Retrospective:  Sons of Anarchy, S5 E11 – “To Twine Own Self”

Air date: Tuesday, November 20, 10pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

The clock is ticking for Jax (Charlie Hunnam).  Instigated by Clay (Ron Perlman), the Galindo cartel knows about how Otto’s (Kurt Sutter) latest prison murder will kill the RICO case, and the leverage the Feds have on SAMCRO.  To save the day, Jax must make a series of movable parts work together in a severely constrained window of time.  Does he make all the right choices, and does everything go according to plan?  It’s an understatement to say things always get complicated in Charming.

Clay’s Appreciation Talks

Perlman is an incredible actor but every time his character attempts to do the mea culpa routine, I quickly get ill. He’s always several days and a few dollars short. I hope no one believes him because I sure don’t. There is something about Clay’s attitude that I find dismissive and condescending.

I recently suggested it would be interesting to see Clay, Juice (Theo Rossi) and Tig (Kim Coates) – the three MC members on Jax’s black list – talking? Well, Clay has opened the dialogue with Tig, and after Clay notices the loose screw on the ceiling air vent, Juice is next.

Tig stands up to Clay in one of the most interesting conversations of “To Thine Own Self.”

Tig – Scorned Much?

I get thrilled when versatile actor Coates showcases his talent for sarcasm and dry comedy. The scene where he openly informs Clay that he distrusts him is one of my favorite ones of the entire episode.  But as loyal as Tig appears to be to Jax, how will Tig take learning it’s a matter of time before Jax turns him to Pope?

Gemma – Between a Rock and Hard Place

Jax puts the pressure on Gemma (Katey Sagal) to figure out what the deal is with the legal papers the Nomads returned to Clay. Unfortunately, Gemma’s crocodile tears don’t move her husband to disclose what’s in the safe.

I’m not happy with Gemma for alerting Clay to Tara’s (Maggie Siff) visits to Stockton. Her obsession with being in control also leads her to reveal key details of Jax’s plan to Clay, and she doesn’t realize she screwed up until it was too late. Add that slip up to the long list of things Gemma keeps from Jax because of her fear to lose him and her grandchildren. If Jax realizes how much his mother has screwed him again, it will get ugly.

Tara – Feeling the Heat

It’s a matter of time before the police figure out Tara’s role in Otto’s (Kurt Sutter) murder by crucifix and she knows it. So, why doesn’t she take advantage of her excellent relationship with former Charming Police Chief Unser (Dayton Callie)? After all, he’s an expert in doctoring crime scenes and factoring alibis. Is it that hard for Tara to ask for help?

Jax and Nero move forward with their Diosa Norte partnership.

On a different note, with Tara’s reserved nature, I enjoyed seeing her open up to Jax about how she really feels about the state of things in their lives.

Jax’s Kidnapping – Galindo Style

When Romeo (Danny Trejo) orders Luis (Benito Martinez) to make the call for not playing nice about RICO, I thought Jax was going to be dead meat. Hunnam plays out the scene brilliantly, giving us a cool and collected Jax in the midst of a pressure cooker situation that ultimately results in an epic win for SAMCRO.

Orale! – Nero is Back from Retirement

Jax isn’t the only man hunted by ghosts from his past; Nero (Jimmy Smits) is in the same boat.  I knew a man with Nero’s past would have a dark side, and that monster is unleashed when he goes after his former crew on his own to try to save Jax.  But in spite of the coldness Nero exhibits, he is a man who feels things deeply and Gemma’s ambiguity in regards to their relationship doesn’t help his current condition.

The Mysterious Avenger

A day after the brutal murder Otto committed, a mysterious man (Donal Logue – Terriers) appears and he certainly isn’t happy with him. He’s clearly avenging something but we don’t know what. He’s not to be confused with one of Iron Man’s buddies as there is just something dark and visceral in the way he beats Otto up.

So who is this dude? Ever since the announcement of Logue’s guest star role, the internet has been buzzing with speculation about his character but this is what we know, aside from recognizing the guy’s shoes: he’s connected enough to have access to solitary and is motivated enough to want to make another man’s life a living hell.  I appreciate Sutter trying to throw more gas on what we already expect to be an explosive finale but I don’t like this addition. It’s like an easy shortcut to fuel intensity for the finale so I’m hoping it yields a marvelous twist. I also happen to think Otto’s misery has lasted long enough; it’s time for him to die.

Nero’s old crew stir trouble at Diosa Norte and the unfolding of his dark side begins.

Has Jax Let Power Go to his Head?

Judging by his decisive actions and the way Jax enjoys shooting up Nero’s former crew, he doesn’t seem too concerned with who he’s taking down: “I’m tired of being crushed under the weight of greedy men who believe in nothing. I have to change that.” he says.

Jax’s shrewdness is obvious in how he’s gotten himself and the MC out of jams on multiple occasions, as well as with his push for non-criminal income opportunities.  However, he seems unconcerned about the safety of his mother, and Tara and the kids, and that worries me. The women have been basically left to their own devices and although I realize Jax’s plate has been full, there is no hard and fast rule about women and children being off-limits to vengeful criminals. Considering how Jax has been escalating the violence, it’s likely that someone will hit him where it hurts the most.

Memorable Quick-Hits to Keep a Pulse On:

• Arthritis may be a bitch to Clay but the man has eagle vision.  Did he have Lasik surgery to be able to spot a loose crew in the ceiling or does he possess Sherlock Holmes’ sixth sense?
• Nero sure knows how to throw a party; Diosa Norte was a happening place indeed. What a “banger’s delight!”
• Opie’s (Ryan Hurst) ghost won’t go away. As Clay finds out why he was allowed to live, Jax admits it was his mistake not to finish Clay off. Opie was right: Jax made the wrong choice.
• We have not heard the last of Nero’s former crew.  Remember, Sutter always mentions things for a reason. Ever since Dante was brought up, I’ve been thinking Dave Navarro will be guest starring in the final two episodes.
• The scene that drove the point home most poignantly:  a tense Jax screaming at Ally Lowen (Robin Weigert) upon being warned that Tara could do some serious time.
• “Stop calling me son,” Jax finally orders Clay.  Not sure where Sutter is going with this but I’m hoping this is a red herring.
• Juice has put himself in a difficult situation again due to being outplayed by Clay and his fictitious ailments.
• Music supervisor Bob Thiele continues to hit the mark with the music. Whenever the music tempo noticeably picks up, it’s our cue to brace ourselves for an intense action sequence.
• Bobby (Mark Boone Jr.) always has SAMCRO’s best interests in mind and I’m hoping his latest move doesn’t involve crossing the wrong line.

“To Twine Own Self” is a transitional episode that succeeds in raising the stakes for finale.  I wasn’t particularly fond of anything I perceived to be a quick dramatic boost for the finale, but it was refreshing to see things go Jax and the MC’s way for a change. Unfortunately, getting the club out of the guns business has already left a deadly trail and I can’t help but wonder what the price will be to get the MC out of the drug business. Last I checked, the feds still want the IRA, and Galindo hasn’t officially set the Sons free. The outlaws get to live for another day.

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