Our episode opens with the most of unlikely of scenarios given what we saw last week. Juice is found standing next to his bike on a lonely mountain road as faces the grim-faced members of SAMCRO. As the camera pans down, we see the rocky face wall has JT’s initials and date of death etched into its face. This is holy ground for the club.
Jax walks toward him without a word with the disgraced outlaw’s patch in his hand. They come face to face… And Jax hands Juice back his patch.
Juice breaks the silence and simply says, “I’m sorry.” He then takes his patch, climbs on his bike and rides away with Ratboy and Montez quick to follow. The rest of the club each in turn touches the rock with JT’s initials. Jax gives Bobby a long hug. It seems he has made a tough decision… A decision that some how involves the final fate of Juice.
At Gemma’s, Wendy and Gemma sit together as Thomas plays in his crib. Wendy comments that Abel has returned to his pre school in the aftermath of the Chinese threat. She can see that Gemma is distracted. When pressed, Gemma relates that the club has their hands on Juice. Wendy, only privy to part of the story, tells Gemma not to worry. Jax will forgive her minor sin of helping Juice to run. What she doesn’t know, of course, is about Gemma mortal sin of killing Tara. A sin for which she is sure Jax will not forgive. She mutters that she doesn’t know what Juice will do.
On the road, Juice is riding hard with the van at a distance. He pulls up road side at a stop where a number of CHP officers are “Code 9-ing” by their bikes (that’s drinking coffee for you and me). Juice promptly does his own form of “Code 9,” namely drawing down and opening fire on the lot where the officers are standing. While he doesn’t hit anybody, he suddenly finds himself the center of attention for a lot of angry CHP officers. They chase Juice and the van chases them.
After the open, Unser is watching the latest Redwoody production: “Cocks and Bagels,” which features a Hebrew School lesson no one will soon forget (proving that Sutter is determined to continue his equal opportunity offending). He spies Jax and relates that Eglee has awoken and related to him her story… Including the part about the Aryan drug buy and shooting. Jax asks what she intends to do with the information. Unser says nothing.
It seems that Eglee has been an admirer of Jax Teller since their high school days and given her implied crush on the outlaw, she intends to stay silent. Ah friends, just think about what those the good ol’ days at Charming High must have been like. Football games, Senior Prom, AK-47’s…
But her silence has a quid pro quo on Unser’s end. The ABs can never know what she knows and Jax has to promise to protect her. Jax gives his solemn promise that his ol’ school chum will be safe. Somewhere, someone is coughing.
On the road, Juice is run to ground by a road block. The cops tell him to get on the ground and to put his hands on his head. Slowly, Juice complies. Just fast enough to spare himself the extra curricular activities. From the van, Rat and Montez call the arrest in.
On the other side of the phone, Tig announces around the table that the deed is done. The mists clear around Jax’s motive as we come to understand he wants Juice on the inside at County Lock Up… A fanatical guided missile with Henry Lin’s name on it.
With that settled, Jax moves to new business. He wants the Pastor dug up and planted at Mark’s development. Phase two of his new assault now concerns Marks and his operations. Chibs chimes in and says that Tyler and Alvarez are ready to move.
Jax muses over his strategy for a moment. He knows that Marks is too strong and too well-connected for the club to assault frontally. Too many guns, too much money. But, if one can get political leverage against him, Marks likely would be forced to back off. Jax says he always knew it would come to this, despite his dealing making of last season. His main worry now is who is providing the traitorous leaks and why. Bobby tries to encourage the table by saying they should soon have some intel on the muscle men they killed to get out of hot water with Lin.
Jax takes the moment to thank everyone for their loyalty and hard work. He knows he’s asked for things far beyond business. He’s almost tender.
As the meeting breaks up, Unser rolls in with what he believes is a hot tip. Juice is in custody after shooting at the CHP. The cool response of the club tips him to the fact that this ain’t as much of a shock as it should be.
At the TM, Chucky Stubs rolls in with Gemma’s cigarettes. It doesn’t take a mind reader to sense the fear coming from Big Mama. Chucky says he knows people think he’s a joke, but that if Gemma needs him he is here for her. Gemma gives Chucky an affectionate peck on the head, but hustles out to see a newly arrived Nero.
