Sons of Anarchy (season 3)

Sons of Anarchy (season 3)

DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 13
Release
Original network FX
Original release September 7 (2010-09-07) – November 30, 2010 (2010-11-30)

The third season of the American television drama series Sons of Anarchy created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California's Central Valley. The show centers on protagonist Jackson "Jax" Teller (Charlie Hunnam), the then–vice president of the club, who begins questioning the club and himself.

Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 7, 2010, on cable network FX. Season Three attracted an average of 4.9 million viewers per week, making it FX's highest rated series ever at the time, surpassing FX's other hits The Shield, Nip/Tuck, and Rescue Me.

Plot

Days after the events in the season two finale, Gemma is hiding up north in Rogue River, Oregon with Tig, while the club tries to sort things out in Charming. The club tries to close in on Cameron's trail, but find that he has liquidated his assets and apparently fled the country. Gemma and Tig visit Gemma's father Nate (Hal Holbrook), who suffers from dementia. During that time, Nate walked in on Tig and the caretaker being intimate. Nate thought it was his late wife and shot Tig in the back of the arm. The caretaker was spooked about the gun and did some research on Gemma and saw that she had a $25,000 reward for any information about her. Gemma had to tie her up in the basement or else she would have told the police. Tara comes up to patch up Tig and sees what Gemma did to the caretaker. Like an attentive doctor she releases one wrist to get the blood flow back. The caretaker then hits her over the head with an oxygen tank and escapes upstairs with a knife to go after Gemma. Tara wakes up and hits her over the head with a statue and then Gemma pushes her against the wall, but accidentally the knife stabs the caretaker and she dies. Tig has to call a guy to clean up the body so Jax does't find out. At the end of Half Sack's wake, masked men commit a drive-by shooting and fatally run down Deputy Hale.

Having fled to Belfast with Abel, Cameron confesses his sins to his cousin Father Ashby, an intermediary between Jimmy O and the True IRA Council. Ashby subsequently has Cameron killed, and suggests he will give Abel up for adoption.

The Sons hire a bounty hunter to try to track down Abel, and they believe he and Cameron are in Vancouver. SAMCRO has an upcoming bail hearing for the weapons charges, but they agree to jump bail. SAMCRO receives an email showing Cameron dead in Belfast.

After Jax consults Jimmy O, SAMCRO believes Abel remained in Vancouver when Cameron left for Belfast. Gemma struggles when she takes Nate to his new assisted living home, and returns to Charming to reunite with her grandson, still unaware he has been kidnapped. Father Ashby's sister Maureen contacts Gemma, at Ashby's request, to tell her Abel is safe in Belfast. Upon learning of her grandson's abduction, Gemma suffers an arrhythmia and collapses in the Teller-Morrow lot. Tara confides in Gemma that she is six weeks pregnant with Jax's child. Jax makes a deal with Stahl behind SAMCRO's back. In exchange for his mother's freedom and the downgrade of the pending weapons charges against the club, Jax will deliver Jimmy O and his IRA contacts. Oswald agrees to smuggle the Sons to Belfast. Jax breaks up with Tara and the next morning, Tara walks in on Jax in bed with pornstar Ima.

The recently ousted and humiliated former president of the Calaveras MC, Hector Salazar, begins surveiling Jax and Tara. After discovering John Teller had an affair in Belfast that produced a daughter, Gemma escapes from police custody with the help of Tara and Tara's boss, Margaret. Tara and Lyla both make appointments at an abortion clinic. Gemma leaves with SAMCRO on their trip to Belfast to find Abel, where Jimmy O already anticipates their arrival.

On SAMCRO's arrival in Northern Ireland, Ashby tells Jax that the IRA are tired of Jimmy's profiteering ways, and suggests Jax kill him in exchange for Abel.

Stahl helps Jax uncover information on Ashby and SAMBEL, and warns Jax not to kill Jimmy O. SAMCRO plans to surprise Jimmy O on a protection run, but he is forewarned and attacks the Sons with a planted bomb that kills several SAMBEL members. SAMCRO tortures Liam until he reveals that he was privy to Jimmy O's plans, as was McGee. Jax kills Liam, and shortly afterward Clay pushes McGee from a rooftop; both are revealed to SAMBEL as traitors. Ashby tells Jax Abel's location, but suggests Jax allow him to be adopted so he will not be forced into the club life. Jax chooses to leave the child with the family, until Jimmy O kills the adoptive parents and abducts Abel, intending to exchange him for safe passage to America. Abel is returned to Jax after Ashby trades himself for the baby.

