This was one of the threads where I could contribute something useful about the MC lifestyle. Maybe it will get legs on here as well.
Count me in. I never did put up anything about the last episode. There were a couple times where I thought that the Rape was going to be revealed to the club, and I kept on waiting... waiting... still waiting. Jax got put into a seriously stupid predicament at the end there. He was completely right about not charging in, about knowing what they were getting into, but he also had no real option of not joining in. They should have at least had the fucking sense to have someone look through the windows first and scope it out.
Good episode tonight, I was glad to finally see some action between Jax and Clay. But did anyone catch the very last thing Jax said to the ATF lady at the end? Was it about that stalker ATF agent he shot last season?
I just watched this tonight for the first time. It's pretty interesting, but I need some cliffs to catch up on what the hell is going on. What season is this?
Yeah, Jax was definitely letting her know that he killed that ATF/Tara stalker. That whole scene was fucking fantastic, I thought. Very strong ending to what was probably my favorite episode of the season. It was like the 7th or 8th episode in the second season. Definitely go pick up the first one, it's fantastic.
I was surprised how good this episode turned out. I had douche chills at Clay's "Can you hear me now?" line in the prison yard. That kind of lazy writing belongs to SNL cast members. But it turned out to be a hugely important episode. Interesting to see what angle Jax plays and what angle the MC plays to the IRA, especially Jax and Clay disagree.
What the hell was Jax thinking, dropping that line about Agent Kohn to Stahl? SAMCRO - well, actually just Jax and Tara - wasn't even remotely suspected of having anything to do with his disappearance and now Jax has tipped off that there may be something more to it than just a crazy stalker slipping off the grid. That was a terrible, terrible way of trying to fuck with her head.
Ok, I know in the thread on the RMMB I said that it looked like they(Hollywood) was trying to stay as true to club culture as possible, but after seeing this episode I think they have now jumped off the reservation with both feet. The thing between Jax and Clay would never have manifested itself the way that it did. Club business is club business...period. This would have been sorted out in church after they got out, not in a cell with all the vultures of other gangs around. Don't get me wrong, it makes for good television, but for the last couple of weeks it has gotten more and more ridiculous as to how a club would handle their business. MC's as a general rule are insular, even mom and pop MC's not just the 1%ers or outlaw MC's. There are just too many different factions, the IRA, ATF, Arians, ect., that know their business. In the MC world this just doesn't happen. I enjoy the show and can't wait to see how this all plays out, but as far as Hollywood trying to hang on to the shoestring of reality they had regarding club life...well...that ship has sailed.
Could the father -son relationship have anything to do with it? Although it is "club buisness" it goes a little further because of the family relationship don't you think? The fight has been brewing for a while and while most organazations adopt a "air your dirty laundry in private" code this may have just exploded. You have been dead on with almost every observation I was just trying to play Devils Advocate. It does bother me a little that everyone is still following Clay so blindly. He still made a huge mistake which got almost the entire club put in prison on serious charges. Although they all voted for immediate retaliation, wouldn't some of them think "God I wish we listened to Jax??" Just because Clay is mean and old and earned his presidancy doesn't mean he should not be held accountable for a HUGE mistake. Also thanks Now Slappy for starting SOA back up!!! Thanks to everyone who kept the site still going, do us all a favor don't make silly little freak a Mod.
All I know is that part with Juice as bait was tough to watch. The one thing I found surprising was how courteous and accommodating the black guy was. If I ever wind up having to get raped in prison, I'd hope my rapist is at least as kind as him. The thing with Opie was somewhat interesting. But overall I'd like to see more catfighting between Gemma & Tara and the porn girls. Tara's car shooting a couple weeks ago was great.
I suppose anything "could" happen, but that's what makes it Hollywood and not reality, right? As much as I have been enjoying seeing Clay get his comeuppance for the Donna debacle I think he and Jax find a way to make it work. You've got to remember he's aware of the manuscript left by John Teller and when the show began this(the manuscript) was seen as a bad thing by both Clay and Gemma. Maybe not so much anymore. Clay is struggling with getting older and for that matter, so is Gemma. This is where I think you see both Clay and Gemma start to soften...shit we've already seen a huge shift in Gemma this season.(You could chalk it up to the rape, but that would be a cop out. It's more than that.) I think over the coming weeks/seasons the club will find a way to unite and still move toward being a "clean" club.(John Teller's vision.) Don't get me wrong it's not going to be a bunnies and kittens, but the other members of the club(Bobby in particular) see Clay starting to slip.
