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escritoireazulBackground: I didn't watch Sons of Anarchy last season until it was already over. When I first heard about it, I was intrigued by the bikes, but thought it would be just another negative portrayal of motorcycles with a ton of misogyny on the side. When I was home for winter break last year, J. made me watch it. We ended up marathoning the entire first season in just a few days. I probably would have done it all in one day, but J. made me drag it out so we could enjoy it longer. (J. also made me watch October Road. He's generally pretty awesome at introducing me to new things.) I've since watched season one many times and have been more excited about season two starting than anything else I plan to watch this year.
My original favorite character is Jax's dead dad, speaking to Jax (and the audience) through his book. My second favorite characters are Opie and Donna. If you've watched the show, you can see why the end of season one left me shaken and needing more. I'm a biker myself and ride with a local group back home.
I definitely wish there were more female characters and more women riding bikes on their own. I love the women we have, but it's still not very balanced. I wish that race was handled better. Charming is an extraordinarily white town and basically any character of color is an antagonist. (I would say bad guy, but in some ways, technically everyone is a bad guy, while antagonist works better as the opposing force to the protagonist.)
So with all that said, I am now going to watch, and blog about, Sons of Anarchy 2.01 "Albification".
Even the blurb about the episode bothers me, referring to Donna as Opie's wife. Which, she is, but she's more than that, too. I dislike that they don't even name her after she's been murdered.
In the previously on clip, the funeral procession almost made me cry again. This is obviously because of personal things and family things, but still. Sometimes I think that's why I love this show, because in many ways it hits really, really close to home. Obviously not the outlaw part, but other things.
I love whatever song they're using here. Love it.
I'm intrigued by the way Jax is still acting like the VP even knowing what he does about Donna's death. Maybe he has a plan, and if so, that surprises me some. He's always seemed a little young and hot-blooded, not quite the type to fully plan. Though maybe that's part of the point of this - he's coming into his own, learning to plan and bide his time and do things right.
I'm not seeing a lot of anger at Agent Stahl for setting up Opie and playing such a major role in Donna's death. I blame her almost as much as Clay, though maybe Clay should have, you know, known better since Opie is one of his.
So from this discussion with Deputy Hale and the businessmen, was Charming built to be a white town? It's always been presented as SAMCRO keeping other criminals out of the town, but that's not the only thing that's going on. By the end of last season, I started liking Deputy Hale and having him stand up to his big brother and comment on the shittiness of the whitesupremacists separatists makes me continue to like him.
God, Opie. I would have needed to get away too. Though I'm not sure about this whole pushing them off onto his parents, especially his mother. He's not a big fan of his mother. Which in some ways makes sense, because she doesn't approve of the club. However, Opie was so upset that his kids were shy around him after he got out of prison. The kids surely remind him of Donna. I'm torn on all this.
I really love the friendship between Jax and Opie. I worry that the way Jax is trying to protect him from their suspicions about Clay's hand in Donna's death (or their flat out knowledge that they can't prove) is going to blow up in his face. I hope it doesn't ruin their friendship.
Also the way Deputy Hale, despite whatever other reasons he has for wanting Chief Unser to step down, is also worried about his health. And man, Unser looks rough.
Clay and Tig hugging Opie made me wince so hard. And Jax, I really don't know if keeping it between you, Piney, and Deputy Hale is the best thing. Opie won't be pleased to know that you're keeping this from him in order to protect him.
GODDAMNIT. Clay, Donna was a woman. Not a girl. A WOMAN.
(I am inordinately fond of Piney, partly because he's Opie's dad but also because he drives a trike and I am, of course, fond of trikes because of my father.)
So you won't tell Opie what you suspect, but you're going to go fuck with Clay? Jax, if this doesn't blow up in your face, I will call shoddy writing. Though I do love his little exchange with Clay. "Or what, you're gonna put a bullet in the back of my head, too?"
This show makes me miss my bike. Not that I like any of their bikes (I'm not a Harley fan), but still, just all the riding.
Jax climbing through the truck while Opie drives was surprisingly hot. Also, I don't really see that this plan was very well thought out. Jax, I expected better from you. It shouldn't have got as far as it did. Though, getting to watch Opie tackle someone might have been worth it. I like when Opie starts hitting people. That episode last season where he starts prepping himself for a beat down was fabulous.
(I really miss Donna.)
