FX
Brief Sons of Anarchy spoilers following:
I’ll admit I’ve been a little lax on the Sons of Anarchy Watch this season, not that I haven’t been following it, but for a few other reasons: running out of time, between a front-loaded week on the blog and other deadlines; the fact that I’ve been watching episodes in chunks (and thus a couple weeks behind or ahead at any given point); and above all, the fact that, with the first half of the season slowly setting up the Belfast mission, I simply haven’t had as much to say as I did last season.
That said, while I haven’t found the SAMCRO storyline as compelling so far—partly because of the long buildup, but mostly because of the lurching from one crisis and inter-gang confrontation to another—I have enjoyed the season’s focus on how the gang’s activities affect characters beyond the bikers, especially their old ladies. (Maureen Ryan has an excellent post on this today.) Gemma, in particular, has become the most fascinating character on the show; she’s sympathetic in her struggles (on top of everything, she’s now learned her late husband had another kid across the pond), but not uncomplicatedly so. Last night, for instance, she showed a brutal and cold side with Unser, her longtime support, when he had to do his job and thus ceased being useful.
The first season of SoA likewise took its time generating momentum before its second half, so I still want to see where it goes once that plane finally leaves the runway and the show—which has been fond of the “Second Coming” quotes this Irish-oriented season—slouches toward Belfast. But as it’s been a while since we’ve checked in, how have you found season 3 so far?