I'm with Slappy about things getting a little ridiculous this season. So many things that could have and would have (in reality) been dealt with quietly were done in the open. The episode saved itself with Jax fucking with the DEA agent, and with Opie having to finally deal with his kids. I think both of these things become important as the season wraps up. Jax's whole speech about "thinking before he acts" now that he has a kid instantly made me think of Opie. I think now that Opie's mom has split he's going to have to finally face the issues surrounding his wife's murder rather than just immersing himself in the club/club drama. I think Jax brings the club back together because he initiated the contact between Zobell and the IRA guys. Zobell bombed one of their brethren (can't think of his name right now) so there's no way they'd deal with him. I think the IRA is plan B for setting up and eventually killing Zobell. Oh and porno girl #2 has a great ass.
Didn't we establish that Chib wasn't a member of the IRA. Chib was just a contact within SoA who supported the cause, and that doesn't really warrant any loyalty from the IRA.
Jax has no power. I didn't realize this until the ending when they all went into different doors, but Clay attacking Jax was him drawing a line in the sand. He was making a statement and forcing the club members to choose sides and of course they will go with Clay. Really really great stuff there.
I was drunk when I watched this episode so apologies if I am wrong but was it just me or did Jax have the physical awarkdness of a 14yr old Jewish kid during his fight with Clay? His stand up was fucking awful.
Agreed, but he's an Englishman so that should be expected. "Pip, pip!!...put 'em up! Then let us have a spot of tea and watch a little futbol on the tele."
This is not true; Jax has alot of power. His supporters are Piney, (opie's dad) and the scottish guy who just got blown up. Bobby, while loyal to Clay will do what is best for the club. The guy with the tattoos on his head and who was just recently stabbed (again forgot his name please forgive me) will also be inclined to vote with Jax. Tig is really the only one with complete blind loyalty to Clay. Let's also not forget if a line is drawn Jemma will side with Jax, and she is a bad-ass bitch. As for the show "getting out of hand" it is a TV show about an outlaw motorcycle club. I think it has been fantastic, and one of the best show's on TV. Did the Soprano's get "out of hand?" I absolutely love that it's an organized crime group that is new, fresh and has not been explored. I.E there are a ton of mafia, thug gangster, movies and TV shows not many on motorcyle clubs. Of course they have taken a few liberties. However Now Slappy also pointed out that they did some things very well, and portrayed alot of stuff quite acurately. If you have seen any of the "Ganglands" you know that there have been more than a few instances of The Hells Angels and Outlaws operating well outside the law, (of course a small %) and SOA isn't based on that but again it is a new idea. It will be pretty difficult to get the club straight quickly. I'm pretty sure Samcro is very dependant on the income made off the guns, other then porn and the bike shop they don't have straight income. Sorry about the long post: a couple quick questions for Slappy: 1. When does a club decide to vote on a new president? Is there a specific term? 2. How much revenue does Clay get from Samcro? His house looked above average and I don't see him putting much time in at the garage. Do any of the club dues go to him? 3. I remember reading in Hunter Thompson's "Hells Angels" that if you can no longer ride you can't be president or an active member. They mentioned something like that last episode, accurate?
I wouldn't be so sure about this. They made it very clear last season that Jemma agreed more with Clay's vision of the club than Jax's father's vision, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I think I picked up some hints that they were involved in his death.
I disagree with this, I think primarily Tig is out for Tig. He is the Sergeant-at-arms, he is the guy often called on to do the clubs dirty work and yet Jax is the automatic successor just of who his Dad was (Tig's perception). He isn't loyal to Clay, he simply has a beef with Jax. The garage isn't the clubs, it is Clays and Gemma's. Thee place seems a decent size and is always doing good business, I would imagine Clay earns a decent personal income from this.