After an exchange of affection, Nero drops a big announcement of Gemma. He’s talked to his uncle and he is going to buy his far northern farm. Like today… Nero is finally leaving and he wants Gemma to come with him before it is too late. Gemma, in her own strange way, tries to argue that she can’t leave her family. Nero responds that the boys are more than welcome and that she can still be of help, but from afar.
When Gemma tries to argue again, Nero gets real. The current situation with SAMCRO is going to end badly. Period. Too much blood has been spilled for some kind of outlaw-style “happy ending”. Nero needs to get out and so does Gemma. He tells her to take a day and think about. Gemma agrees that she will. Unser stops by as soon as Nero leaves. He relates the Juice news, which returns Gemma to her funk. When he begins to shuffle off to arrange his departure from the TM based on her snapping at him last ep., Gemma tearfully hugs him and tells him not to leave. Ms. Mixed Message is in full effect.
In the meanwhile, the club has rolled to the church of their dead Pastor. Once there, Jax makes a pitch for the Pastor’s wife to sign an affidavit saying that Marks has been threatening her and her husband’s lives. He relates to her that they know that the Pastor is dead, leaving out the details of SAMCRO’s role. The wife is reluctant but ultimately resigns herself to doing what Jax wants. Jax also vows to help get her clear of heroin. His rehab involves going Cold Turkey at the club’s cabin, with an unsuspecting Gemma aiding the process.
The Pastor’s wife blurts out that a blackmailer has surfaced with incriminating cell phone pictures of the preacher’s escapades. When asked who, the Pastor’s wife says it is an Oakland Pimp named Greensleeves who has been threatening them. As part of the deal, Jaz agrees to deal with the problem.
With the wife’s agreement, Jax tells Rat and Happy to go take Gemma to the cabin. Both men are reluctant given Gemma reputation pitching a fit when pressured. Jax laughingly asks if they are afraid of his mother. Both men quickly say yes. Jax calms them by saying that all they need to do is say Jax needs his mother to help him at the cabin. He also calls Nero.
When the BizLat OG arrives, Jax asks for help in IDing this “Greensleeves.” Nero knows they guy from the streets. Or at least well enough to ID him. Jax has Nero roll with him and Chibs to Oakland.
In lockup, Juice is thrown into isolation, despite his protests. Soon, he is met by an AB member, with a message from Tully…
In Oakland, we see our man of the hour, Greensleeves, a playa–playa dyed in Vanilla, providing a pep talk to one of his BBs with almost goofy intensity. If James Franco and Dolamite had a son, it would be this guy.
Nero rolls past and IDs him for Jax and Chibs, who then roll back to confab with the pimp. Green is less than receptive to the conversation, loudly asserting his right to game and displaying a Star of David straight out of the 1987 Slick Rick jewelry collection. When the guys try to rush him, Green’s stable rushes in themselves, leading to the first ever SAMCRO verus OAKHOE throw down. In the melee, Greensleeves escapes in his SUV, trashing Jax’s bike in the process.
With their “manager” having fled the scene, the Patrol tries to do likewise. Jax and Nero corner Pep Talk Girl and make her an offer. Get off the streets, clean it up and come work at Diosa. The hours are better and there’s no reenactments of “Hollywood Shuffle” needed. Seeing a better deal, Pep Talk Girl gives up Green’s address to Chibs and Jax.
At the TM, Happy and Rat roll up on Gemma and announce that she has to come with them to the cabin, per Jax’s orders. The paranoia goes into over drive in Gemma’s mind. She’s very aware what kind of things go down at “the Cabin.” She asks to be taken home to get some essentials, Namely her gun… But, even given the wariness in her mind, Gemma is sure her goose is cooked. As she passes Unser in the lot, she looks like someone going the last mile.
