Kurt Sutter announced on his Twitter page a few days ago that tonight’s episode was his favorite to date, and I’m not really sure why. (He claims he’s a big fan of the HBO drama, “Oz.”) It wasn’t a bad episode, but when compared to the rest of the season, it just felt a little flat. Part of that had to do with the fact that not a whole lot really happened, especially when you consider that all three storylines were dealing with the same thing: getting SAMCRO out of prison. Forced to hang out in the San Joaquin County Correctional Facility while they await their hearing (which has been conveniently delayed), the Sons are quick to proposition their fellow black prison mates for protection when they discover that the LOAN-affiliated skinheads have orders to kill them.
Getting protection is easier said than done, however, as the leader of the black gang requests two favors from Clay before he’ll even think about putting the lives of his guys on the line. The first is handled quite easily (and humorously) when Juice lures one of their enemies into a private area with the promise of a little Latino loving, only for the black gang to jump him and beat the dude to a pulp. The second favor requires Clay to reach outside the prison gates to Opie for help in framing a Chinese tranny snitch (say that five times fast) that screwed over one of their soon-to-be prison pals. But after he pays off the club’s police friend and plants a shitload of drugs in the target’s car, the tranny shoots the cop and gets away. With Juice already in the medical ward after getting a shiv to the back and the others only hours away from getting stabbed themselves, things are starting to look dim when ATF Agent Stahl makes a surprise visit.
She’s come to see Clay in prison with a proposition of her own: give up SAMCRO’s IRA connection in exchange for their release. Clay flat-out refuses, but when she suggests that she speak to Jax instead (dropping a hint that she knows all about their heated feud), it severely pisses him off. Within seconds of returning to his cell, Clay and Jax are engaged in an all-out brawl, and though Clay is certainly bigger and stronger, I have to admit that Jax certainly held his own. At least, he came out of the fight the least for wear. Still, although Jax and Clay remain at each other’s throats, Jax gives Agent Stahl the same answer, but only after he deconstructs her entire interrogation technique and then indirectly threatens her by asking about Agent Kohn’s whereabouts. Sly bastard, that Jax.
When all was said and done, however, the Sons were able to post bail with the help of Elliot, who finally agreed to let Gemma borrow the $300,000 after she practically begged him for it. He certainly owes the club that much after they castrated the carnie who raped his daughter and then stopped Jacob Hale from forcing him to sell his land. Still, I can’t help but wonder what the point of this episode was if they’re just going to walk away from it without anyone ever mentioning it again. I mean, it’s not like any judge is just going to give them a slap on the wrist and set them free, so how exactly will the Sons get out of this mess once and for all? My guess? Jax will eventually succumb to Agent Stahl’s pressure and give up the IRA in trade for their freedom. After all, it’s not like they’re going to want to do business with those Irish bastards any more after they practically stabbed them in the back. Let’s hope not, anyway.
