The Charming Women Unravel. Recap: Sons of Anarchy – “Huang Wu”

Season 6, Episode 10

Air date: Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 10pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“Just stop lying – it’s the right thing.” – Wendy

Does the truth really set a person free or does it deepen the ties that bind people together? After an outpouring of truths, the tension between Tara (Maggie Siff) and Gemma (Katey Sagal) escalates to an all-time high. Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and Tara don’t start their day on the best note and from then on, one has to wonder whether their actions will keep them on a downward spiral or whether they will find a way to work things out.

After Tara’s set up of Gemma is unveiled, what happens next is the main question among the MC members, friends, and family as the fireworks expected don’t happen in the manner anticipated. Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter has a penchant for being unpredictable and although this inclination is expected now, it’s still exciting to be surprised by a show after six seasons. Furthermore, I’m glad to have found one character who keeps hope alive in the midst of a hypnotic, yet emotionally draining episode.

Jax confirms to the MC, his mom, and Nero (Jimmy Smits) that Tara lied about her miscarriage and her plans to divorce him. Hunnam continues to deliver an Emmy®worthy performance, especially as he makes tangible the humiliation felt by Jax. As expected, the MC extends to him their unconditional support while ignoring the obvious. With everything the MC has gone through and the violence still escalating, why isn’t anyone questioning how the outlaw lifestyle may not be the best for the Teller children? I don’t think I’m the only one contemplating this question because judging by Jax’s walk by the school and his church, he wonders too! When the two teen boys pass Jax, did anyone think of Opie and Jax as young boys, and how they might have turned out had they not been part of the life? That scene, in particular, made me think about Abel and Thomas.

Clay’s announcement about his trial being moved up and being transferred out of Stockton puts the Irish King’s plans at risk. Gaalan (Timonthy V. Murphy) pushes for SAMCRO to get involved in Clay’s transport operation and to close a gun distribution deal with the Italians as soon as possible. Hearing Gaalan insist on a gun demo makes my stomach turn and soon enough, his habit of sending a “strong message” brings a new complication to SAMCRO. In turn, the Chinese pressure SAMCRO to shut down the Irish gun pipeline so they can take over and settle the score with Gaalan. To “keep everyone honest,” they hold Happy (David Labrava) in custody. It appears all roads lead to the “Butcher of Belfast.”

With “Huang Wu,” we finally get a female-centered episode —for the most part. In real life, relationships among women can be complicated and I’m glad Sutter stays true to those dynamics. Here’s my rundown on where the female storylines stand:

Wendy – I like Drea De Matteo as an actress but I can’t care anymore about what happens to her character. Wendy’s big talk about wanting the best for Abel and telling the truth turns out to be BS; she’s easily influenced by anyone who pressures her, and that includes both Tara and Gemma! I found myself fully agreeing with Tara —Wendy is an incapable mother because she’s a coward.

Margaret (McNally Sagal) – Although shook up by Gemma’s threats, hospital administrator Margaret Murphy continues to show great loyalty and friendship to Tara. Their conversation reveals their failure to have a plan B (seriously?!), which is quite stupid and naïve considering how elaborate their hoax was. Margaret’s fears for retaliation by Jax and the MC push her to get out of town, and losing Margaret’s support is a huge blow to Tara.