Jacob Hale, Jr. uses intimidation tactics to continue urban development in Charming. Salazar abducts Tara and Margaret on their way to the abortion clinic. He informs Piney that he will return them in exchange for the murder of Alvarez and $250,000.

Under the influence of Jacob Hale, Jr., the San Joaquin Sheriff's Department will soon take control of the Charming Police Department. Tara attacks Salazar's girlfriend and negotiates Margaret's freedom. Later, Salazar's girlfriend dies.

With the hearing for weapons charges looming, SAMCRO returns to Charming, with the task of finding Tara. Gemma threatens to reveal Stahl's murder of Edmond unless Stahl ends her dealings with Jax. Salazar takes Jacob Hale, Jr. hostage along with Tara. Unser indicates the need for Salazar to be captured alive to implicate Hale and save the Charming Police Department, but during a stand-off, Jax kills Salazar. Amidst the chaos, Stahl intentionally shoots her partner Tyler to protect her lie. Opie proposes to Lyla. Now in the USA, Jimmy O seeks the help of the Russian Mafia to aid his escape to South America. Stahl falsely tells Internal Affairs that Agent Tyler shot Edmond and framed Gemma, admitting that Gemma was wrongfully charged.

Jax and the Sons meet the Russians and pay $2 million for the exchange of Jimmy O, although most of the money is counterfeit. Jax tells Stahl the location of the exchange so she can intervene and arrest Jimmy, but Jimmy is moved to a different location before she can. Jax assures her that he will give her Jimmy if she reduces their prison sentence, to which she agrees. Stahl arrives at the clubhouse to arrest Jimmy. When Clay asks how she knew he was there, Stahl indicates that Jax is a rat, which outrages the club, whose members call Jax a "dead man". SAMCRO is arrested and loaded into an ATF van, with Jax isolated from the other club members.

Unser stops Stahl on the roadside as she transports Jimmy and warns her of an IRA threat further down the road. Her fellow agents leave to investigate, leaving her alone with Unser and Jimmy. Soon afterward, Piney, Chibs, Opie and Kozik arrive. Chibs gives Jimmy a Glasgow smile, and then kills him. Opie kills Stahl in the same way his wife died, with an SMG burst to the back of the head, after reminding her that she was responsible for Donna's death. Proof of Jax's dealings with Stahl is destroyed, leaving the club with the documents provided by Stahl to reduce their sentence. The scene is set to look like the IRA is responsible. In the ATF van, Jax learns of Stahl and Jimmy's demise as the prospects following the ATF van ride past and beep a Morse code signal "A-F-F-A" ("Angels Forever, Forever Angels", a tribute to Sonny Barger, who plays Lenny the Pimp). He smiles, as do the rest of SAMCRO, revealing the club knew of Jax's plan from the beginning. Tara, meanwhile, finds and reads the letters Maureen had put in Jax's bag. In them, John Teller writes to Mo of his awareness of Gemma and Clay's closeness and his fear that they will soon murder him. The season ends with Jax rejecting his father's original vision for SAMCRO and embracing Clay's rule.

Cast and characters

Main articles: List of Sons of Anarchy characters and List of gangs from Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy is the story of the Teller-Morrow family of Charming, California, as well as the other members of Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (SAMCRO), their families, various Charming townspeople, allied and rival gangs, associates, and law agencies that undermine or support SAMCRO's legal and illegal enterprises.

Main cast

Special guest cast

Recurring cast

Guest stars

Production

Although Sons of Anarchy is set in Northern California's Central Valley, it is filmed primarily at Occidental Studios Stage 5A in North Hollywood. Main sets located there include the clubhouse, St. Thomas Hospital and Jax's house. The production rooms at the studio used by the writing staff also double as the Charming police station. External scenes are often filmed nearby in Sun Valley and Tujunga.[1] Interior and exterior scenes set in Northern Ireland during season 3 were also filmed at Occidental Studios and surrounding areas. A second unit shot footage in Northern Ireland used in the third season.[2]

