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Well OK! So this was one of the craziest, most eventful episodes ever, but since this is just a recaplet, I will try to remain as concise -- yet thorough -- as possible. Deal? Deal. The Sons arrive home in Charming with Abel in tow, and start straight to work trying to locate Salazar and Tara. There's a bit of a fake-out, as we see Salazar driving away from the scene of his last cliffhanger with Tara, leaving two bloody ladies covered up with blankets on the side of the road, but after Bobby kidnaps Salazar's poor, whimpering aunt and Alvarez holds a gun to her head, they find out where Salazar was, and discover that the second woman (the one who isn't Salazar's dead girlfriend) is actually some poor lady Salazar killed for her car. Tara, on the other hand, is still alive and in the trunk of Salazar's new ride.
On the Jimmy front, he is in Northern Ireland with the Russians, who have agreed to smuggle him into Brazil in exchange for 700K and a supply of guns at cost. Stahl still wants him though, of course, so that'll probably get botched in the finale.
Speaking of Stahl, Gemma kidnaps her at gunpoint for a minute to interrogate her (with her words, not with her Jack Bauers) about her deal with Jax. When Stahl won't give up the details, Gemma threatens to tell the U.S. Attorney that Stahl wrote her statement for her unless she agrees to abandon the deal, and then lets her go. You know, because of how Stahl loves doing what she's told.
Unser gets together with Clay and they agree that once they find Salazar they need to keep him alive so he can rat out Hale and keep the sheriffs from taking over Charming. This promptly goes to shit once we see that Salazar has taken Tara to Hale's office to play hostage with the both of them. Once the cops, sheriffs, FBI and the ATF (which seems to just be Stahl and Tyler) arrive on the scene, Stahl quickly figures out that the place only has two exits -- naturally, she agrees to cover the back one, so she and Jax can do covert/corrupt stuff on their own without being seen by the authorities.
Inside, Salazar offers a trade: Tara for Jax, and when the FBI says that's not protocol, Stahl just lets Jax in the back door. Salazar decides he's going to kill Tara in front of Jax before he kills him, too, and Hale finally does something useful and stabs Salazar in his side with a Bic pen (like a gangsta!). Salazar runs, Jax chases, and after Salazar starts hacking at him with a fire ax, Jax offers him a deal: Jax will let him go if he swears to rat out Hale. Salazar agrees and lowers his awesome ax... which is when Jax just starts stabbing the shit out of him with a hunting knife. Bye, Salazar.
Outside, Stahl gets word on the radio that Salazar is dead. Upon hearing this, she goes into sociopath mode (when is she not, though?) and shoots Tyler dead, pinning it on "some Mexicans" via radio. The end of the episode shows Stahl giving her statement to IA, and saying that the day of the hostage crisis Tyler confessed to her that everything in Gemma's sworn statement was true, and that Gemma has been wrongly charged. Oof, poor Tyler.
Oh, and Opie and Pornie got engaged, and we found out that Tig and Kozik's whole tiff is over a damn cat (or dog, I have no idea what animal was in that grainy picture), but neither of those things seem terribly important right now.
OK, that was exhausting. I'm going to take a nap now. Bye!
--Mindy Monez
Want more? The full recap starts right below!This episode "contains strong language and violence," and is "intended only for mature audiences." And who is going to judge our maturity level, FX? Because I know plenty of people old enough to watch this whom I wouldn't exactly describe as mature. Semantics... Anyway, previously: A lot of shit went down, starting with last season's finale, when Stahl framed Gemma. Then they both framed Stahl's girlfriend, Tyler. And now Jax is sort of in bed with Stahl to free up SAMCRO and his mom, even though Gemma thinks she's a bitch. Also: Hale hired Salazar to beat up Lumpy, then Salazar blackmailed him for Tara's whereabouts so he could kidnap her. It all went bad, and Salazar's girl was killed, which can't be good for Tara. But at least Jax knows now, and has his baby in tow. Which brings us to now, with SAMCRO unloading from the shady child molester van they've taken from the airport to their bikes in Charming. So we know just how much this is tearing him up, Jax's first question for Tig is about Tara. Tig knows nothing new, so he tells Jax about the new swing-set the Prospects spent all night building for Abel. Opie and Lyla kiss hello, which normally wouldn't matter much, but their love does figure into this episode.
