLOCAL Yeah biker guys are more image obsessed than 13-year-old girls, what are the odds that a guy like Jax would buck the trend and wear those stupid sneakers instead of boots? I'd find it easier to believe that a whole crew wore them as some sort of statement.
  December 7, 2012 at 2:57PM EST
Big Stan

This show has become a bloated, inane charicature of itself.

The ridiculously dense plot is just too much and offers no realism.. Sutter is a pure egotist.

What happened to the show about bikers? At first it was cool just to see "behind the scenes" of a biker club but now its just plain stupid.

We have no character moments just plot devices that see characters put into over the top and unreal positions that would never happen in real life.

btw kill Otto already.
December 5, 2012 at 8:32PM EST Reply to Comment
Paige Hill

The thing that struck me the most about the episode is that I've watched a ton of people die on SOA, especially this season, but I had to fast forward through the dog fighting cause it was too violent for me.

Although the tongue was pretty nasty too.
December 5, 2012 at 8:53PM EST Reply to Comment
- bfish Me too, I had exactly the same reaction. I could watch the guy getting his head shoved in the bucket of nails, the Pope shootout, etc. but NO to the dogfight. Then came the tongue which I also had to tune out of.
  December 8, 2012 at 12:02AM EST
FaqTurd

Anyone else cringe through the entire opening song sequence? I've added quite a few awesome songs to my iTunes collection thanks to SOA, but that opening song was horrible. I'm assuming Katey Sagal was the singer?
December 5, 2012 at 10:22PM EST Reply to Comment
- Jeannie Yes, it was Katey. I think Kurt lets her sing at least once a year on the show.
  December 5, 2012 at 10:27PM EST
(forgot my password) Leo

Glad to read your year-end summary, Alan. Are you considering going back to a weekly review of the show next year?
December 5, 2012 at 11:38PM EST Reply to Comment
- sepinwall Doubt it. I think it's healthier for all involved if I approach it this way: big thoughts at beginning and end of season (and, if there's another Opie-level event, at middle), but not week to week.
  December 6, 2012 at 12:41AM EST
- Ha This is nowhere near one of the best shows available, it's poorly written drivel, a soap opera for men.
  December 13, 2012 at 1:58PM EST
DM

It's best, I guess, to just take SOA with a grain of salt. But sometimes it is impossible to do that. The show has spent so much time building up Pope, his ruthlessness, his power, his attention to every detail. So now we are to believe that he would just casually leave Jax outside the spot where he's going to brutally kill one of the fellow Sons? And Jax just goes right around the back door, and takes out everyone like 007? My problem with the show is that it has the potential to be great, but it settles for being just average with cheap thrills and many easily predictable plot twists. I keep hoping it will change, but it never does, just keeps devolving.
December 6, 2012 at 12:34AM EST Reply to Comment
- HISLOCAL When Jax said "take him in the garage", my first thought was "what's in the garage?"......I figured there'd be some other Sons in there ready to ambush, or some sort of Saw-like contraption to cut Pope's head off or something. But instead there was nothing, and Jax just walked in and shot them. Why not just do that in the open field?
  December 7, 2012 at 3:00PM EST
Mr. Brevity

Solid bounce back season.
December 6, 2012 at 1:12AM EST Reply to Comment
Beekayz

Mr Sepinwall: I think you're getting 'Sons of Anarchy' confused with 'Boardwalk Empire.' ;)

Jax did not inject "his recovering addict ex-wife with heroin" last episode as you wrote in your review.

We know this because in the most recent episode Wendy tells Tara, "he banged a speedball into my shoulder."

No doubt, Wendy is the type of person who would know the difference between opiates and amphetamines.

