“Every day is a new box. You’re the one who determines if it’s a gift or a coffin.” – Jax
The last few Sons of Anarchy episodes have included some tear inducing and gut-wrenching moments, but “Orca Shrugged” provided some lighthearted moments and even some laughs. The whole episode felt like filler to me, possibly the writers wanting to provide something lighter right after Opie’s brutal death and funeral, but it was a welcome change from all the destruction that has been seen so far this season.
The episode centered on Jax’s plot to gain some land from Jacob Hale to house Nero’s escort service and in exchange he will help Hale with getting Charming Heights approved by the city council. This is an interesting move from Jax. We know he wants to get out of drugs and guns, feeling that girls are safer, but it is unexpected to get involved with someone they have had issues within the past. For some reason this decision does not feel right and may bring more trouble to the club.
Jax’s solution was to blackmail Alan, the only person on the city council that is voting against the heights. The guys drug Alan at his office and then proceed to take pictures of him with a transgender prostitute named Venus Van Damn, aka Walter Goggins, on top of him in a leather cat suit complete with a whip.
This whole scene was funny, especially Tig’s reactions and how perfect Goggins was as Venus, but I felt that they dragged it on too long, especially when they brought Alan’s stepson into the equation and had to blackmail him. Putting an end to it was Alan waking up and biting Tig in the butt. Overall the scene was equally strange and intriguing. I mean, how did they get his chest to look so real? Is that a strange thought to have?
Other things that happened were Jax and Galen getting in a fist fight as the Irish met with the cartel to exchange guns for money. Galen was not happy to see that Jax was wearing the president patch and expressed his concerns to Clay. Jax calls Galen out and Galen tells Jax that he is arrogant and selfish plus how he thinks Jax was responsible for the death of Kellan Ashby. This whole exchange showed what power Clay still has in the club and how Jax can’t really handle the Irish on his own.
After beating the crap out of Carla last week, Tara and Gemma had a nice moment and made up. Tara even let Gemma stay at her house and spend time with Thomas. It is better that these two get along and I am glad that they wrapped up their animosity quick. Hopefully it stays that way. Gemma confronted Nero about why he was avoiding her and he admits that he was told to stay away from her, but I don’t think Gemma is going to accept his rejection lightly.
After learning that Sheriff Roosevelt’s wife was pregnant, it felt too good to be true. I was proved right when she became a victim of the home invasions and was shot in the belly after a struggle with the intruders, but she got some evidence for her husband by scratching one of them. The home invasion truth will hopefully come out soon and maybe reveal that Clay is behind them. Who else could have gotten the new SAMCRO members to do this?
In the end Jax delivered the photos to Hale and he agreed to help Jax. Then we were left with the disturbing image of the body parts Jax needed to prove that Emma Jean had been killed, even though she had been put on a plane by Nero.
Not much plot advancement, but Orca Shrugged was entertaining. Let’s get back to the real threat of Damon Pope and get an answer to why the three newbies are terrorizing some of the citizens of Charming.
Some stats and info about Sons of Anarchy, “Orca Shrugged”
TV SHOW – Sons of Anarchy
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 5, Episode 5
AIRED ON – October 9th, 2012
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – FX
GENRE – Drama, Crime Dramas
CREATED BY – Kurt Sutter
CAST – Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Mark Boone Junior, Kim Coates, Tommy Flanagan, Theo Rossi, Dayton Callie, Maggie Siff, Ron Perlman, David Labrava, Jimmy Smits, Drea de Matteo
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.