The full SAMCRO assembles a quick staff meeting to discuss what to do . Tig updates them: The ATF and Charming police are digging into Salazar, including talking to "that aunt who owned that house." They've talked to some of the Calaveras, but so far they've got nothing. Clay will check in with Unser, and Jax with Stahl. But Kozik reminds Tig of the complication: Alvarez knows the cops are checking into Salazar, who could seriously blow a whistle on Alvarez's heroin operation. Jax worries that the Mayans won't give a shit about protecting Tara if they find Salazar first. Clay tells Tig to set a meeting with Alvarez, and Bobby to find Salazar's aunt for some info on Hector. Meeting adjourned. Clay watches Tig and Kozik stroll out of the place arm in arm, and tells Bobby this is good, since they'll need Kozik to become SAMCRO. Then he turns his attention to Gemma: He wants her out of sight, but she's not about to start listening to any men concerned for her safety, and is not going anywhere. Bobby says Piney's already "up there" waiting for her, but she wants to sleep in her own bed, and no one knows she's back. Jax says they'll lock down the garage, and she'll be safe. Clay reluctantly agrees.
Gemma dumps Abel with Lyla, so she can go have a heart to heart with Jax, but before we get to that, Opie comes over and looks lovingly at Lyla holding a baby. Gemma joins Jax in his room at the garage and tells him not to get used to staying here, because he's going home with his son and his old lady. He gives her a "Yes, ma'am" on this one, but when she pushes him to tell her what sort of deal he's cut with Stahl, he's not quite so agreeable. She says she has a right to know, given that whatever idiocy he's cooked up is for her, but he just tells her to trust him and she'll find out soon enough. You know, if you want to get your mom off your back, the last thing you should do is make the secret you're keeping sound this ominous. Gemma tells him she can't protect him from Clay or the other guys if he's a rat -- but the fact that she wants to says something about Gemma, I guess, because I sort of thought her loyalties were to SAMCRO above all, even Clay and even Jax. He promises her everyone is going to be okay and kisses her on the cheek. With that, he's off to run SAMCRO's version of errands: talk to federal agents.
Elsewhere, Salazar's beating on the trunk of a car on the side of the road, clearly an emotional wreck about Louisa's death -- or maybe about the murder he's just committed: When he drives away, he leaves Louisa's body under a blanket with another dark-haired female body lying to her. We're supposed to presume this is Tara, but anyone who's ever watched TV ever knows it's not her. And, with that, the non-Irish opening is back. Which is a little sad, because the best part of the Belfast storyline was the theme song.
Lyla and Opie help Gemma, her grandson, and her parrot home. Opie follows Gemma to her room with the parrot to ask her what she thinks of Lyla and him. Gemma thinks she's sweet, but she senses that it's a problem for him that "she earns her living catching cum in her mouth." Opie looks embarrassed, but says he knows he can't ask her to give it up, because Donna begged him to give up his life, so he knows how that feels. Gemma agrees he doesn't have a right, unless he marries Lyla. She guesses that if he marries her, Lyla will start working with her legs shut. She just needs security.