Gemma and Tara – Sutter knows to bring it on when setting up a long awaited confrontation! As each character readies their guns, my anxiety meter shot up! I knew they wouldn’t shoot each other but their conversation is full of nastiness. Tara is an idiot for being so stubborn; she should really talk to Jax – it’s very annoying. Gemma, on the other hand, has a man’s cojones to apply double-standards, starting with her lecture to Tara about betrayal. Hmm, let’s delve deeper into this for a minute: Tara has lied to everyone for a week or so about the death of a fictitious baby (callous and wrong, yes!) while Gemma has lied to everyone about a real person’s death for over 20 years? Gemma also talks down to Tara just like she used to do with Wendy, basically bullying her to disappear and to leave her son behind. Jax’s words from “Straw” ring in my head: “Mom, why do you always have to stir shit up with me and Tara?” I am also not fooled by Gemma’s assisting a weak link like Wendy – isn’t this a liability according to their life code? Let’s just say the manner in which Gemma’s eyes widen when Jax mentions that if Tara goes to jail, Wendy gets custody of the children wasn’t lost on me and may have everything to do with Gemma’s charitable disposition. Seeing this is very sad for me; I used to be a huge Gemma fan but not anymore. Who would put up with such an intrusive mother-in-law and her creepy fixation of being the only woman in her son’s life? I urge Jax to sort out his “his mommy issues.” Ironically, this is a comment Gemma doesn’t flinch about as she focuses on getting her pimp daddy Nero all worked up for her – just gross. Last, but certainly not least, it’s looking as if Gemma is on top of the world right now. She’s back in Jax’s good graces and riding high with her relationship with Nero, but this may be a temporary win. Sutter loves to turn the tables on characters and with secrets still being kept, these happy moments could be the calm before the storm.

In the midst of all this doom and gloom, Jax is the one character in “Huang Wu” that is a ray of hope. In typical Jax fashion, he doesn’t always make the best decisions but I admire his unwillingness to give up on his family. His pragmatic approach not only proves his resilience, but how little his mom and wife actually know him. Contrary to what everyone expected, Jax doesn’t go ballistic on Tara, and doesn’t rush into a decision until he thinks things through. In spite of Tara’s heinous fake miscarriage, he keeps her in his deal with DA Patterson (CCH Pounder). Then when Tara busts him with Colette (Kim Dickens) and slaps him, he doesn’t strike her back. As I was thinking about Tara’s hand ever getting better, and nearly being distracted by Tigs’ (Kim Coates) fabulous silk boxer, I didn’t miss how Jax seems to perk up at Tara’s jealous rage. He obviously cares and proves it by returning home after what I think is their saddest conversation in Sons of Anarchy. “What you did to me?” an angry Tara asks Jax as her words both surprise and hurt him. “What’s happening to me, what has happened to me?” As Tara’s anger turns into disgust at herself, Jax is unable to respond and she abruptly takes off – another missed opportunity for them to talk things through. Hats off to both Hunnam and Siff for their ability to convey so well the pain and frustration their characters feel. Of all the women on SOA, we’re the closest witness of Tara’s unravel and how she deals with a day during which the consequences of her decisions take a toll on her. But this has more to do with her sense of desperation and isolation than sheer craziness. She’s always been a loner but now she’s reached the point where she doesn’t trust anyone, including Jax. I bet Juice (Theo Rossi) never could have guessed the way he gets back at Tara for destroying his bike has such grave ramifications.

“Huang Wu” is an emotional, anxiety-ridden episode that walks us through what happens when there isn’t real communication among key characters, a situation worsened by different expectations of the future. The episode’s greatness lies in its ability to draw viewers in through raw emotions but it could have been balanced with a bit more comedy. Not even the “Cholo” ride conversation between Unser (Dayton Callie) and Nero – and the back and forth that ensues going forward – wasn’t enough for me to avoid being emotionally drained by the end of the episode.

The next 24 hours (in TV time) will be critical to the survival of SAMCRO, as well as the fate of Jax’s family. After Tara is refused by DA Patterson due to “other things pending,” she seems resigned to her fate. “Nobody can help me.” Immediately, I thought of Margaret’s assertion to Tara that “desperate times call for desperate measures.” I bet Tara has made up her mind about her next move, and with that, she may be sealing her fate, as well as her children’s.

Tune in to Sons of Anarchy Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT, only on FX.

For more on the show, go to http://www.fxnetworks.com/soa and http://www.sutterink.com/.

To check out Kurt Sutter’s Sons of Anarchy video channel on YouTube, go to http://www.youtube.com/sutterinksoa.

Follow @sonsofanarchy, @sutterink, and @FXNetworks, and tweet using the hashtag #SOAFX.

Like Sons of Anarchy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/SonsofAnarchy.

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elleL

Soaker of life. I like to experience things and see the world. I consider myself a professional traveler. My love for movies and television goes way back but I'm a sucker for action-oriented films and shows. Oh, and I make excellent martinis! Follow me on twitter @LutzElle.