Sons of Anarchy fans have been taking sides in the battle between Gemma (Katey Sagal) and Tara since season 1. Tara was out, then Tara was in. Gemma was her worst enemy, Gemma was her best friend. It’s been going on like that for so long, in so many variations, that at times it’s been a struggle to keep up with where exactly they landed in that context.
The constant push and pull that came along with the way they related to each other – which had a tendency to change almost as often as most people shower – and their relationship with Jax, has played a crucial role in creating a softer side to a show that is centered around violence. It was always sorta like a dance, and the outcome depended on who let who lead from moment to moment.
As much as I considered the distinct possibility that we would be saying goodbye to at least one of these women before Sons of Anarchy fans said goodbye to season 6, I’m not sure I could have predicted what actually happened even if Kurt Sutter himself had pointed me in the right direction.
Despite being a passionate woman in every way, Gemma’s always been able to show just enough restraint when it came to Tara, knowing that she was still family, whether or not they liked each other that day. Gemma would much rather have the satisfaction of knowing that she had won whatever war they were waging by the distinct look of disgust on Tara’s face than to actually make good on any of her empty threats to physically harm her. And, for almost six seasons I could have said that without even batting an eyelash, and it would have been true.
I can’t imagine what must have been running through Tara’s mind when she walked through that door thinking that she had finally won the only fight that mattered to her – and then realizing she wasn’t going to live long enough to know what that really felt like.
For fans who have been beating their brains out this season as they watched Tara fall further from Jax’s good graces, this is an ending for her character that is equal parts tragic and satisfying. Dying at the hands of Gemma, and the aftermath that it will cause when the truth finally comes out (although I’m fairly certain that Juice will die before that ever happens), is only going to perpetuate a final season filled with more violence. If you thought Jax was unstable at points in the past, I can’t imagine there’s anything that will be able to console him now.
On the other hand, Tara, although grossly naive at times, wasn’t lacking intelligence by any means. She knew there was a possibility that this is how it would end for her when she started plotting against Jax, ergo the club. Of course, she probably didn’t expect it to end quite like this – a bullet seems like it would have ranked much higher on her list of potential death scenarios than being drowned in her own sink (which was conveniently filled with water) and stabbed repeatedly with a carving fork.
Tell us, how much of an effect did this ending have on you? Did you stick by Tara until the end, or did you jump ship when she took the boys and ran? What do you think this will do to Jax’s deal? Let us know all your thoughts on the season 6 finale of Sons of Anarchy, and what you think it coming on the final season, in the comment sections below!
Until next season.
Random Thoughts:
- Bobby is going to make a great President. That is, if Jax doesn’t end up not going to jail and taking his position back.
- Great cameo for the pitbull Tig rescued last season.
- When did Tara’s wardrobe start to look so frumpy?
- The kids together are too cute.
- Best lines of the episode: Bobby: “Follow the lawyer.” Juice: “I’d rather play run over the lawyer.” Bobby: “It’s still early.”
- Jax finally telling Tara that he never forced his life of her was the best part of the episode for me.
- Goodbye, Sheriff Roosevelt.
- Gemma is going to have to die now.
- A string of four-letter words fell out of my mouth following Tara’s death scene – and then my jaw just hung there.