Despite how I feel about their decisions, I love Gemma and Clay together. Sharp and smart and hot as hell. HOT AS HELL. Ron Perlman and Katey Sagal are both getting hotter with age.
So I know how problematic my gun love can be, but holy hell. Opie and his gun and his drive to know the truth - damn.
Guys, Opie isn't going to let it go with this half-assed explanation, with not hearing it for himself. And also, it's quite possible he's going to start a war what with carving up the body like that. Though probably Jax is smart enough to take care of that. Not to mention that when he finds out what you've kept from him - this is a bad plan all the way around.
"Either join in or get out, Sparky." I love Gemma so, so much. Also, Prospect is kind of cute, so I would be happy for them to be having a threesome.
Oh, good, Jax was smart enough.
Gemma giving advice to Tara is pretty awesome too. I'm sure Gemma has many reasons for telling Tara to get total disclosure from Jax, but she's right. Tara's too smart and to observant to stay in the dark.
"You love the man. You learn to love the club. If you can do that, there's no truth you can't handle."
God, Gemma just exudes sex with every. single. person. I'd be down for some Gemma/Tara, too. And Gemma/Agent Stahl would make my brain melt. I maybe love cold, manipulative, strong, intelligent women.
OH HELL NO.
A) GEMMA IS NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO FALL FOR THAT SHIT.
B) WHY DO YOU HATE WOMEN?
B1) Tara gets stalked by Kohn and he attempts to rape her. Okay, it's extra creepy because he's law enforcement but I like showing that law enforcement can't always be trusted. Also, she got to shoot him.
B2) Donna is shown as being this unreasonable woman trying to tear Opie out of the club. Then when she starts to come around, she gets a bullet in the back of her head.
B3) The Gemma kidnapping and, I'm sure, rape or attempted rape is BULLSHIT. She's too smart to get taken in by the damsel in distress (and also, just love how they use the woman as betraying other women right there) and there is no reason to have this. NO REASON AT ALL. THIS IS NOT GOOD STORYTELLING. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY TO MAKE FOR A DRAMATIC, TENSE STORYLINE. Gemma is the one woman on the show who hasn't had her power taken from her and now you've stripped it away in a violent and cruel and nasty way. Getting at the man through the woman is sloppy, lazy writing and an overdone trope.
I did love the scene where Opie watches his kids sleep. It's a nice call-back to the beginning of the episode in which Donna is killed, when the kids are sleeping in the bed between Opie and Donna and it's just this sweet moment.
So basically, Sutter can go to hell for writing this episode and I've got to decide if I want to dump another show for women-hating BULLSHIT.
My original favorite character is Jax's dead dad, speaking to Jax (and the audience) through his book. My second favorite characters are Opie and Donna. If you've watched the show, you can see why the end of season one left me shaken and needing more. I'm a biker myself and ride with a local group back home.
I definitely wish there were more female characters and more women riding bikes on their own. I love the women we have, but it's still not very balanced. I wish that race was handled better. Charming is an extraordinarily white town and basically any character of color is an antagonist. (I would say bad guy, but in some ways, technically everyone is a bad guy, while antagonist works better as the opposing force to the protagonist.)
So with all that said, I am now going to watch, and blog about, Sons of Anarchy 2.01 "Albification".
Even the blurb about the episode bothers me, referring to Donna as Opie's wife. Which, she is, but she's more than that, too. I dislike that they don't even name her after she's been murdered.
In the previously on clip, the funeral procession almost made me cry again. This is obviously because of personal things and family things, but still. Sometimes I think that's why I love this show, because in many ways it hits really, really close to home. Obviously not the outlaw part, but other things.
I love whatever song they're using here. Love it.
I'm intrigued by the way Jax is still acting like the VP even knowing what he does about Donna's death. Maybe he has a plan, and if so, that surprises me some. He's always seemed a little young and hot-blooded, not quite the type to fully plan. Though maybe that's part of the point of this - he's coming into his own, learning to plan and bide his time and do things right.
I'm not seeing a lot of anger at Agent Stahl for setting up Opie and playing such a major role in Donna's death. I blame her almost as much as Clay, though maybe Clay should have, you know, known better since Opie is one of his.
So from this discussion with Deputy Hale and the businessmen, was Charming built to be a white town? It's always been presented as SAMCRO keeping other criminals out of the town, but that's not the only thing that's going on. By the end of last season, I started liking Deputy Hale and having him stand up to his big brother and comment on the shittiness of the white
God, Opie. I would have needed to get away too. Though I'm not sure about this whole pushing them off onto his parents, especially his mother. He's not a big fan of his mother. Which in some ways makes sense, because she doesn't approve of the club. However, Opie was so upset that his kids were shy around him after he got out of prison. The kids surely remind him of Donna. I'm torn on all this.
