So, the day came yesterday where I finished all seven seasons of Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. When I texted my friend, emotionally shaken because it was over, she replied with amazement. She told me I could have broken the record for how quickly I binged seven seasons of a show. It took me about 3-4 weeks. Yeah I know, I need a life.
The reason it went so quickly is because Sons of Anarchy is an amazing show. I laughed, I cried, my glasses fogged up whenever Jax was shirtless. When it ended, I sat on my bed and mourned the characters in my mind. I had become so attached to them individually, whether it was pure love or hate, and didn't want it to end.
I decided to write a post on my favorite, and not so favorite, relationships on SOA, because if I chose to do a post on the entire show, we would be here awhile.
Here we go..
For anyone that hasn't seen this show, know there are
spoiler alerts.
Gemma and Unser
I would consider these two to be one of my favorites because of the undying loyalty. Yes, there are several times when both of them are so horrible that you want to wring their necks, but together they are just two very close friends from the same town. Unser, the aging sheriff in Charming, who also happens to be dying of cancer, would do literally anything for Gemma. It becomes apparent early on how in love with Gemma he is, and that emotion drives his character throughout all seven seasons.
Even in the last hour for Gemma, in the second to last episode of the show, Unser cannot leave her side. When Jax finds out that Gemma was the one who murdered Tara, he comes to his grandfather's house, where Gemma is hiding, and begs Unser to leave. Clearly, he won't and even utters, "this is all I have left" before Jax shoots and kills him. I found it to be a noble death for Unser and was glad he went out that way, rather than attached to tubes and weak from cancer.
Clay and Juice
I pretty much hate any relationship involving Clay because he is the anti-Christ, but for some reason, this specific one really rubbed me the wrong way. For people who know the show, Juice ends up being quite the traitor to the club. The reason behind his betrayal is an ancient rule where no black people are allowed in the club. Turns out Juice's father was black. DUMBEST REASON. I apologize, I just hate Juice. He is the worst kind of coward, running from his fate constantly; from attempting suicide to physically running. His relationship with Clay was one of approval. Juice merely wanted to feel like someone in the club loved him. Clay, who I believe was not capable of said emotion, merely needed Juice for his constant agenda of bringing down the club.
Jax and Tara
Jax and Tara are my Romeo and Juliet. From beginning to the tragic end, these two were it. Even though they had their horrifying moments, like when Jax cheats on her with that psychotic porn star, or when Tara shuts him out while she is in jail, you could always feel their love. Whenever it would be scenes with just the two of them, I'd gasp a little while watching because I felt so much emotion. This is a testament to the actors that play them really, Charlie Hunnam (sigh) and Maggie Siff. No matter how hard it got for the two of them, they always wanted the same thing: for their sons to have the best life possible. Tara made Jax the happiest he would ever be, and the scene where he finds her dead is one that can't really be described, just watched and sobbed over. In the end. Jax granted Tara's one wish: for her boys to leave Charming and never know the Samcro life.
Opie and Lyla
This relationship is tricky for me. I originally wanted to write about Opie and Donna, because they are a relationship I really loved to watch, but it's also a much less complicated one. Opie was clearly in love with Donna, and when she was killed, it shook his entire world. When Lyla, the porn star, came into the picture, it seemed like things were looking up for Opie. Boy, was I wrong.
For people that have seen the show, they know of Opie's brutal death while the Sons are in prison. Before all of that goes down, Opie brings Lyla into his life. He's painfully lost, with Donna's death and the club's association, so Lyla should have been a map to direct him on the right path. I found Lyla to be extremely selfish and not really that concerned with Opie's feelings. Yes, she did go through a lot while they were together, but I felt like she made excuses and ran away from the relationship more than fighting for it. From the beginning, it kind of felt like they were doomed.
Tigs and Venus
Tig is a very intense character, one that I had a love/hate relationship with through all seven seasons. When we are introduced to him, he seems pretty black and white. He would constantly do anything Clay asked, and didn't think of the consequences. When Clay's loyalties come into question, and also when he kills Donna, is when we start to really see Tigs. He is a wounded soul, from all the death, and is torn up about Donna.
When Venus comes on the scene, Tigs is immediately drawn to her. It's an unconventional relationship, but honestly, one with the most love. Venus, a transgender woman, comes to the club for help with her nephew. After the episode, we find out some horrible family secrets about her and that the nephew is actually her son. Later in the show, Tigs and Venus become a full couple, and at first, Venus pulls away because she is so in love with him. The scene where they proclaim their love for each other made me cry because of its raw honesty and truth for Tig. He replies to her concerns by saying he wants to know what it would be like to have her. For anyone, the scene is heartwarming and has you rooting for Tig and Venus.
Gemma and Wendy
These two made me want to pull my hair out. Wendy, Jax's junkie ex-wife and mother to Abel, comes on the scene and we're led to believe she might not change. She stays away for awhile, but then reemerges sober and doing well. Now, as an individual character, I really like Wendy. I love her underdog story and was proud of her by the end of the show for getting her life together. Gemma and Wendy together, not so much. Gemma pretty much poisons any relationship, but with Wendy she is the worst. She is constantly making Wendy doubt herself and feel like that junkie in the hospital after Abel's birth. After all, she did try to kill Wendy very early in the show.
Chibs and Jarry
I was so happy to see that Chibs was given a love interest. Chibs is such a wise and loyal character, especially to Jax, that he deserved to have someone. I don't know whether it's the Irish accent, but Chibs was one of my favorite characters. When Sheriff Jarry stomps onto the scene in the seventh season, we are forced to recognize her presence to the club. I loved her character. She's a strong, powerful woman that wasn't afraid to be vulnerable and in love. The two went back and forth with their relationship, but in the end they called it quits. The pressures of the club and sheriff's office were too high. They lived in two different worlds. RIP Jibs. Or Chirry? I'll perfect it eventually.
Chibs and Jax
For my last relationship, Chibs and Jax. These two were a force to be reckoned with. I always loved how, no matter what shit they were going through, they both loved each other fiercely. Chibs was the most loving member, in my opinion, even proudly telling Jax he loved him no matter what in a scene, and sorrowfully mourning Jax before he was even dead. The fact that he went through with the Mayhem vote and respected Jax's wishes, even though that meant Jax would die, shows his level of respect and love for Jax. Jax always looked up to Chibs and saw him as a father figure, more than Clay ever was.
Those are the best and worst relationships in SOA, in my humble opinion. I know I left out many different relationships, but these were the ones that spoke to me.
What's your favorite (and not so favorite) SOA relationship? Tell me, cause I wanna know.