Unser and Clay catch up on things: Unser's happy about the kids, and he promises they'll stay clear of Gemma, since Clay promises she's not going anywhere before the bail hearing. Clay asks if the rumors are true: If Hale's mayor, the sheriff's office will take over Charming, meaning goodbye, Charming PD. Unser says that would make this place a different town, and not as loving and gentle of a place for SAMCRO. He says that if the cops take Salazar, the first thing he'll do is rat on Hale. Clay's going to make sure his guys know. When Clay comes out of his meeting, Jax is just going into his with Stahl, so he tells Clay he'll meet him back at the clubhouse. Before Jax even sits down in her office, Stahl nonchalantly asks where Jimmy is. Jax lies that he's MIA, just like Tara. Stahl assures him the area's locked down and they will find Salazar and Tara. She tells him a lot is at stake, and somehow that breaks him: He tells her that the Irish gave Jimmy safe passage out in exchange for his kid, and now he's "up north" making some sort of deal with the Russians, some guy named Putlova. Jax says they have a brother who's a good source, but he's in maximum security: "Lenny the Pimp." Stahl asks if he means Lenny Janowitz, who killed three ATF agents... Jax interrupts: "Allegedly." Dude, what is he? A reporter? It's really more complicated than it should be, but basically there's another guy in the hole, Otto, who can get information from Putlova to Lenny to SAMCRO to Stahl. All she has to do is arrange for them to have some yard time when Otto's out of the hole tomorrow. Then they can find out where Putlova's stashed Jimmy. She'll do what she can, but would like him to look at her file on IRA leaders and tell her who's who. He says some of these guys look familiar, and he'll be able to focus once Tara's safe. Stahl says they don't have time for this, but he tells her the sooner they find Tara, the sooner he finds Jimmy. Upper hand intact for now, Jax walks out.
Russian's estate. Jimmy's filling them in on all of the guns and ammo connections he still has, which he is willing to give to them, making them one of the largest distributors in the Northwest. Hey, is Jimmy in PR? It sounds like he just wrote their illegal gun operation's advertising copy. A Russian guy (who the captions tell me is named Viktor) says these are big promises, but Jimmy says they can work out the details once he's in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Viktor says that securing Jimmy's passage to South America requires calling in a lot of favors and paying a lot of people off, so it's a big risk and he'd like two million dollars, all up front. Jimmy thought it was supposed to be 500K down, and the rest in Brazil. Jimmy's sidekick, Donny, says they could come up with 700, maybe 750, but Viktor just smiles at them. Jimmy gives them some sort of deal on the guns, so Viktor settles for that and the 750, but he's not letting Jimmy go collect money. He's in no hurry, so Donny can just collect it all. Donny jokes about how long the drive is to Vegas. The Russians yuk it up, but Jimmy's not amused.
Unser and Gemma are smoking pot at her house. He's stopped by to make sure she's okay, but she reminds him he was pulling a gun on her just last week (time sure moves slowly on this show, since that was about a month, in episode time). Unser says he was technically pulling it on Tig. And, I mean,
come on: Who wouldn't? Unser whines about what a mess this town's become lately, and he doesn't agree with Gemma that it'll settle like it always has. He thinks it's different this time, and it's all going away. That's just the reefer talking, man. Maybe time try some uppers. Gemma comforts him while he cries a little, then she jumps to telling him that Jax is in trouble because he's cut some sort of deal with Stahl, and she doesn't know what it is. Unser says Stahl's working out of the station house while they're all looking for Tara, so he could feel her out. She gets stiff and cold and says he better not, since they should all really focus on finding Tara. He thanks her for the chat, passes her blunt back to her, and they say a warm goodbye. Weirdest friendship on this show.
Alvarez and his guys ride up to the garage, where Alvarez greets them with an "I know why you want to talk." Jax confirms it's that Salazar has his old lady. Alvarez is very sorry, but he says Salazar knows too much about him and his club, and he's got to die. Clay says that Salazar has a much bigger fish to fry: Hale. And letting him live and get arrested will allow the heroin trade to continue, which it won't be able to under Hale. As they're talking, Bobby pulls up in the chimo van with a middle-aged woman who can only speak Spanish. Clay asks Juice if he can speak Spanish, and is disgusted that he can't. Juice says he's a Puerto Rican from Queens, and speaks better Yiddish. So Alvarez and Ramona talk it out, Alvarez's gun to her head and her begging, "Por favor! Por favor!" Alvarez heads out, and Jax tells SAMCRO to stay with them. They ride out a dirt road where they're about to check out a house, but Alvarez finds the blanket covering the two bodies. They all think it's Tara, but Jax pulls back the blanket to reveal ... someone we've never seen before. Cut to Salazar, nervously opening the trunk of the Lexus he's driving to reveal ... Tara, who is very much alive.
