Sons of Anarchyfollows the lives of an outlaw motorcycle club and how it slowly loses its last shreds of morality. So, it should be no surprise that it delves into some pretty grim territory.Whether it be severe violence, gore, or a slew of offensive language, the show pushed its boundaries and was celebrated for its gritty portrayal. These types of stories kept audiences locked in to see where it would go next. One of its most brutal and devastating storylines happened in only the second season, including introducing us to some seriously deranged villains. This is, of course, the Zobelle (Adam Arkin) arc and the horrific things he and his crew did to not only the MC but to Gemma Teller (Katey Sagal) — the club’s matriarch. It was a thrilling ride every week as the storyline unfolded (even if it was hard to stomach sometimes). But it also infuriates me to no end because it was never properly resolved, and of all the storylines that went on throughout the show’s 7 seasons,this one was the most deserving of justice.
What Happens in Season 2 of ‘Sons of Anarchy’?
There’s quite a bit that goes on during Season 2 ofSons of Anarchy, namely the growing rift betweenJax (Charlie Hunnam)and Clay (Ron Perlman), which lingers throughout the season before coming to a head. But it’s the introduction of Ethan Zobelle and his crew of white separatists that provide the biggest conflict. They want to drive the Sons of Anarchy out of Charming, and the way they get started is nothing short of brutal.Zobelle orders an attack on Gemma Teller, Clay Morrow’s old lady and the current queen of the MC. He orchestrates to have her kidnapped and sexually assaulted by three of his men to deliver a message that will hopefully drive the club out of town.
They underestimate Gemma, though, and she doesn’t deliver the message to Clay like she was told to do, insteadharboring the secret for nearly the entire season. She claims she was in a car accident, and onlyTara (Maggie Siff)and Unser (Dayton Callie) know the truth. She refuses to tell Clay or Jax the truth so as not to play into Zobelle’s wishes, as she knows that learning what really happened will drive both men into a revenge-seeking rage that will only work in Zobelle’s favor. So she holds onto the secret and lets it eat her alive until the time is right, and we watch her mental state dwindle further and further as the season goes on.
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The Zobelle Storyline Was Never Resolved in ‘Sons of Anarchy’
When Gemma finally sharesthe truth,it unites Clay and Jax and sets them on a path to seek vengeance.They take out Zobelle’s men and finally manage to corner Zobelle so he cannot escape their attack. But just as they plan to strike, Jax calls Clay for help because Abel has been kidnapped. The club immediately drops their plans to take down Zobelle in favor of helping Jax track down Abel’s kidnapper. It’s clearly the right decision, and it kicks off an intense third season asthe club heads to Belfastto retrieve Abel. But something that has never sat right with me about this conclusion, or lack thereof, is that we never come back to the Zobelle storyline. In the Season 2 finale, while Jax and the club chase down Cameron Hayes (Jamie McShane), Zobelle boards a plane out of Charming, never to be seen again.
It’s understandable that Abel’s kidnapping took precedence over Zobelle, as it was a far more timely issue. Butthe Sons have never been known to let things go so easily, so you’d think we’d eventually return to the Zobelle storyline to punish Zobelle for what he orchestrated. Especially since Gemma is Clay’s wife and Jax’s mother, she’s not just some random person, and she deserves that justice.In Season 1, we saw a similar storyline, where a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted, and the club wouldn’t rest until they found and took down her attacker. Yet when it came to Gemma, it was just sort of dropped.
Now, this could easily be chalked up to the fact that the club gets arrested at the end ofSeason 3, and they are locked up for 14 months, so there were bigger fish to fry. But I will forever be surprised thatthey didn’t once ask what happened to Zobelle or where he went. They seem to act like he just never existed. Meanwhile, he could have very well returned at any time. It feels out of character for the club to never discuss it again when it was such a huge part of Season 2’s final episodes.
Gemma Deserved Justice in Season 2 of ‘Sons of Anarchy’
After her attack, Gemma is constantly on edge. She chases down Zobelle’s daughter when she sees her on the street. She feels incapable of love, and she’s constantly looking over her shoulder for the entirety of the season. Yetnone of this is ever addressed after Season 2. Granted, Gemma is a tough lady, and she was adamant all season that she didn’t want the sympathy that comes with telling others what happened to her. But even the club says that what happened wasone of the most brutal attacksthey’ve ever seen, so for it to just be dropped was unexpected.
Some fans believe there was a hidden conclusion to the storylineif you look closely. In the Season 3 opener, Gemma is in a motel room, and the television is reporting a plane crash. Some fans believe this was Zobelle’s plane since the last time we saw him, he bought a plane ticket out of Charming. However, it has never been confirmed or denied, so Zobelle’s status remains up in the air. The only thing that showrunnerKurt Sutterhas saidabout the unfinished storyline is, “Sometimes shitty people live and the bad guy wins.” And sure, that’s true, but in Charming? Under the Sons of Anarchy’s vengeful, watching eyes? Absolutely not. This was just one storyline that was too heavy and traumatic to leave open-ended, and it’s a shame we never got to see it finish out. Gemma deserved that, at least. Not to mention that we, as the audience, love to see the Sons dish out rightful vengeance.
Sons of Anarchyis available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
Sons of Anarchy
