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Laughs, transvestites, blackmail, a good ol’ fashioned fist fight, looks like the Sons are at it again! The motorcycle club has emerged from the grief of the loss of their dearest friend and have compiled new ways to get the Sons back in business–and ultimately–out of the grasp of the drug cartel and on a new track.

Jax calls a meeting with his fellow anarchist, and reveals his decision to start a business with Nero as a means to escape the bondage and bloodlust that makes up the drug cartel. Jax plans on a starting a  “companion service” (oh boy, what a euphemism) and the fellow Sons quickly vote this plan into motion. The only thing standing in Jax’s way is the location–and he knows exactly who to blackmail in order to achieve his goal: the mayor of Charming, Jacob Hale Jr., who in season two was a semi-villain as he threatened the small town with corporate business ventures.

The Sons of Anarchy understand that the Mayor wants a new housing development, Charming Heights, to come into play, but can only achieve this with a vote from city council, which is currently skeptical of the development. Jax uses his keen sense of cunning and the greediness of human nature to convince Hale into leasing a warehouse to the Sons so they can run their “companion service”, which Hale refuses. But, that’s not the end of the discussion, of course.

Meanwhile, the Sons are continuing their business with the cartel until the start up escort business is underway. The IRA (Irish Republican Army) is present at the deal with the cartel. There are still obviously some seeping wounds from season three between the Sons and the Irish, as they mug each other through out the business deal. Of course, Jax and the head Irish dealer, Galen, have to get into a good ol fist fight, because what would Sons of Anarchy be without shirtless guys beating the crap out of each other? After the fight, the trade is made, and the boys head home to take care of the new business at hand–blackmailing so they can get their vacant warehouse.

Chucky, the creepy yet endearing slave to the Sons, drags a morbidly obese insurance lawyer named Alan, as the sons creep in through the back door with cameras and a peculiarly large backpack. Turns out, the blackmail is some extreme S&M gear and a transvestite name Venus Van Dam (hilariously played by Walton Goggins of Justified) that has a cut throat attitude and some pretty realistic looking bazoongas. After videotaping the passed out lawyer with Venus, Alan’s son walks in. In an attempt to further the embarrassment of Alan and to get rid of the kid, the Sons hook the kid up with Venus–pictures included–and send him on his way. Alan ultimately wakes up, discovers he is in some fancy getup of leather, chains, and assless chaps, and in all nonsensical matter, bites Tig in the butt.

Jax gives the photos to the Mayor. The mayor is obviously repulsed, but gives in to Jax’s demands. Jax ultimately assures Hale that he will give the photos to all the right people, and his dream of Charming Heights, will finally be accomplished. The episode ends with Eli Roosevelt, the lead sergeant of Charming who has demonstrated numerous times his disgust with the motorcycle gang, meeting turmoil as his pregnant wife Rita is shot during the season’s notorious home invasions.

This episode showed the occasional lightheartedness that I have come to love about the show. It’s something that has been missing so far in the season, and it was a pleasant surprise. It proves to the audience that not only does Kurt Sutter have a hard-edged attitude, but he can also bring about some wit to the show. The transvestite scene not only served as comic relief, but also demonstrated the extent of Jax’s determination to bring the Sons out of the cartel. Furthermore, this episode demonstrates what the Sons could be without the violence of retaliation that was well known during Clay’s reign of power. It is here that there is a direct juxtaposition between Clay and Jax. Clay would result to violence and fear-induced results, while Jax resorted to a less violent approach and that could possibly deliver better results in the upcoming episodes.

I have seen Gemma go back and forth in her moodiness and character. This episode, however, demonstrated her vulnerable side. Nero takes to heart Jax deal about keeping business and pleasure separate, and distances himself. Gemma, noticing this, becomes overwhelmingly distraught and fearful that she is being pushed out of Jax and Tara’s lives, and ultimately, the Club. We also get to see Gemma’s softer side as she becomes the mother she claims to be to her grandson. Could this realization that she can no longer run the Club mean Gemma will back down and be a loving grandmother instead? Probably not, but she’s full of surprises, so anything is possible.

Jax: “It’s hard not to hate. People, things, institutions. Hate is the only feeling that makes sense. But, I know what hate does to a man, breaks him, turns him into something he promised himself that he would never become.”

Jax: “I buried my best friend three days ago. As cliched as it sounds, I buried part of myself in that box.”

Tig: “Why does this sh*t always happen to me?!”

Gemma: “There’s not a lot of grey zone in this life, sweetheart, extremes become average.”