Chuck's opening some packages when Gemma comes into the office to get a gun. She asks if it's office supplies, and he says no, but he really has to show this to her. She tells him it's not a good time, and asks him to open the back gate for her. She lies she wants to test-drive the Beamer, but he opens it anyway. How was her curiosity not piqued by those packages he just had to show her? Mine was.
Jimmy's trying to reach Donny as the Russians play a board game and tell him to stop worrying. But, oh, they're not letting him go even if Donny doesn't come back, because they can't risk him turning on them if he gets caught. Jimmy's insulted Viktor would think he's a rat, and Viktor says the only thing that can happen here is to get Jimmy safely to South America, and the only way to do that is for Donny to come through with the money.
Gemma's sitting outside the police station, waiting at Stahl's car when she comes out. She pulls a gun and makes her get in the car, then takes her gun away and drives off. As they're pulling away, Tyler comes out and sees them. It doesn't look like a struggle at all, but she rushes to her car to follow. Gemma asks Stahl what she's doing with Jax, and she replies, "What did he tell you?" Gemma says nothing, which means it's bad, but Stahl assures her Jax's priority is his family. Gemma says whatever he's doing is only going to hurt his family; he just doesn't know it. Then she tells Stahl to kill the deal, or she'll turn herself into the U.S. Attorney and tell him that her statement was all lies fed to her by Stahl. She's sure that agent they're blaming (Stahl's girlfriend, Tyler, remember?) will be more than happy to back her up. Stahl tells Gemma she has no idea what she's stepping on here. Gemma tells her to end the deal, or she'll end her career. She throws her gun in the street and kicks her out. Stahl picks it up with a devilish look after her. Tyler pulls up then and asks Stahl what the hell that was. Stahl won't say, and she also won't let Tyler call it in, even though Gemma's a fugitive. She just tells her to shut up and get in the car. My, what a charmer. I can see what Tyler sees in her.
Jax, looking pretty exhausted by this point (we are halfway through the episode), tells Bobby they just have to find Tara. Bobby thinks that it should be a piece of cake, compared with the journey they all just took to find his son. Unser fills Jax, Bobby, and Clay in on the dead dark-haired woman: She was probably killed just for her car, a gray Lexus. Cut to Salazar sitting in it, calling his aunt Ramona. My Spanish isn't great, but he tells her to tell his mom he loves her. Then he and Tara head into Jacob Hale's office. Tara tries to play it cool, telling the receptionist they need to see Jacob. But the moment Jacob comes out, Salazar pulls his gun and drags Tara into Jacob's office. He tells the receptionist (the actress was clearly hired for her freak-out abilities) to let Charming know "they got themselves a hostage situation." I'm so confused about what's been going on so far, what with the kidnapping of Tara in exchange for money and dead gang leaders.
The whole town (or at least those with a role on this show) is gathering outside Hale's building. Unser fills Clay and Jax in: The sheriff's taking over, and the negotiator is setting up a call with Salazar. Jax, already realizing what Salazar's going through, says that if Tara killed Louisa, negotiating isn't going to do shit. Unser tells him they know what they're doing, and Jax screams that Salazar's going to hurt her. Stahl is somehow the only person who can talk him down, so she tells him that if he were wanting to hurt Tara, he already would have, and they'll get her back. Clay and Jax walk away; always-calm Clay tells Jax to keep it together. Then the Mayans show up, and Clay wonders what to do about them, but figures getting them popcorn for the show would be best since they're as helpless as anyone with the cops and feds gathered around.
