This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Sons of Anarchy, including last night's Season 5 finale, “J'ai Obtenu Cette.”
With each season of Sons of Anarchy, the stakes get higher and the body count increases. The show wrapped its fifth season in typical SOA style: Shoot-outs, double-crossing, new allies, and betrayal. The buildup of the first 12 episodes came to a head in the season finale and it wasn’t pretty.
******SPOILERS******
Otto—His utter dedication not to give ex-Marshall, Lee Toric, the information he needs regarding his sister’s death had Otto literally biting off his tongue. And then he throws it against the wall. It was one of the most horrific and gross scenes of the season. How many more body parts does Otto have to lose until he’s completely out of his misery?
Tara and Wendy– Their tempestuous relationship is finally finding some solid ground. Ironically, Wendy is the only person Tara feels is stable enough to take care of Able and Thomas should anything happen to her or Jax. Tara gets a surprise visit from Wendy (who looked like she spent the night in Junkyville). Wendy tells Tara that Jax threatened her then shot her up with a speedball. Wendy, the surprising voice of reason, offers Tara these sage words of advice: “This town kills everything that you love. Go to Oregon now, before something awful happens to you and your son." In other words, “Run, bitch! Leave while you can!”
Tara and Gemma—Somehow bad-ass grandma Gemma found out that Tara is accepting the position in Oregon and leaving Charming, taking her boys with her. Gemma, being the controlling alpha female that she is, isn’t having it. Gemma tells Tara that she’ll go to the police and basically lie. She’ll tell them that Tara knew that Otto was going to kill that nurse with the cross. That it was the plan all along. Tara doesn’t care about Gemma’s threat. She calls Gemma’s bluff. But that could be Tara's downfall; when Gemma threatens you, you best take it seriously. 'Cause Gemma Teller does not make idle threats.
Nero—Looks like Nero is back in the business and won’t be retiring to his Ranch anytime soon. As a semi-mentor to Jax this season, Nero acquires SAMCRO’s help in cleaning out a rival gang from Nero’s old hood. Looks like the partnership between SAMCRO and Nero is on solid ground. And Nero has Gemma back in his bed. All is good in Nero’s world.
Jax and Pope—Jax’s other mentor, Damien Pope, finally asks for Tig’s head. Jax says he’ll deliver—but only if Pope signs papers sealing the deal for Charming Heights. Pope has the papers drawn up and Jax delivers Tig to Pope. This exchange doesn’t end the way Pope thought it would end.
Jax and SAMCRO– Jax’s not only pretty, but he’s smart too. We’ve seen him think on his feet, manipulate situations so that there’s the least amount of fall-out and SAMCRO comes out relatively unscathed in the end. I’d suspected that there was no way Jax was going to let Pope kill Tig. Jax had something up his leave; another gun which he used to kill Pope’s men and to free Tig. Jax let Tig shoot the man that burned his daughter to death. Although Tig would have liked to be let in on the plan. But like Jax told him, it had to believable. Oh and did I mention that Jax uses Clay’s gun to commit the murders? Yeah, like I said, that Jax Teller is smart. But not everyone is happy with Jax’s decisions and it all came to a head when Juice tried to warn Clay about the set-up, Tig cried when he realized Jax and set Clay up and Bobby cut off his VP patch and left it on the table. Being at the head of the table has changed Jax. He’s becoming Clay, the man he hates the most.
Clay– Every season we hope that this will be the season where Clay will finally get his. All packed and ready to fly to Ireland with Gemma by his side, the Charming police pay Clay a visit. They found his gun at the scene of Pope’s murder. Clay’s prints are all over it. Where was he during the time of the murders? Clay says he was at home and looks to Gemma for confirmation. Right, Gemma? Gemma? Gemma lies, saying Clay stepped out for a couple of hours and he took his gun with him. Well that’s all the Charming police need and they slap the cuffs on Clay. Book’em!
Gemma– With Clay out of the way, she can now have Nero and she can have her family back. She helped Jax frame Clay, Jax is still the President of SAMCRO, and all is good with her world. Oh wait, she has one loose end: Tara.
Tara—With the decision made to leave Charming, Tara breaks the news to Jax. She tells him that their family is never going to make it, their boys are doomed to repeat the same mistakes if they don’t leave Charming. Tara tells Jax she took the position in Oregon and she’s leaving. And she’s taking the boys with her. Jax doesn’t take this information well. Whatever was about to happen is interrupted by a knock on the door. It’s Charming's police again. What the hell? But this time they don’t want Jax. They want Tara. She’s being charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Oh shiggity. Apparently, Gemma followed through on her threat to Tara.
Jax and Gemma– Jax has put Gemma through the wringer this season and she deserved it. But Gemma has proven that she’ll do anything to help get back in Jax’s good graces and helping him frame Clay was the icing on the cake. Gemma arrives at Jax’s house as Tara is sitting in the back seat of the Charming police cruiser. Back to being the only woman in Jax’s life, the final scene ends with Jax sitting with Thomas in his lap, Gemma standing behind him and Jax reaching for Gemma’s hand. Exactly the way Gemma wants it.
What did you like about the finale? What do you hope happens next season?
Marquetta: Reader, Blogger, Smut Lover.