I really love the friendship between Jax and Opie. I worry that the way Jax is trying to protect him from their suspicions about Clay's hand in Donna's death (or their flat out knowledge that they can't prove) is going to blow up in his face. I hope it doesn't ruin their friendship.
Also the way Deputy Hale, despite whatever other reasons he has for wanting Chief Unser to step down, is also worried about his health. And man, Unser looks rough.
Clay and Tig hugging Opie made me wince so hard. And Jax, I really don't know if keeping it between you, Piney, and Deputy Hale is the best thing. Opie won't be pleased to know that you're keeping this from him in order to protect him.
GODDAMNIT. Clay, Donna was a woman. Not a girl. A WOMAN.
(I am inordinately fond of Piney, partly because he's Opie's dad but also because he drives a trike and I am, of course, fond of trikes because of my father.)
So you won't tell Opie what you suspect, but you're going to go fuck with Clay? Jax, if this doesn't blow up in your face, I will call shoddy writing. Though I do love his little exchange with Clay. "Or what, you're gonna put a bullet in the back of my head, too?"
This show makes me miss my bike. Not that I like any of their bikes (I'm not a Harley fan), but still, just all the riding.
Jax climbing through the truck while Opie drives was surprisingly hot. Also, I don't really see that this plan was very well thought out. Jax, I expected better from you. It shouldn't have got as far as it did. Though, getting to watch Opie tackle someone might have been worth it. I like when Opie starts hitting people. That episode last season where he starts prepping himself for a beat down was fabulous.
(I really miss Donna.)
Despite how I feel about their decisions, I love Gemma and Clay together. Sharp and smart and hot as hell. HOT AS HELL. Ron Perlman and Katey Sagal are both getting hotter with age.
So I know how problematic my gun love can be, but holy hell. Opie and his gun and his drive to know the truth - damn.
Guys, Opie isn't going to let it go with this half-assed explanation, with not hearing it for himself. And also, it's quite possible he's going to start a war what with carving up the body like that. Though probably Jax is smart enough to take care of that. Not to mention that when he finds out what you've kept from him - this is a bad plan all the way around.
"Either join in or get out, Sparky." I love Gemma so, so much. Also, Prospect is kind of cute, so I would be happy for them to be having a threesome.
Oh, good, Jax was smart enough.
Gemma giving advice to Tara is pretty awesome too. I'm sure Gemma has many reasons for telling Tara to get total disclosure from Jax, but she's right. Tara's too smart and to observant to stay in the dark.
"You love the man. You learn to love the club. If you can do that, there's no truth you can't handle."
God, Gemma just exudes sex with every. single. person. I'd be down for some Gemma/Tara, too. And Gemma/Agent Stahl would make my brain melt. I maybe love cold, manipulative, strong, intelligent women.
OH HELL NO.
A) GEMMA IS NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO FALL FOR THAT SHIT.
B) WHY DO YOU HATE WOMEN?
B1) Tara gets stalked by Kohn and he attempts to rape her. Okay, it's extra creepy because he's law enforcement but I like showing that law enforcement can't always be trusted. Also, she got to shoot him.
B2) Donna is shown as being this unreasonable woman trying to tear Opie out of the club. Then when she starts to come around, she gets a bullet in the back of her head.
B3) The Gemma kidnapping and, I'm sure, rape or attempted rape is BULLSHIT. She's too smart to get taken in by the damsel in distress (and also, just love how they use the woman as betraying other women right there) and there is no reason to have this. NO REASON AT ALL. THIS IS NOT GOOD STORYTELLING. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY TO MAKE FOR A DRAMATIC, TENSE STORYLINE. Gemma is the one woman on the show who hasn't had her power taken from her and now you've stripped it away in a violent and cruel and nasty way. Getting at the man through the woman is sloppy, lazy writing and an overdone trope.
I did love the scene where Opie watches his kids sleep. It's a nice call-back to the beginning of the episode in which Donna is killed, when the kids are sleeping in the bed between Opie and Donna and it's just this sweet moment.
So basically, Sutter can go to hell for writing this episode and I've got to decide if I want to dump another show for women-hating BULLSHIT.