December 6, 2012 at 5:41AM EST Reply to Comment
- Dr. Dunkenstein Speedball, as a drug term, usually refers to a mix of heroin and cocaine. So while Alan's reference is maybe not 100% specific, it is technically correct which, as we all know, is the best kind of correct.
  December 6, 2012 at 9:29AM EST
- RU Serious I guess a speedball gets you high enough to not take a shower or comb your hair the next day, and decide you no longer want to go to the place you work dressed as a professional, but as someone on her way to a Def Leppard reunion concert. BECAUSE SHE'S A JUNKIE AGAIN! GET IT AUDIENCE?!?!
  December 6, 2012 at 1:19PM EST
- (forgot my password) Leo Ru, I just saw Wendy as looking very beat up and tired (which she obviously has reason to be.) I think the whole purpose of Wendy's appearance this season has been a cautionary tale for Tara - so that she can see what a cancer the club is on anyone associated with it.
  December 6, 2012 at 2:26PM EST
- (forgot my password) Leo Meant to add that Wendy wasn't out looking for drugs, she was seeking out Tara to warn her.
  December 6, 2012 at 2:30PM EST
- AHodges Wendy's been clean for well over a year and no longer has a tolerance to drugs, so that was very dangerous. It's not hard to believe she'd be looking and feeling rough the next day. I do not think it means she's going back to drugs.
  
  Speaking of which, I am so sick of everyone constantly calling Wendy a junkie. They say it with such disdain, as if she hasn't been clean for a long stretch. Not to mention, it's bullshit for the likes of Gemma, Clay, and Jax to look down their noses at anyone. Wendy is the only character on the show who has changed for the better and tried to make up for her mistakes.
  December 10, 2012 at 1:21AM EST
Lizzy

Gemma definitely lived up to the threat of making sure Tara didn't leave with the boys: look at the way that last moment was framed: Jax at the table (with Abel) with Gemma standing over him, just the way Jax and Tara stood in the last season finale.
December 6, 2012 at 3:56PM EST Reply to Comment
Mathias

I. Hate. Gemma.

If she was the one that put Tara in prision, I'll start wishing the death of the character.

I can't believe that I even felt sorry for the character once... Sbe's toxic.
December 8, 2012 at 11:37PM EST Reply to Comment
- sweet1 agree. Unser may be dying of cancer but the club will self destruct if they don't excise their Gemma cancer. she manipulated JT, Clay, Unser, Tig...she's dangerous. The marshal may be behind Tara's incarceration , and Tara may rat thinking Jax and Gemma are to blame, but regardless, it is Gemma who thinks her grandchildren are her "boys", punched their mother in the gut and wants her fist raped in prison (greatest threat cconsidering she was raped and knows Tara almost was raped by Kohn). She's gotta go.
  December 30, 2012 at 7:35PM EST

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Review: 'Sons of Anarchy' piled on the plot in season 5

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Review: 'Sons of Anarchy' piled on the plot in season 5

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Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

renton Since he can't speak, maybe Otto will open a Twitter account now.

tique How does not speaking let Otto off the question-answering hook? Can't he just write the answers out?

Dezbot Otto's Tongue should have the account.

JoLo I suspect Otto has already given a statement implicared Tara, and bit his tongue off so he doesn't have to elaborate

Matt Wow...just....just wow.

normajeanmonster So 3 of the 5 greatest shows of all time were on FX? Did you forget to put batteries in your remote?

Ed G. Darnit Alan, you missed writing about Prison Break in your book!!!

bhietanen The book mentioned that The Shield had the best series finale, but he must have forgotten Prison Break finale! Kellerman returns! Scylla!

dan Steve - Every year, there are dozens of new critics named "Steve." We're going to need a full name from you in order to properly justify framing this comment come next year at this time...-Daniel

RileyJMU Wow. I didn't know FX produces cared that much to comment on hitfix.com. I hope this guy can live on food stamps because that is about all he will earn each month if he plans on writing like this. Top 5? Really? The Wire is not considered. What a joke

sepinwall Okay, folks, much fun has been had at Steve's expense, but let's shut this down now. Rule #1 around this blog: TALK ABOUT THE SHOWS, NOT EACH OTHER.

