Sons Of Anarchy Season Finale Review: “J’ai Obtenu Cette” (Season 5, Episode 13)

Only for Gemma to do what Otto refused to, which is make a statement incriminating Tara, making for another moment that didn’t sit quite right with me. Gemma will do anything, even drive while stoned, to be with her grandchildren, so of course she would be resistant to Tara taking them and moving away.

Her level of hostility, however, was rather sudden. This is a woman who not long ago was broken both physically and mentally. Yet, without warning, she’s returned to her old, conniving self. There at least could have been a tiny transitional period from Gemma the wreck to Gemma the home-wrecker.

That wasn’t the only baffling moment involving her, though, nor was Tara the only one she got the police after. Earlier on she lied about Clay’s whereabouts in order to disprove his alibi, a bit of a surprise after she’d given no indication that she wasn’t going to Belfast with Clay after all.

I realize a couple of factors could’ve been at play. First, she might not have had the heart to break Clay’s. Except, outside of the guilt on her face when he initially told her he couldn’t stand to lose her again, she’s shown no overt signs she still feels bad about it. In fact, her actions appeared to suggest that her feelings for Clay had been rekindled somewhat as she continued to care for him even after Jax no longer needed her to.

Secondly, Jax could’ve enlisted her help, as we’re led to believe he did with Juice, but we have nothing to suggest that other than her lying to the cops. Like I said, everything else points to the emotion she displayed in that moment being at least partially sincere. Was she saddened for him finding out the truth about him and her? Or by more or less sending him to the gallows?

Again, I honestly don’t know. And, in this case, I don’t care. Gemma, once one of the show’s strongest characters, has now become one of its weakest. I want her dead as much as I do Clay. If only so we can avoid more on-the-nose moments, such as a repeat of the one that closed out last season, except with Gemma in Tara’s place behind Jax. As if the parallels between Jax and Clay, as well as between Gemma and Tara, weren’t obvious enough already.

Most obvious of all, however, is that Sons of Anarchy is no longer for me. I might wait until the next season’s over and watch it all in one go, since the disappointment will be easier to take when it’s not spread out, but I can’t see this being a show I watch on a week-to-week basis anymore.

It is by no means a bad show, but it’s a frustrating one. As seen in this episode, for all the good, there’s always bad to balance it out. On top of that, I’m no longer invested in the characters or their stories, and that for me is the true mark of when it’s time to give up on a show.

I’m sure Sutter and all those involved won’t miss one measly viewer. Looking at the ratings, I’m not even a drop in the bucket. Still, I hope the day comes when Sutter starts listening to his critics and works on fixing the show’s problems because what makes Sons of Anarchy most infuriating is its wealth of unrealized potential.

Bits and Bobs:

• The Marshall gets one line of dialogue, which tells us nothing about his character, to end the season? He was stocked up on guns and drugs when last we saw him, suggesting things with him were about to take a turn for the worse. Then nothing. Sutter, I can’t think of a single showrunner worse at payoffs than you.
• Bobby wanted Jax to let Clay, a man who should’ve been dead long ago, live merely to prevent him becoming Clay? And he’s stepping down as vice-president because Jax went behind his back and set Clay up to get killed? I’ll say it again: Bobby’s line of reasoning is fucked.
• Tara, either give up or kill yourself. You’re never getting out of Charming alive. You’d think that would be readily apparent by now.