Inside, Salazar's filling Jacob and Tara in on his demands: police vehicle, something secure; food, water, and gas to get to Tecate; clear roads and safe passage over the border; and just one other thing... Outside, Unser says they got his demands: He wants a free ride to cartel country and will exchange Hale for that. He'll exchange Tara for Jax. Jax is so in, but Chibs and Clay point out that Salazar wants him dead. Jax isn't worried, since Salazar needs a hostage (as if Jax would be the type of hostage that would keep the cops from going in guns blazing). Stahl dead-faces that this is against protocol, but she'll call in some agents and let tactical handle it. Jax tells her that he's desperate and won't give them time to plan, so he's doing it. The cops map out the plan on a police car; there are only two exits, so they want to cover the front and back -- and they assume he'll try to get out the back. Stahl lies that she's called for more agents, so she and Tyler will take the back and the cops can run tactical from the front. The sheriff agrees, and they make the call to let Salazar know they're sending Jax in.
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 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 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.
Back at the clubhouse, Lyla and Opie are on a rooftop gazing at the TELLER-MORROW sign. She says it's nice up here, and they snuggle a little. Then he pulls out a ring and tells her it was his grandmother's. He says that he has to do a few things for the few days and isn't sure how it's all going to land, because everything's changing. She asks what he's talking about, and he says they should get married. She fondles the ring as motorcycles take off in the background. Down on the ground, Kozik stands by as everyone leaves, except Tig, who's on the new swing set. He heads over to him, and Tig says he tried, but he just can't get past it. He tells Kozik to come back when he's inside and they'll vote him in, but Kozik's not going to slip in the back door like some kind of bitch. Tig tells him he needs him to finish things up here, and Kozik says he will; he's here 'til it's done. He gets up to leave, but turns back and tells Tig he loved her too. Tig pulls out his wallet and finds a photo that we first see the back of. It says "My girl Missy." He flips it over, and it's him lying on a couch with a German shepherd on top of him. He talks to the photo: "Hey baby. Hey baby." WTF? Are you shitting me? What could Kozik have done to that dog to cause such deep hatred that he can't get over? And will we ever know?
In a briefing room, Stahl's filling Internal Affairs in on her bullshit: Mexicans in a gray Honda jumped them; they weren't wearing colors; she couldn't see ink. He asks if that's all, and she says she has something else to disclose. She and Tyler were in a romantic relationship for only a brief time (not long enough to document it), so that makes what she's about to say even more difficult. Conveniently, just today, Tyler told her what happened the day Edmond Hayes was killed (which she says was "last month," so this show really is moving in slow motion this season). She says Tyler told her that she did, in fact, kill Edmond Hayes and then witness Gemma Teller kill Polly Zobelle in self-defense. Then she framed Gemma for the murder of Edmond Hayes. She says that Tyler framed her to protect Stahl, because she knew how important this case was to her career and she didn't want to disappoint her. This corroborates Gemma's entire statement, Stahl says, so she was wrongly charged. And she manages to hide her dead-face here and show just enough emotion to make this all seem real. Are we to presume that this statement means Jax gave up the IRA names in exchange for Gemma? So now he just needs to find Jimmy to clear up his guys?
week: In the season finale, it looks like a lot of stuff's going down: Jax stands up in what looks like a jail cell. Jax takes off his ring at a cemetery. Tara gets a package for Jackson from Maureen with a letter that says, "The truth about your father is in these letters. You should know John like I did." Tara tells Jackson she's right here. Gemma tells Clay (also in a jail cell, it seems) that these are reckless times, and he says he knows, but she doesn't think he does. Jax meets with Stahl, and walks away from her. Bobby shakes hands with an inmate. Jax says, "Let's finish this." The whole gang rides away on their bikes. Jimmy and the Russians get out of an SUV. Stahl gives Jax a pen to sign something. She tells someone (also Jax?), through jail bars, that it's too late. Gemma says that something will go wrong. Bobby pushes Jax and asks him if he ratted. Gemma cries as Clay tells Jax he's dead. Dead! Some guys cover a dead body with plastic. Tara wears black and looks sad. Gemma says that someone will get hurt. Jax puts his ring on the gravestone. And he asks Stahl if she's going to get him killed. She gives him a dead-faced smile.
DeAnn, a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon, likes that the most evil villain on this show about gangsters and terrorism is the FBI agent. You can contact her at twopmodmars@gmail.com.