Sons of Anarchy, S5 E12 – “Darthy”

Air date: Tuesday, November 27, 10pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

The long awaited day for Jax (Charlie Hunnam) to settle his personal beef with Clay (Ron Perlman) has arrived. The one sticking point surrounding this epic event is Jax doesn’t know it’s about to happen.

My screenwriting instructor often talked about how the first few minutes of a great script should hint at everything that is about to happen. “Darthy” should be a case study for this principle as it does just that. But not only do the first minutes tell us loads about what to expect, they also pay respect to one of the most critical moments of Sons of Anarchy.

The episode starts with Jax writing in his journal for his boys, justifying his latest choices:  “Today, I will be the man my father tried to be. I will make you proud.” Kurt Sutter and his writers make a brilliant choice by showcasing Jax’s intentions in anticipation of the finale, and quite possibly, season six. I foresee the emergence of an even darker side of Jax when he is cornered by more powerful men than he.

Although humiliated by SAMCRO, Clay proves yet again he is a survivor.

Jax tells Bobby (Mark Boone Jr.) it’s going to be a big day but it’s Bobby who reveals he’s arranged for Clay to confess to the MC his wrongdoings with the Nomads. Clay’s mea culpa is loaded with pity-inducing moments, instigations, jabs, and manipulative compliments. His words are like a poison that spreads slowly, and I expect it to infect several MC members. Surprisingly, Jax manages to keep his cool during the two motions, one of them requiring unanimous consent to have Clay meet Mr. Mayhem. As this unfolds, I actually pinch myself because this is a moment that has been in the works for five seasons. It’s finally happening, and the way it is handled doesn’t disappoint.

First, the lack of background sound and music allows viewers to focus on the moment at hand. The camera work and editing immerse us deep into the emotionality of the scene. The cast’s acting merits recognition but Hunnam bears the burden of carrying the scene as each MC member’s reaction appears to be captured from Jax’s point of view.  Hunnam makes some superb choices in this scene by avoiding eye contact during the vote to oust Clay, and then switching it up to a scrutinizing glare during the Mayhem vote.

Chibs (Tommy Flanagan) continues to show great loyalty to Jax.

I particularly love the contrast between Happy (David Labrava) and Tig’s (Kim Coates) shocked reactions and Jax’s stoic one after Bobby’s vote breaks the ranks. Jax’s stillness isn’t a good thing, and once he’s freed from the sanctuary-like atmosphere of the Church, he viciously jumps Clay. This isn’t the outcome Jax envisioned and his unresolved feelings will have consequences within SAMCRO in the same way Opie’s death impacted the MC.

After Jax’s brutal beat down of Clay, the conversation he has with Bobby is an Emmy®-worthy scene in which both actors remarkably highlight the growing abyss between their characters. Bobby and Jax don’t see eye to eye on the Clay issue, and they individually carry the burden of doing what each thinks best for the greater good. Bobby’s real miscalculation is thinking “the shit Clay’s done needed to go away,” and the benefits it would yield: stopping Jax from becoming Clay, and resetting the internal dynamics of the club. Bobby could be right but it all backfires on him as he underestimates how deep the Clay-Jax beef goes. Consequently, Jax ends up seeking advice from Pope (Harold Perrineau) about going against the advice of people he trusts.

Pope:  “Democracy is overrated. Revenge is never about the greater good. It’s about a visceral need that has to be satisfied or the strong lose focus.”

Jax: “How do I scratch that visceral itch without tearing my club apart?”

Pope: “You can do both; you just have to step away from the need to feel it. Come at it from a different angle, a different source. It’s not about the process, it’s about the result.”

Feeling isolated by the latest club developments, Jax seeks Pope’s advice.

How ironic it would be if Bobby’s good intentions end up increasing Jax’s ruthlessness in pursuing his personal agenda. It also turns out that Bobby’s vote is the beginning of a negative pattern for the remainder of the episode as things don’t go as Jax plans when he struggles to retain control:

• With Clay out, Pope sets a firm 24-hour deadline for Jax to deliver Tig.
• Due to Henry Lin’s (Kenneth Choi) Hamas express delivery issues and a conversation with Pope, the Galindo Cartel enforces a weapons delivery with disastrous consequences for SAMCRO and the IRA.
• An angry Galen (Timothy V. Murphy) seeks to hurt SAMCRO by kidnapping Wendy (Drea de Matteo). The incident results in financial and emotional trouble for Jax because it fuels Wendy’s determination to get Abel (Ryder Londo) back.
• Why would Tara (Maggie Siff) opt for a controversial choice like Wendy when considering the guardianship of the Teller children? Why not go with a more competent (and, may I say, obvious) choice like the extremely helpful Margaret Murphy (McNally Sagal)?

Here are some key storylines to keep an eye on:

• Clay’s unapologetic tone towards the MC during the Church session was expected but I was surprised at his hint of guilt when he looks Jax in the eye.
• Galen plans on giving Clay a lift to Belfast to escape the Charming heat as they discuss new business opportunities. Will Gemma (Katey Sagal) willingly go with him and will she spy for Jax? Anyone else have a feeling Tig could end up in that cargo, too?
• “Tig is Clay’s right hand; I’ll never see him as anything else.” Could Jax be wrong on his assumption about Trager?
• I’m pleased with the naïve defense Tara uses regarding the murder of the nurse Otto (Kurt Sutter) committed in prison; it may just work. However, her lying and hiding things from Jax will not work in the long run.
• Clay gives Juice (Theo Rossi) the gift from Piney (William Lucking): the gun he kept in a safety deposit box. Juice doesn’t appear able to handle the harsh realities of MC life but I wouldn’t rule out an ironic twist with that gun.
• With Otto’s statement happening the next day, a very determined former U.S. Marshall Lee Toric (Donal Logue) tries to intimidate Tara. I was actually impressed at how she handles him. At first, she shows compassion by explaining how quickly Otto killed the nurse, who just happens to be Toric’s sister. Talk about a conflict of interest! Then, when Toric shows his true colors, Tara doesn’t back down. Judging by the equipment and tools Toric has amassed, he looks ready to avenge his sister’s death no matter the ultimate consequences.
• When a rival crew works on taking over the neighborhood of Nero’s (Jimmy Smits) old crew, it doesn’t look like Nero is ready to accelerate the end game yet. He’s got a new deal with Jax as he expects guns and support from the MC.

Due to breaking ties with the IRA, Jax puts everyone on lockdown at the clubhouse, which is the setting of Clay’s ink-out ceremony. The first few musical chords of this scene signal the beginning of an important sequence that elevates “Darthy” to one of the most significant episodes in the series.  Just as the episode began, with a visually loaded and musically infused sequence, it comes full circle to another visually detailed and sonically strong sequence that bridges two eras: Clay’s official departure from the MC, and the turning of the page for Jax and the rest of SAMCRO.

Will Tig succumb to Clay’s offer to help run an independent crew?

As Happy covers up the Sons’ tattoos on Clay’s body, it hits me. This public moment of humiliation serves the defiant Clay a very personal purpose: leaving his former brothers feeling guilty for choosing to punish him. It is significant, too, that Bobby and Jax take off without saying anything to anyone. But Jax has pending business to take care of—he’s promised Tara “a beautiful life.” His actions and the determination in his voice show he means every word he said. However, it looks like Tara’s piece of mind will come at Wendy’s expense. With one episode left in season five and everyone closing in on Jax, I fear he’ll make his boys heirs to another blood throne.

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