It's time to get back to my ladies, the television badass bitches. And to me there are no bigger bitches than Gemma Teller-Morrow on Sons of Anarchy. If you do not watch this show, start right now, this minute. It is Hamlet meets Hell's Angels and all the twists, turns, back stabs and shootouts in between. You'll find it on F/X on Tuesday nights @9PM CST.
Gemma is played to perfection by the amazing Katy Sagal. Peg Bundy no longer lives here, let me tell you. I should hate this show because it is so misogynistic at times, but with a female lead like Gemma, it's impossible. This characters is one of the strongest and smartest written for a woman on television. Gemma is the matriarch and queen bitch of SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original). Her husband, Clay Morrow, is the president and a founding member while her son, Jax Teller, is the heir to the club. She is beloved by all the club members and she rules them with equal parts love and iron-fisted ass kicking. To Gemma there is nothing more important than her family and the club. She will do anything, I mean we're talking anything, to protect them, even from themselves.
The Lowdown on Gemma
She's got a killer 'tude and a mouth that would make a hardened prisoner blush. Gemma pulls no punches, she delivers them blow after blow. She takes scheming to new lows, a brilliant strategist who sizes people up accurately in a millisecond. Her tongue cuts fast and deep, making hulking bikers and racist drug dealers go slinking away, testicles in hand. She's not afraid to pull a gun when necessary and do things like shoot up a porn star's car or threaten an ATF agent. She'll even knock a bitch out with a skateboard. There's nothing she can't handle and acts as cleaning crew when her men have fucked up. Gemma even finds time to run community service projects for the town of Charming. Bet your Homeowners Association President was never like her.
Favorite Gemma-isms
"Stop talking. My Martha Stewart's wearing thin."
"You should have thought of that before your dick went on a cheerleader hunt."
"Nobody gets in the way of me taking care of my family. Especially my conscience."
Here's Gemma in action thanks to the You Tube stylings of HPfane777
The previews looked good! Haven't watched it yet though.
ReplyDelete@Alex You should see this show. It's amazing character study of people who live on the edge and the choices they make. Very Macchiavellian.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone has found the secret of never aging, it'd be Katie Sagal. Not a single one of her performances has ever let me down, though truth be told she will always be Peggy Bundy to me.
ReplyDelete@Jeffrey I know, right? Katey looks gorgeous as ever. I still love her as Peg, too, but wow Gemma is so different and Katey really inhabits the character.
ReplyDeleteI have not watched this show but it's one of The Man's favorites. He might drag me into it one day. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love this show! LOVE LOVE LOVE
ReplyDeleteBut you're right, I shouldn't. I should hate the way the men act and hate the way they treat their women. Luckily it's fiction.
The writing is so fantastic, Kurt Sutter is amazing.
Gemma is cool and scary and awesome all at the same time.
Great post!
never heard of her, nor of the show, but she certainly does seem like your type of sister, Melsy :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Sons of Anarchy! And Katey is one reason why--the range that she plays is amazing--the entire story line of her rape and brutalization and then how she dealt with it was really amazing. Jax and Tara's attempt to break away from the family yet they just go deeper, the roles of what truly is good and evil versus legal, all of it make me love to watch. It is definitely testosterone driven, but there's a part of me that is really drawn to that. And, just for frosting on the cake, Jax has a very nice backside.
ReplyDeleteI've heard all sorts of good things about SOA and I love a good kick-ass woman. I really need to give this a view.
ReplyDelete"Her tongue cuts fast and deep, making hulking bikers and racist drug dealers go slinking away, testicles in hand."
ReplyDeleteWell, now you're just being a cocktease. Really, I must watch this show, even if only for Gemma. Getting on that pronto! Great write-up!
I keep meaning to start watching this show. I think I'll give it try. FX has great original shows.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved Katey Sagal - (and her sisters, the twins - but I digress) and this is my kind of show - but it is NOT my wife's kind of show - so I have it on the Netflix queue - but haven't gone in yet. I will though, when the October All-Horror-All-the-Time-fest is over!
ReplyDelete@Hannah I hope he does. :) I think you'd enjoy the awesomeness of Gemma.
ReplyDelete@Heather Thank you! I love Gemma and I sure was prepared not to like this show. But I caught one ep and that was it for me. Sutter's writing had me hooked.
@Dezz You know how I am with my Girl Power.;) I can't resist badass babes.
ReplyDelete@Julie Oh man, this season has got me watching each week with my jaw dangling near the floor. Watching each week is as automatic as plugging in my phone. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
@KC I think you would really enjoy this. As a writer, Sutter's genius with this show is unmatched. Every character, no matter how peripeheral has an agenda and a back story.
@M LMAO! Yes I am. I seriously think you will enjoy the hell out of this brilliant show. I'd really love to know what you think when you get a chance to see this.
ReplyDelete@Susan I love Fox. I just started on American Horror Story. I think you'll enjoy SOA a lot. The quality of story each week is tremendous.
@Craig I remember Katy's sisters, too. The Twins were awesome. Liz serves as a script supervisor on the show, I think.
Seriously, though, I think you'll really love this show and it's eclectic cast of characters. It is not for everyone, though.
I'm not familiar with Gemma Teller-Morrow and her work, but she reminds me of Sheryl Crow... A LOT!
ReplyDelete@Nebular Katy does kind of remind me of Sheryl. They both have rockin' attitudes towards life and they both look really good. If you ever get a chance to check out this show, it is amazing and I think you'd really enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteJust a silly thought--I wonder if her Gemma Character bleeds into her real life? ;)
ReplyDelete♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
@Elizabeth Interesting thought indeed! Now you've got me wondering...:)
ReplyDelete@Stephen How could I have forgotten about Futurama. I love Katy on there. Leela kicks ass. I am so glad you like my series. Your words mean a lot to me. This is one of my very favorite topics that is very dear to me on a personal level.
My PBS station does not carry this show. :) Seriously, haven't seen it but if I find it I'll give it a shot. I do love the badass women of the world. :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
@Jules LOL Yeah, I think this show doesn't exactly qualify for wholesome family entertainment. If you ever get a chance, I highly encourage you to see it. It is very well-written and the acting is outstanding. Good to see you here. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Sons of Anarchy on FX so, so much! I got hooked from the very first episode. I don’t know what I'd do without FX, good thing I get FX from being a DISH subscriber. I know DIRECTV customers aren't too happy going through negotiations with FX with this series on. They are up for a season 5! This drama will never get old. Being a DISH employee I can tell you that DIRECTV customer’s wont be able to watch this season’s last episodes of Sons of Anarchy!
ReplyDelete@sanchez Hi there!! I'm embarrassed to say I didn't see Sons that first season. It took an illness and reruns, but I got hooked and haven't looked back. Thanks for sharing and look forward to your return visits.
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