anyone else tired of watching Jax Teller play the white Messiah? Of getting out of deadly scrapes with his Odysseus-level cunning and brilliant strategies? Of smirking his way through death and betrayal and psychopathic behavior? of always making excuses for his own murderous, black heart?
there, I got that out of my system...
but, seriously, at what point in his wheeling and dealing with every notorious gang leader and Fed in California, yet somehow always mastering them all, just start to seem unrealistic? Sure, i got the first three seasons. Jax is searching -- for answers, for direction, for a father. the club's retribution against corrupt cops and Feds seemed justified. we could buy that the club would be one step ahead, but that's because they had the support of a community, of decent people who just wanted to live their own lives. They had reason on their side; it made for a powerful motivation. Ever since that crazy shit in Ireland and Jax's sinking into the darkest parts of his heritage: gun trading, prostitution and betrayal.
it's interesting in season 7 to watch Jax (disingenuously) beg for his life in front of the Asian gang leaders. they should have their fucking heads examined, even listening to this guy. what interesting about it is the parallel with the scene where his mother begs for her life later in the episode. the two of them are so similar. it's obvious that Jax has not gone the way of his father, questioning himself, doubting and searching. He has become like his mother: doing whatever he needs to do to come out on top. Whether it's betraying long-time friends, hiding the truth from his club brothers or orchestrating any number of murders to feed his own revenge fantasy -- this guy seriously needs a wake up call. take a look in the mirror, brother. you have become what you hated.
maybe it's teh point of Kurt Sutter's epic to watch the young, swaggering and hopeful Jax become such a hardened and duplicitous creature. how can any of his "brothers" trust him at this point? isn't it obvious that he holds no one dear, no one is safe, save maybe his children?
all of this is to build up to the final confrontation with his mother, the dark witch of Charming, CA. the only other player on this stage who is on his level (forget the machinations of gangsters and entire departments of the federal government, they can't even compete). she is the only one who can take him down, or vice versa. It should be interesting.
