What I’m Watching: Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy: Season 2, Episode 12 “Culling” (A-)

There’s just no stopping this show from getting even better. When SAMCRO was trying to fight off the invasion of Zobelle and the white supremacists with limited success and much collateral damage, it was intense and great, but now, when they’re actively and intelligently working to oust all traces of the group, it’s really incredible. The sheer proximity of Jax and Clay to Weston and Zobelle in this episode is a monumental step, and just how close the law is on both occasions is even more jarring. The lines of crooked and straight law enforcement are really being drawn as Hale refuses to let Uncer stand by and watch as Jax and Clay execute Zobelle, and Uncer’s proclamation that “no crime has been committed” made for an insanely powerful scene. The fact that Zobelle, clearly frightened for his life, already had a backup plan to ensure that he and his daughter could be arrested and set free from the deadly clutches of SAMCRO drives home the fact that this is the deadliest enemy the club has faced, so cool and calculating in all that he does that he’s ready for anything and won’t let his face display the slightest hint of panic or sorrow. Weston is not someone you want to do wrong by, and his furious execution of Zobelle’s three workers and anger at Zobelle for keeping secrets from him looked like it was going to result in something really bad for the club. Fortunately, Jax was able to anticipate Weston’s rule-breaking and enlist the help of not one but two of their ailing allies to ensure a smooth relationship with them in the future. The club’s ability to simultaneously get their guns back and keep ties clean with Jimmy was quite impressive. Chibs playing dumb with Agent Stahl and her subsequent smacking of him in the face was a nice comic moment that will likely lead to nothing but devastation since the vigilantly anti-SAMCRO agent’s quest to take them down has only been fueled more by their latest act of duplicity. Gemma’s divine-inspired motivational speech to Tara was compelling, and produced a scene that puts me firmly in favor of Tara, where before I wasn’t sure I liked her that much. Her demonstration of power with her fearsome beating and intimidation of her supervisor was something new, and it was simply astonishing to see. Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, Charlie Hunnam, and Adam Arkin have all done excellent work this season, but give it up for “Mad Men” alumnus Maggie Siff – she just blew them out of the water in this episode.