At Marks’ development, Bobby, Tig and Quinn roll up and break in. They have the Pastor’s body and are prepared to dump the body on site to implicate Marks. Posed dead man selfies follow
In Oakland, Tyler is meeting with Jax about the Marks plan. Jax wants him to set the meet with Marks, giving him the cell phone photos and the story about the signed document from the wife. He wants Marks to meet the club tonight, along with the Maya, in order to negotiate a settlement.
At Gemma’s, we see her loading her gun while Thomas plays in his crib. She reeks of desperation. In the kitchen, Wendy returns with a grim-faced Abel to find Rat and Happy. When she inquires about why they are there, they indicate that they are taking Gemma to the cabin. Which leads to a well-meaning Wendy explosion.
In the bedroom, a near shattered Gemma picks up Thomas for what she fears might be the last time. Between tears, she gives the toddler her confession about his mother’s murder and her role in it. Despite being nuts, Gemma’s not crazy. She know her confession will never be repeated by innocent, infant Thomas… If she only knew her heartfelt words were being overheard by a very quiet Abel, who is standing by the bedroom door.
A shaky Gemma is told that it time to go by Happy. Wendy complains but Gemma agrees to leave. In a rush, Wendy calls Nero.
At Diosa, Nero is sitting down with Alvarez and making him an offer he can’t refuse. Buy Nero’s half out and the bullet ridden whorehouse business is all his. Alvarez is a little pensive, but hell, he told Nero to get gone last season himself. A deal is struck right when Nero’s phone starts to ring.
In Oakland, Unser has come with the tow truck for Jax bike. He inquires about Gemma’s need to go to the cabin. Jax relates the relatively innocent reason for needing Gemma at the cabin. Bobby volunteers to go incognito in his car to the cabin to keep an eye on things Only in SOA could this innocent statement constitute famous last words.
Jax and Chibs roll to the address for Greensleeves and make themselves at home with bullets. While Mr. Green lies on the the couch bleeding, Jax quizzes him about his violation of the Mosaic Law given his prominent tats. He also asks if its true that an observant Jew who commits suicide can’t be buried with the Tribe (see, all those Yeshiva classes Gemma sent him to are paying off!) When the pimp says yes, Jax impales him on the glass of his shattered window. Chibs wishes him a happy journey to the afterlife.
At the cabin, a tense Gemma is ushered in by Happy and Rat. They want her in the bedroom, but she begs for a chance to get a drink of water. In the kitchen, Gemma readies her gun. Montez comes from the bedroom and asks what the hold up is. Gemma creeps to the door… And finds the Pastor’s wife and her son sitting there. When a very confused Gemma hears the whole story, you’re amazed she doesn’t let out a blow of relief.
In Oakland, the club gets the call. The meet is on. Jax calls the Maya and the two clubs mass up to send their message to Marks. At the cabin, a wary Nero is reassured by a much calmer Gemma, who enlists him on detox watch.
Bobby is cruising down the highway, pumping the jams, when out of no where a swarm of SUV’s force him from the road. After a thunderous crash, he find himself surrounded by a contingent of Marks’ men. Apparently, the message has been received.
At Gemma’s, Wendy checks on her sleeping charges. Except Abel’s not really sleeping. He pretends to be asleep until his biological mom leaves the room.
At the meet site, Jax, Alvarez and the club are getting the feeling they have been stood up. An hour past the meet time, one of Marks’ patented suicide Rolls makes the scene. A well attired soldier of Mark presents Jax with the crime lord’s answer. It comes in the form of a package. Inside the package, they club finds Bobby’s patches and an tablet. They take out the tablet and start the video stored on it. It shows a bleeding, screaming Bobby surrounded by Marks’ men.
Right under the tablet is a box. Jax opens it with a halting touch. In the box is one of Bobby’s eyes. As the club is overcome with shock, Jax staggers away into the night have understood that he has underestimated Marks’ ruthlessness. The Reaper’s bow is sadly appropriate.
Man, Crow Lovers, things have taken another turn for the worse! Does Bobby sleep with the fishes? Is Juice the man to take out Henry? Has Nero signed his own death warrant by falling into the “one-final-job” crime story cliche? And what will Abel do now that he knows that Tara got run over by a Grandma? Be back next week and until then, Fly Like the Crow.
Comments are closed.