Only one Sons of Anarchy season remains.
But before we can look ahead to next year and wonder where the heck this show goes from the events on this month's finale, let's take a look back at Sons of Anarchy Season 6, debating the best character, the worst episode and more... TV Fanatic Report Card style!
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Best Episode: Sons of Anarchy Season 6 Episode 13. It was two hours of pure craziness with a concluding scene that was as moving and as painful as anything on television this year. Tremendous acting, shocking developments and major curiosity over how characters move forward on Season 7. What else could you want from a finale?
Worst Episode: Sons of Anarchy Season 6 Episode 4, "Wolfangel." Yes, it featured Neo-Nazis, the killing of two club members and an attack on Unser. But this installment bothered me for reasons I outlined in my review: Jax essentially killed Tig. He left him to die at the hands of Pope, who spared Tig's life at the outset of the hour and... that was simply that. It was hard for me to reconcile Jax Teller as someone desperate to save his club, by allowing one of its key members to be executed.
Best Character: Nero Padilla. He's been an entertaining outlier in Charming, someone aware of how dangerous the game is and actually trying to remain on the sidelines. He's honest, he's caring, he's funny. And his decision to join up with the Mayans was one of the most intriguing cliffhangers from the finale.
Worst Character: Jax Teller. I expect to get a lot of grief for this one. But it doesn't say anything very good about the SAMCRO President when he needs a lawyer to tell him how he's being a terrible father... and husband... and man in general. Jax lost sight a long time ago of what's important and his family has now paid the ultimate price. Will he be redeemed? That's a major question for next season. For now, though, he has a very long way to go.
Most Shocking Scene: Tara's brutal death is the obvious answer, but I'll go with an example of Kurt Sutter being Kurt Sutter: Clay and Gemma were forced to have sex in front of a prison guard? Really?!?
Best Fashion Statement: Nero, always rocking a cardigan.
Most Welcome Death: Clay Morrow. It had been such a long time coming that it was more relieving than surprising. It says a great deal about how far the character had fallen in importance than his killing wasn't even the final scene of Sons of Anarchy Season 6 Episode 11.
Overall Grade: B.
Hopes for 2014: Gosh, I have no idea. How can Jax possibly move on from here? And isn't he still bound for jail? And where does Juice go now? Can Gemma really keep her actions a secret? What becomes of a club with dwindling members and a major hit in revenue without the gun business? Yes, these are more questions than hopes, but all we can really hope for in its final season is that Sons of Anarchy goes out in a stunning, emotional, high-octane manner.
YOUR turn, SOA Fanatics. Watch Sons of Anarchy Season 6 online if you need to catch up and it now: