Toxic

I wasn't always happy with the direction recent seasons took, but I will also miss this series a lot. I just caught up on the final two episodes and rewatched the Pilot last night because I like to see how (/if) shows bookend their first and last episodes. Lot of neat little parallels I would not have remembered or caught; the roller coaster evolution of the SoA's relationship with Álvarez and the Mayans re: the gun trading business, the finding of JT's journal and photos in storage and setting the course of the story vs. burning them in the finale so the next generation wouldn't follow suit, Jax hesitating to kill even when he was being shot at compared to how he'd go in guns blazing and not bat an eye as the seasons went on... even Bobby Elvis singing "Can't Help Falling in Love" which was used again in this episode! The final scene of the pilot is Jax and Gemma standing over Abel in the NICU, and Gemma cooing that "he's perfect" as Clay comes into view in the background of the picture. It was chilling, looking at these ghosts on the screen and considering the everlasting effect their lives AND deaths have had on Abel going into the finale. There was also this "gem" of an exchange: "Tellers do not die easy." "No, we just die bloody." I wish I knew the often senseless tragedy I was investing in when I started watching! And goodness, Charlie's covered accent in S1 is so much more distracting than his eventual complete disregard for it later on.

I had a dream the other night that Gemma, exiled from the club and having lost both Jax (he was dead) and her grandkids, completed the circle and became the new crazy dumpster lady. A few years had passed and a young, adolescent Abel crossed paths with her by some park, but he didn't recognize her and she was too far gone to acknowledge him. The last image in my dream was of Abel turning around, picking up his bicycle and riding away with Thomas, ending the series on scene that looked much like the photo of Jax and Opie as kids. I'm not really sure how the show will wrap up, but my mental version was pretty satisfying.

Wow. Color me impressed that everything unraveled in this episode. I was extremely surprised when Jax went ahead and told the club the truth about Gemma killing Tara. I thought that information, after everything that's happened, would be too damaging and he'd keep it to himself. Still not sure how it'll end but I did like Gemma running around saying her goodbyes, and I agree that she's going up to her dad's where she'll wait for the face-to-face with Jax. The direction and editing of Nero's phone call when he learns the truth was amazing. Broke my heart even though we've been prepared for months to see it unfold. I'm having a bit of a flashback to watching Dexter live for years and years, and how for most of the early seasons of the show I did not want him found out/caught/killed, but by the end (after that horrid finale) I was really annoyed he survived. For some reason, I also kind of wanted Gemma to mostly get away with what she did (Jax finding out, sure, but not the club/EVERYONE.) Still can't decide if I want her to die, now, but after the last scene I'm thinking she won't be killed. I hope I'm not disappointed by another finale. However, I do really want Unser to kick it. I swear, if the one character who has had a legitimate reason (stage 87 cancer) to die SINCE SEASON 1 makes it out alive, I will pitch a fit. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at Juice's "all I am in here is someone's asshole" line. Okay, I laughed but then got kind of sad. And yes I could not take that car chase seriously. WHAT was up with the music?! Rofl! So true.

Holy fuck, you guys. That scene! ITA, as much as I hated the thought of losing Saul/Mandy Patinkin in that moment, his death right then would have had an amazing impact. I could not breathe for 10 minutes! Also glad they got Carrie's meds and the mole worked out in the episode so we can move the plot along. Kinda digging this season!