Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 8 (Lead In): ‘Potlatch’ - Jax Becomes Messiah

The epic SAMCRO saga continued in Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 7, “Gilead.”

With SAMCRO behind bars, Zobelle gives word to the whites in prison to take down SAMCRO. Clay tries to negotiate an alliance with the blacks. The price of the alliance is one delivered snitch and a cocaine setup with one of their enemies on the outside. The club uses Juice (Theo Rossi) as bait for the snitch, who has a thing for Hispanic meat. When Tig sends Juice to the infirmary to lure out the snitch, the blacks use the opportunity to jump him. All things appear well, until Juice gets out and the whites decide to stab him. Luckily, no vitals were hit.

In the meantime, Opie is on the outside trying to plant cocaine on one of the blacks’ enemies. Unfortunately, the ruse leaves Sheriff Vic Trammel with a bullet wound center mass.

With the line drawn down the middle between Clay and Jax (Charlie Hunnam), Bobby decides it’s time the club is healed. He approaches Jax and says, “This club needs a healing, and you got to be the one to deliver it.” Bobby walks away and Jax presses his hands together in prayer. In one motion, Kurt Sutter has turned Jax into the club’s Messiah. It is up to Jax to save the club from its sins by being the better man and making peace with Clay (Ron Perlman). Can he do it? Unfortunately, the answer is no - for now, at least. After ATF Agent June Stahl jumps back on the scene trying to pit Clay against Jax, Clay decides to have a prison brawl with his stepson. Bobby lets them fight it out, but the result leaves the rift even wider. With an internal war and multiple club members in the hospital, who will become the Messiah of SAMCRO?

Gemma negotiates a 300,000 bond with an old friend of the club. Upon their release, Tara and Gemma (Katey Sagal) wait for their men with open arms. Unfortunately, the two walk in separate directions, not acknowledging the clubs current matriarch, and Tara the hinted future matriarch. Yes, Tara has taken on a bigger role this season. She’s not just taking care of Jax’s son; she’s also taking care of Opie’s children. Tara was also ready to post her dad’s house for bail. She and Gemma have gotten closer, while their men have drifted apart. I’m really enjoying the progression of Tara’s character this season. There has been some tension going with Tara’s superiors at work, but I’m hoping that future episodes don’t lead to a return of Season 1 Jax-Tara arguments. They were great in Season 1, but let’s move forward.

I don’t know if anyone out there agrees with me, but the adrenaline this season on Sons of Anarchy has not stopped since the season 2 premiere. There have been no filler episodes, no wasted dialogue, and no random moments. Kurt Sutter has played his cards well and earned his hour drama a place in this Fall’s top 10 must watch shows.

In Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 8, “Potlatch,” an already-dwindling gun supply leads SAMCRO to take extreme measures to procure weapons from a customer. The revenge that is sought following a theft at Caracara Studios puts one diva at risk. Tara’s professional and personal lives begin to collide.