Sons of Anarchy, Episode 2.2

In this episode, Jax causes problems between The Club and its customers by disposing of a body, and Gemma starts her recovery from her recent trauma.

Watch it quick. This one expires on October 15.

Crime Beat

A woman reported her car was stolen at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 from the Ellison Park parking lot at 1008 Penfield Road. According to investigators, the woman parked the car, left it unlocked with her keys in the vehicle and went for a walk in the park. When she returned a half hour later, her car was gone.

For her next trick, she's going to see if gravity really is an immutable law of physics.

Sons of Anarchy, Episode 2.1

F/X does anti-heroes better than anyone. Let's look at what they've done: The Shield, Rescue Me, Damages, The Riches, Thief, Nip/Tuck. Heck, even Over There, if you're looking to expand your definition of anti-hero.Then, last September, timed to coincide with the last season of The Shield, F/X premiered a new show that surprised me and pleased me with its dark characters and vicious and (in)human storylines.

Sons of Anarchy is the story of Jax, a young member of a the motorcycle gang SAMCRO (the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original). He has recently been promoted to Vice-President, the right hand man of his step-father, who was an original member of The Club with Jax's father. Meanwhile, Jax has just become a father to a sick child that his drug-addicted girlfriend gave birth to. Jax's true love, who has come back to town, is the doctor at the hospital. While cleaning out his father's storage, Jax finds a manuscript where his father lays out how The Club has gone wrong, and how they've sacrificed their pursuit of freedom at the altar of economic prosperity.

At the beginning of this season, Jax's best friend, Opie, is recovering from a tragic loss, while The Club tries to get its feet back under itself by making a new deal with the IRA at the same time they're trying to prevent neo-Nazis from moving into town. And Jax has to handle all of this while deciding if justice is attainable, or just an illusion.

It's less noir than it is 1930s gangster film, with some Oedipal undertones. It takes the standard Gangster film-critique of the capitalist American Dream and contrasts it with the original American Dream of individual freedom. It's sort of like, THE GODFATHER meets EASY RIDER meets HAMLET. It features great performances from Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal and The Awesome Ron Perlman. And with the additions of Adam Arkin (lately of another favorite, the canceled Life) and Henry Rollins, it promises to be an intense year.

Watch the video here or catch up with it on Hulu.com. But do it quick. This episode is only up until October 8.

Crime Beat

At 8:35 a.m. Sept. 1, a man on John Jay Drive reported that in February, he received an e-mail from a lottery foundation in England that said he had won a $200,000 prize, but needed him to send money to cover fees and taxes. He said that on 10 occasions, he sent in amounts between $1,000 and $2,500, but has never received his “lottery winnings.” He said he has used his entire savings up.

Sigh...This still happens?

Crime Beat

At 9:07 p.m. Aug. 19, a stroller left unattended by a ride at Seabreeze, 4600 Culver Road, was reported stolen. The victim’s purse containing a $200 digital camera and a wallet with credit cards was in the stroller. The stroller and purse were later located in a rest room near a main gate. The contents of the wallet were gone. Security personnel told officers that a large number of purses and wallets were taken from guests in the park this day, but most of the items were recovered in the same rest room.

Crime Beat

Three suspects between the ages of 17 and 18 were charged with making graffiti and/or committing felony-level criminal mischief. The three are suspected of painting graffiti in Brighton, Pittsford and Rochester between April and August. Tag names used were “SKAR,” “A-CAP,” “Scarface,” and BreH.”

And with this sad final chapter, the HERB saga comes to a close. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. I only wish I knew more.

Crime Beat

Somebody stole a golf cart from Executive South Family Golf on East Henrietta Road and drove it into a fence a short distance away from the course sometime between Tuesday, Aug. 11, and Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Shanked it on the getaway.