Episode Report Card DeAnn Welker: A | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Stahling for Time
By DeAnn Welker | Season 3 | Episode 12 | Aired on 11.23.2010
Jacob takes the phone call and fills Salazar in. He pulls a knife and thumbs it threateningly (because the gun he's holding wasn't threatening enough, I guess?), and Tara says he's not going to kill Jax. Salazar says he's going to make him watch him kill Tara, then he's going to kill him. Jax knocks, and Salazar lets him in, then feels him up. And, I mean, okay, dude's hot, but he's wearing a sweatshirt that says "Son" on it, which cracks me up because I find myself wondering which one of SAMCRO came up with the clever concept and then had the shirts made. It's not like they have someone hired to do just that; these people are killers and the shirt-making has to happen on the side. It just seems too weirdly out of character, though I realize it's a small thing to get hung up on in a scene that's actually pretty intense. Anyway, Salazar grabs the gun that he's stabbed into a dresser for effect, and forces Tara up with it. He starts talking about watching his girl die, and Jax runs toward him, but the gun's there. Then Jacob mans up for the first time in his life and jabs a pen into Salazar's side. This gives Jax the opportunity to hit him good and knock the gun out of his hand. Salazar flees. Jax takes a second to give Tara the gun (she's still chained up with Jacob) and tell her to kill anyone who's not a cop. Then he chases Salazar. The cops see Jax, and he lies that they're all upstairs so he can have Salazar to himself, I guess. Stahl hears the report to watch the exits and tells the cops that he's headed for the front, so she and Tyler will cover the back.
Salazar's grabbed an ax by now and Jax is still chasing him with a knife. Salazar's in a corner, and Jax tells him to put the ax down and he'll let him walk out of here alive. I don't know about anyone else, but in my world, ax beats knife. For one thing, you can hit someone from a lot farther away with it. For another, it's heavier so you should be able to get a lot more power behind it. But Salazar's apparently a pussy and Jax is a god, so I'll have to let this one slide. Jax tells Salazar he'll let him walk out of here if he rats out Hale. Cops are banging on the other side of the door, as Salazar cries, not ready to trust Jax. Then he drops the ax, and Jax jumps on him and stabs him to death. He hears the cops coming so he quickly cuts himself with the ax. Then he tells them Salazar came at him with the ax, so he had no choice. Outside, the sheriff lets Clay and the other guys know that Salazar attacked Teller with a fire ax, so Teller killed him with his own knife. The SAMCRO guys nod approvingly.
Unser calls it in over the radio, that it's done and to bring it in. But Stahl's work's not done yet, so she turns with her blankest dead face and shoots her girlfriend. She calls in that they're being attacked, then fires some shots. She calls again and says an officer is down, then runs to Tyler's side and tells her to let go. When the cops show up, she fake cries like the best of them. I'm not sure if Ally Walker's such a good actor, but Stahl sure is.
Hospital. Jax holds Tara's hand as an ultrasound shows them their baby's healthy heartbeat. The doctor leaves them alone, and Jax gazes at her lovingly, then kisses her. At least he's a loving cheater/killer/arms dealer. When they come out, Margaret hugs Tara and says she's so glad she's safe. Tara apologizes, but Margaret's okay with it. Jax joins Unser, who's watching Jacob take credit for saving the world with all of the local press. Jax says he's sorry that didn't go another way, and Unser just sighs that it's probably time to retire. Jax invites him to breakfast the next day with his mom, and Unser's delighted. Maybe he should retire from the PD and join up with SAMCRO. Seems like a good connection to have around. Plus, they need men.
Which is what Clay's telling the conference room of SAMCRO boys in the next scene. He says that no matter what happens, they're facing time, so he'll run things out of Stockton Yard, but they're still short some guys and have to get some. But, for now, they need to just vote in the one: Kozik. He gives Piney and Jax's proxy "yea" votes, and then his own "yea." Tig says no, to eye rolls around the room, then leaves. He says he's sorry, but he can't. Clay bangs the gavel to end the meeting. In the house, Gemma's in the kitchen with Abel when Jax and Tara come home. Tara's very emotional as she hugs Gemma, then holds Abel. Jax tells his mom the baby's fine, but she already knew that somehow.
Russian's place. Donny comes back with 712K, which he says is all he could get. Everyone looks worried, until Viktor laughs that Jimmy had no faith, and pats him on the back. Jimmy nods thankfully at Donny. That same night (I think?), Jax is back at the police department to visit his frenemy, Agent Stahl. She pretends to be all shaken up about the death of her partner/partner, and says she has to give her statement to Internal Affairs. She shuts the door and tells him they have to finish what they started. He says he knows, but she's just gotten word that Jimmy's draining his accounts out here so it's clear he's going to jump. Jax tells her to set up the meeting with Lenny and Otto and they'll find Jimmy and finish all of this. Stahl hopes that happens before his mother tanks the whole thing. She gets really ugly creepy dead-face as she tells him about Gemma taking her at gunpoint and threatening her to kill the deal. Jax says he's sorry; she's just worried what the club will do if they find out. She promises they won't if they do this the right way (but Stahl is evil, so we know she's lying). She gives him the IRA folder again and says she'll clear Gemma for the murders and she'll clear the club for Jimmy. He takes the folder from her.