What I’m Watching: Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy: Season 2, Episode 10 “Balm” (B+)

The need to have every member of SAMCRO vote on whether Jax should be allowed to change his membership to the Nomad chapter provides a great way to check in with all the characters and to see a bit more of some of the less prominently-featured characters on this show. The usually unserious Juice seems truly shocked by the news that Jax wants to transfer, and it’s good to see that he’s okay after his selfless deed for the club nearly got him killed while they were in prison. Chibs also gets the biggest showcase he’s ever had on this show, and the fact that he’s the one out of all of the club members to turn informant comes as quite a surprise. In a town that blurs the line constantly between the law and the lawbreakers, the need for an informant seems almost extraneous. Yet Agent Stahl continues to insist that SAMCRO isn’t the real enemy in Charming and that she’s changed her focus to take down the real bad guys. Zobelle and Weston didn’t even appear this episode, but Gemma’s revelation to the two men in her life should change that. Gemma’s confession is a necessary step to unify not just Jax and Clay but also to keep Tara somehow involved as her professional life takes a turn for the worse. The most affecting moment of the impromptu family meeting was when Jax put his hand on Clay’s shoulder and the gruff club leader put his hand on Jax’s. It’s a rare intimate moment between these men who have been so at odds recently that speaks volumes about their relationship.