Mike Alan,Without a weekly review, there wasn't a good place to ask what your reaction was to Walton Goggins' appearance this year lol.

sepinwall Ah, yes, Venus Van Damme. Twitter spoiled that for me before I saw it, so a lot of the shock value was gone, but I appreciated how sincerely and confidently Goggins played it.

markmovies Reply to comment...

markmovies I liked Timothy Olyphant's appearance on The League better.

Brandon Roughly 12% of the entire series is just Jax strutting around while wearing a hoodie under his cut. And a majority of those struts take place in Charming's local hospital. He's been doing it for 5 years, why stop now? :-P

Brendan Bill.....Shatner?

Danny My guess is typing on his phone using swype. I have more periods in place of spaces then I know what to do with. But I also liek thinking this is Bill Shatner. Time will. Tell

kro_lin Good god when do these characters have time to eat!!!!And...scene!

Lee Filthy Phil looks like he has plenty of time to eat. And with this, I claim the record for the most Filthy Phil comments ever on a SOA review.

Lee Big Otto eats cold cuts. He's partial to tongue.

Lee Filthy Phil finally got something useful to do...he carried the injured dog inside. Really, does this character serve any purpose at all?

David Phil doesn't even get to kill people like Happy does every once in a while.

Kmarko I think you're right that the Jax/Clay split should have been delayed. The Ireland stuff couldn't have been season 1, though--there never would have been a season 2 that way.

shipwreckedcrew Otto biting off his tongue was pretty stupid. How about his instead:"I'm in custody? Where's my lawyer? On the advice of counsel, I invoke my rights under the Fifth Amendment to not answer any questions on the basis that anything I might say could imcriminate me."

AHodges "Way to commit." haha

Nick Alan, did you have any thoughts on the mysterious homeless woman showing up again. Jax definitely saw her outside the dog fighting place.

Jeannie THANK YOU! I thought he had seen her before. Didn't he see her in the park right before Tara got "kidnapped" (when her hand got injured?). And then one other time, too?

Nick Yes, if memory serves, he saw her at the cemetery in season 1. Alan has commented on her before questioning what her significance is. Just wondering if he had any thoughts after this scene. I couldn't quite make out what she said, but it was something about love.

WonkYouOut Filthy Phil was in last night's Raising Hope, wearing his cut. It was completely random and awesome.

jan Glad you mentioned that. I was going to, but now it's been done. Loved it!

Will Opie's death will have repercussions next season as there is no obvious VP for Jax. Unless Chips steps up and Happy becomes SAA

west coast ram Is JAX the only biker you have ever seen that wears white tennis shoes and I mean "white" as it appears that he wears a new pair every day.

HISLOCAL Yeah biker guys are more image obsessed than 13-year-old girls, what are the odds that a guy like Jax would buck the trend and wear those stupid sneakers instead of boots? I'd find it easier to believe that a whole crew wore them as some sort of statement.

Paige Hill The thing that struck me the most about the episode is that I've watched a ton of people die on SOA, especially this season, but I had to fast forward through the dog fighting cause it was too violent for me.Although the tongue was pretty nasty too.

bfish Me too, I had exactly the same reaction. I could watch the guy getting his head shoved in the bucket of nails, the Pope shootout, etc. but NO to the dogfight. Then came the tongue which I also had to tune out of.

FaqTurd Anyone else cringe through the entire opening song sequence? I've added quite a few awesome songs to my iTunes collection thanks to SOA, but that opening song was horrible. I'm assuming Katey Sagal was the singer?

Jeannie Yes, it was Katey. I think Kurt lets her sing at least once a year on the show.

(forgot my password) Leo Glad to read your year-end summary, Alan. Are you considering going back to a weekly review of the show next year?

sepinwall Doubt it. I think it's healthier for all involved if I approach it this way: big thoughts at beginning and end of season (and, if there's another Opie-level event, at middle), but not week to week.