Episodes

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code		 U.S. viewers
(millions)
271"SO"Stephen KayKurt SutterSeptember 7, 2010 (2010-09-07)3WAB014.13[3]
The aftermath of Abel's kidnapping has the Sons reeling, especially Jax; Gemma gets hit with some unexpected news from her past. Stahl continues with her coverup while Tara finds it difficult to return to work. Cameron makes it back home.
282"Oiled"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonKurt Sutter & Dave EricksonSeptember 14, 2010 (2010-09-14)3WAB023.37[4]
To get intel on Abel's whereabouts, Jax and the club help a bounty hunter track down a skip. Gemma deals with her family issues, along with a suspicious caregiver. In Ireland, Cameron seeks council with the IRA.
293"Caregiver"Billy GierhartChris Collins & Regina CorradoSeptember 21, 2010 (2010-09-21)3WAB033.48[5]
The club exploits its porn connections to entertain Henry Lin's clients, which does not sit well with Opie. Tara, Gemma, and Tig turn to an unlikely source when the situation with the caregiver goes sideways. Jax and The Sons receive disturbing information about Cameron Hayes. Stephen King guest stars as Bachman, a "cleaner."
304"Home"Guy FerlandKurt Sutter & Liz SagalSeptember 28, 2010 (2010-09-28)3WAB042.98[6]
Jax and Clay head down to Nate's home to pick up Gemma. The rest of SAMCRO goes north to help Happy with a pharmaceutical favor in redneck territory. Tara's honesty with Jax comes at an inopportune time. As Gemma puts old family matters to rest, new issues reveal themselves to her. Maureen reaches out to SAMCRO.
315"Turning and Turning"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonDave Erickson & Marco RamirezOctober 5, 2010 (2010-10-05)3WAB053.12[7]
To help his mother, club, and son, Jax conspires with an unlikely source. In order to get more information on the Mayan's drug trade, SAMCRO puts Chucky and Tig undercover. Gemma confronts Tara about the secret she's been hiding.
326"The Push"Stephen KayChris Collins & Julie BushOctober 12, 2010 (2010-10-12)3WAB062.85[8]
In order to raise money to get the Sons to Belfast, Jax is forced to involve Tara in their latest dealing. To gain the friendship of the Mayans, SAMCRO must handle a rat at St. Thomas. Kozik's vote to get patched in hits a roadblock.
337"Widening Gyre"Billy GierhartKurt Sutter & Regina CorradoOctober 19, 2010 (2010-10-19)3WAB072.59[9]
The Grim Bastards have a problem that could jeopardize SAMCRO's new business arrangements. As The Sons prepare for their departure to Belfast, Gemma learns of a dark secret from John Teller's past. Tara gets support from an unlikely source after her breakup with Jax, while Lyla and Opie hit a snag in their relationship.
348"Lochan Mor"Guy FerlandDave Erickson & Liz Sagal & Kurt SutterOctober 26, 2010 (2010-10-26)3WAB082.67[10]
When SAMCRO pays a visit to another charter, not everyone is happy to see the mother charter.
359"Turas"Stephen KayStory by: Kurt Sutter
Teleplay by: Chris Collins & Brady Dahl		November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02)3WAB093.35[11]
The club embarks on a protection run, the likes of which they have never seen before.
3610"Firinne"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonKurt Sutter & Vaun WilmottNovember 9, 2010 (2010-11-09)3WAB103.18[12]
The IRA wants proof that one of their own has flipped and SAMCRO intends to give it to them.
3711"Bainne"Adam ArkinDave Erickson & Regina Corrado & Kurt SutterNovember 16, 2010 (2010-11-16)3WAB113.40[13]
While the club's on a manhunt, Jax faces the toughest decision of his life.
3812"June Wedding"Phil AbrahamStory by: Kurt Sutter
Teleplay by: Chris Collins		November 23, 2010 (2010-11-23)3WAB123.27[14]
With Tara held hostage by Salazar, Jax is forced to choose between revenge and the good of Charming. Jimmy's faith in his comrade is tested when he reaches out to the Russians. As Gemma tries to intervene in her son's dealings, Stahl makes a play to fulfill her bargain with Jax, turning on one of her own in the process.
3913"NS"Kurt SutterKurt Sutter & Dave EricksonNovember 30, 2010 (2010-11-30)3WAB133.59[15]
While The Sons figure out a way to have the Russian Mob hand over Jimmy, Jax and Stahl's deal comes to a head. SAMCRO begins to heal old wounds. Meanwhile, just as Tara and Jax have solidified their relationship, Tara discovers more about Teller family history than she could have ever imagined.

