Matt Vaghi
Opinions Editor
Warning: The following preview contains spoilers from the previous season of the FX original series, Sons of Anarchy.
After a suspenseful fourth season that justly ended with Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) taking the gavel from Clay Morrow (Ron Pearlman), FX’s acclaimed motorcycle-throttling drama Sons of Anarchy returns for a fifth season.
This season opens with a SAMCRO van of guns and cocaine for the Galindo Cartel being intercepted and burned by the rival One-Niners gang in retaliation for the murder of Laroy’s girlfriend by Tig (Kim Coates). Regrettably for SAMCRO, Laroy’s girlfriend was the daughter of Damon Pope (a new character portrayed by Harold Perrineau), one of the most powerful gangsters in Oakland. Pope looks to be the primary villain of this season and there will surely be a clash between him and the Sons of Anarchy, especially Tig.
There will also be a sprinkle of other new characters during season five. Nero Padilla (Jimmy Smits) plays a Latino gangster who starts to hook-up with Gemma (Katey Sagal) as Clay sits on the sideline practically crippled and with an oxygen tube running through his nose.
In addition, three nomad members are inducted into the club to help replace members such as Piney, who was murdered at the hands of Clay last season, and Opie (Ryan Hurst), who chooses to remove himself from the club after his father’s murder.
On the family side, Tara (Maggie Siff) is forced to remain in Charming with Abel and Thomas until Jax can execute an exit strategy for the four of them. In addition, Gemma is eager to still play the role of their grandmother, despite her recent reckless behavior of heavy drinking and smoking after her fallout with Clay.
Familiar characters from past seasons will also continue their story arcs in season five. Bobby, who was ratted out and sent to prison, will look to find a way out of jail. The noble, former police chief Wayne Unser is still around despite his cancer looming and counting down his final days. And of course, the infamous Chucky will be back along with, yes, his compulsive masturbation disorder.
With all these forces lingering on Jax’s plate, he still is in waist deep with the cartel and must keep Clay alive in order for the deal with the IRA to go down. After finding out that Clay murdered his father, John Teller, Jax must stay loyal to his club and go through with the IRA deal until he can avenge his father and take down Clay. Every interaction between them will cause fans to furrow their brows and envision the ultimate death of the exponentially antagonized Clay Morrow.
With a sixth season already slated for next year, season five should be yet another riveting and compelling season of Sons of Anarchy.