Ha This is nowhere near one of the best shows available, it's poorly written drivel, a soap opera for men.

Mr. Brevity Solid bounce back season.

Dr. Dunkenstein Speedball, as a drug term, usually refers to a mix of heroin and cocaine. So while Alan's reference is maybe not 100% specific, it is technically correct which, as we all know, is the best kind of correct.

RU Serious I guess a speedball gets you high enough to not take a shower or comb your hair the next day, and decide you no longer want to go to the place you work dressed as a professional, but as someone on her way to a Def Leppard reunion concert. BECAUSE SHE'S A JUNKIE AGAIN! GET IT AUDIENCE?!?!

(forgot my password) Leo Ru, I just saw Wendy as looking very beat up and tired (which she obviously has reason to be.) I think the whole purpose of Wendy's appearance this season has been a cautionary tale for Tara - so that she can see what a cancer the club is on anyone associated with it.

(forgot my password) Leo Meant to add that Wendy wasn't out looking for drugs, she was seeking out Tara to warn her.

Lizzy Gemma definitely lived up to the threat of making sure Tara didn't leave with the boys: look at the way that last moment was framed: Jax at the table (with Abel) with Gemma standing over him, just the way Jax and Tara stood in the last season finale.

Mathias I. Hate. Gemma.If she was the one that put Tara in prision, I'll start wishing the death of the character. I can't believe that I even felt sorry for the character once... Sbe's toxic.

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Sons of Anarchy is updated

renton

Since he can't speak, maybe Otto will open a Twitter account now.

dan Steve - Every year, there are dozens of new critics named "Steve." We're going to need a full name from you in order to properly justify framing this comment come next year at this time...

-Daniel

Mike

Alan,

Without a weekly review, there wasn't a good place to ask what your reaction was to Walton Goggins' appearance this year lol.

kro_lin

Good god when do these characters have time to eat!!!!
And...scene!

Lee

Filthy Phil finally got something useful to do...he carried the injured dog inside. Really, does this character serve any purpose at all?

shipwreckedcrew Otto biting off his tongue was pretty stupid.

How about his instead:

"I'm in custody? Where's my lawyer? On the advice of counsel, I invoke my rights under the Fifth Amendment to not answer any questions on the basis that anything I might say could imcriminate me."

Nick

Alan, did you have any thoughts on the mysterious homeless woman showing up again. Jax definitely saw her outside the dog fighting place.

WonkYouOut

Filthy Phil was in last night's Raising Hope, wearing his cut. It was completely random and awesome.

Will

Opie's death will have repercussions next season as there is no obvious VP for Jax. Unless Chips steps up and Happy becomes SAA

west coast ram

Is JAX the only biker you have ever seen that wears white tennis shoes and I mean "white" as it appears that he wears a new pair every day.

Paige Hill

The thing that struck me the most about the episode is that I've watched a ton of people die on SOA, especially this season, but I had to fast forward through the dog fighting cause it was too violent for me.

Although the tongue was pretty nasty too.

FaqTurd

Anyone else cringe through the entire opening song sequence? I've added quite a few awesome songs to my iTunes collection thanks to SOA, but that opening song was horrible. I'm assuming Katey Sagal was the singer?

(forgot my password) Leo

Glad to read your year-end summary, Alan. Are you considering going back to a weekly review of the show next year?

Mr. Brevity

Solid bounce back season.

Lizzy

Gemma definitely lived up to the threat of making sure Tara didn't leave with the boys: look at the way that last moment was framed: Jax at the table (with Abel) with Gemma standing over him, just the way Jax and Tara stood in the last season finale.

Mathias

I. Hate. Gemma.

If she was the one that put Tara in prision, I'll start wishing the death of the character.

I can't believe that I even felt sorry for the character once... Sbe's toxic.

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