Reception

Some critics felt the third season was dragged down by the previous season's cliffhanger.[16][17] James Poniewozik of TIME called the season three premiere “breathtaking” and praised Sagal’s performance with Holbrook.[18] He later stated that Abel's disappearance helped return the show to its central problem: Jax's allegiance to the club.[19] Entertainment Weekly’s Ken Tucker agreed that Holbrook and Sagal’s scenes were "beautiful". He also commented that the series handled themes of loyalty and family especially well.[20] Maureen Ryan commented that the third season divided critics and fans alike, suggesting the expanded Belfast cast made it harder for the audience to invest in the characters' journeys.[21] Ryan later questioned the credibility of Hector Salazar's story, noting that he was inferior to other villainous characters such as Stahl, Zobelle and Weston. However, she praised Ally Walker's performance, comparing her character to The Shield's Vic Mackey.[22] Critic Alan Sepinwall said the season was "interesting but uneven", noting that the plot gained traction in later episodes.[23][24] Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter said "Sutter should be applauded for shaking things up", calling the slower pace a "creative necessity".[25]

Home media release

The third season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in region 1 on August 30, 2011.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy Filming Locations". Internet Movie Database.
  2. ↑ "First pictures Sons of Anarchy". Chicago Tribune. June 8, 2010.
  3. ↑ Seidman, Robert (September 9, 2010). "More Tuesday Cable Ratings: Teen Mom Tops Night + Warehouse 13 & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  4. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 15, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Covert Affairs’ Finale; ‘Warehouse 13,’ ‘Teen Mom,’ ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  5. ↑ Seidman, Robert (September 22, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Teen Mom,’ ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Top Tuesday; ‘Warehouse 13’ Down Slightly". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  6. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 29, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: Teen Mom > Sons Of Anarchy, Plus Stargate Universe, Bad Girls Club & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  7. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 6, 2011). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: Teen Mom Tops; Caprica Returns Small; Sons Of Anarchy Flat Despite Dish Network + Stargate Universe & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  8. ↑ Gorman, Bill (October 13, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Teen Mom’ Finale Way Up; BET Hip Hop Awards, Sons Of Anarchy, Caprica & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  9. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 20, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Drops; Teen Mom Special Second-Best to Yankees/Rangers; Stargate Universe, Caprica Weaken & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  10. ↑ Gorman, Bill (October 28, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: Heat/Celtics Slam Dunk; ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Steady; 16 & Pregnant, Caprica, Stargate Universe, Millionaire Matchmaker & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  11. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 3, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Rises; ‘Stargate Universe’ Steady + ‘Dirty Jobs,’ ’16 and Pregnant,’ ‘In Treatment’ & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  12. ↑ Gorman, Bill (November 10, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Dips, Tops Cable; 'Stargate Universe' Steady + 'Dirty Jobs,' '16 and Pregnant,' 'In Treatment' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  13. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 17, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Rides Higher, Tops Cable; 'Glory Daze' Modest in Premiere; 'Stargate Universe' Steady & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  14. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 24, 2011). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Rides Steady, Again Tops Cable; 'Stargate Universe' Inches Higher; 'Glory Days' Slides & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  15. ↑ Gorman, Bill (December 1, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Finale Rises; 'Stargate Universe,' "Glory Daze' Steady; '16 and Pregnant' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy's Battle for Control". Pop Matters. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy – "NS" review". AV Club. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  18. ↑ "TV Tonight: Sons of Anarchy restarts its engines". TIME. September 7, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy, Bainne: Blood Begets Blood". TIME. November 17, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy 2010". Entertainment Weekly. September 1, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy Season 3 Episode 9". TV Squad.
  22. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy Season 3 Episode 12". TV Squad.
  23. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy Lochan Mor, SAMCRO Vs. SAMBel". Hit Fix.
  24. ↑ "Sons of Anarchy Firinne, Sins of the Sons". Hit Fix.
  25. ↑ Goodman, Tim (December 20, 2010). "Top 18 Tv Shows of 2010". Hollywood Reporter.
  26. ↑ Lambert, David (August 24, 2011). "Sons of Anarchy - Fox's Final Formal Details in the Press Release for Season 3 on Blu-ray and DVD". TV Shows on DVD. Retrieved May 6, 2013.

External links

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