Prashant Gupta/FXSons of Anarchy is not going softly into the night.
Revving up for its series finale on Dec. 9, the FX biker drama delivered not one, not two, but THREE major (devastating) deaths in its penultimate episodes, leaving us with tears in our eyes, our jaws on the floor and wondering, "What the hell is Kurt Sutter doing to do to us next week?!"
Warning, spoilers ahead!
In the Dec. 2 episode, it was an all-out bloodbath, with Juice (Theo Rossi) dying in prison, and Jax (Charlie Hunnam) killing Unser (Dayton Callies) and Gema (Katey Sagal). That's right, Jax murdered his own mother after learning she was the one to kill Tara (Maggie Siff), his wife.
While most fans were completely surprised by this turn of events, the actors weren't. "Oh, I knew. Charlie and I both knew that was coming," Sagal told TVLine. "We knew probably three episodes in. Kurt was still figuring it out, but we had been forewarned. We didn't know the circumstances." She added, "This is actually the merciful way to go."
Still, filming Gemma's death was an emotional experience for Sagal and Hunnam. "Before every take, we were both just crying and hugging each other. It was very sweet. It makes me cry to think about it. Because it is Jax and Gemma, but it's also Katey and Charlie and seven years," she said. "There's a lot that goes into those moments. Charlie and I were bawling. That's what was happening right before we played those scenes."
Gemma's death scene, and the series, was hard for Sagal to let go of, with the star, who is married to Sutter, telling EW.com, "The death scene is not just the death scene. It's also the end of the series. That's got its own shake-off. I went for the last shot of the last episode. Most of us showed up for the final day. I don't think I shook it off till then."
As for Juice, Rossi told EW.com that he saw his character's ending, being stabbed to death in prison after enjoying one last piece of pie, as "a happy ending." (Something we asked the star if he thought anyone on the show deserved earlier this season.)
"When people say, 'Well, don't you want a happy ending?' I'd hate to say this, because he's gone, but it was a happy ending," he explained. "I've said from the beginning, 'Peaceful. I wanted him to be at peace.' The way I get over it is by knowing that he was at peace. The way that the fans get over it? Oh man, every time somebody asks if you want any pie, just think about Juice at his happiest time."
Speaking of that now-infamous slice of pie, Rossi admitted to TVLine that he enjoyed a few slices, savoring his final moments as Juice.
"That was fun. It was cherry pie, too, from Whole Foods. It was really good," he said. "But I felt really peaceful. I have such a love for Juice, you have no idea. I really love the guy. He's one of the sweetest guys, but also like a lost little boy. At that moment, I liked him so much, because he was just so peaceful in the moment when he wanted that pie." (No, we're not crying. A tree branch just fell in our eye. That was covered in dust.)
And it seems like fans should prepare themselves for an equally as explosive series finale, with Rossi offering up this advice to EW.com.
"I think this episode and the finale, there's a lot going down. It's going to take a long time for people to process. What they have to remember at the end of the day is these people are criminals. They do bad things. Whether it be their choice or not, every one of them, even the ones we think are good, do bad things. Karma is the biggest gangster of all. Eventually, things come back."
Sons of Anarchy's series finale airs Tuesday, Dec. 9 on FX.