Clay Morrow is trash. By the end of the series, he was the one person you certainly did not want around. However, Clay and his actions have always been a point of contention on the show. He was written that way, and we have to say it takes a talented writer to truly make you hate a fictional character.
It takes an even more talented writer to take you from hate to sympathy to love. Clay makes us feel a bundle of emotions even now; years after the series has finished, we still have mixed emotions about Clay Morrow. There is no question that Clay is the Villain in the group but what are some of your favorite Clay moments good or bad?
Villain: He Got Gemma Attacked
In the episode “Albification” a group of white supremacists rolls into town looking to basically take over. Charming has always been and will most likely be run by the club. After a few failed attempts and due to Clay being stubborn the white supremacists take a drastic step. They kidnap and sexually assault Gemma more than once.
They eventually let her go with a message for the club, basically, they need to fall in line or else. The scene was sickening and awful to watch but it certainly made an impact. It made fans realize that Clay may not be making the best decisions for the club.
Hero: He Gave A Rapist The Ol’ Snip
Early on in season one rancher Elliot Oswald’s daughter was attacked and raped. He reached out to the club to get some not so lawful revenge. Clay leads the pack and found the rapist who might have been a clown at the town’s carnival. He showed absolutely no mercy and castrated him. Of course, he linked it back to Oswald so he could have something to blackmail him later if need be. This was a side of Clay that rarely comes out to make an appearance. However, we all agree kids are off-limits and so does the club.
Villain: How Many Club Member's Blood Is On His Hands?
Clay has probably been killing people since before Jax was born. He is always willing to go to the lowest point to get what he needs. His selfish attitude has led him to have his hands in a number of murders. Not only his own crew because he doesn’t discriminate.
He has murdered local law enforcement, friends, rival gang members and of course his best friend, Jax’s father JT. Clay has never shown real remorse for any of his actions and when he is called on it well, he holds a grudge until he can do something about it.
Hero: When He Felt The Holy Ghost
During one of his many stints in prison, Clay attended church and was so moved by the sermon that he decided to get up and preach his own word of the lord. Only, it was the word of Clay he gave an entire speech about loving women and their private areas so much that he would do just about anything.
This was a funny side of Clay that was a breath of fresh air. Of course, his sermon on women genitalia was only a distraction for something bigger to come. However, it was laughable and it’s rare that we get to laugh WITH Clay.
Villain: He Killed JT (And Acted Like He Was The One Done Wrong)
For someone who only appeared in photos and voice-overs, JT, Jax’s father played a significant role in the show. He was the voice of reason through his letters and manuscript. We find out that JT was murdered by Clay.
Clay never needs a reason to kill anyone, but his reason for murdering JT was because he wanted to use the club to run drugs and he wanted Gemma. Many of the older club members suspected that Clay had something to do with Jax’s death but never had any proof.
Hero: Harland Jr
Lowell Harland Sr. was John Tellers mechanic. Really he was the only one that John let work on his bike. Soon after JT died, Lowell Sr went missing. Clay stepped up and took in Lowel Harland jr. and treated him like his own son. If you could ask Clay he would say “I raised him right” (sure, whatever you say) it was pretty noble of him to take on this task. However, word on the street is Clay is the one who killed Sr. or at least had the hit put out on him. Call it a guilty conscious but at least he stepped in and helped raise Lowell Jr. he even later admitted to him that he “took care” of his father back in the day.
Villain: He Tried To Murder Tara
In the episode ‘Hands”, fans see a mad dash to save Tara after she is kidnapped for the second time. However, unlike the first time, there is a real threat ahead. Clay has put a hit on Tara in an effort to shut her up about the letters. Also because Jax is planning on moving to Oklahoma for Tara’s new job and taking the boys with her. Gemma could never lie without her boys of course.
So drastic measures are taken. In the midst of the kidnapping, Tara’s hands are badly damaged. We cannot fully involve Gemma as a reason for Clay’s bad actions because she wanted to Warn Jax but before she could she endured a vicious beatdown from Clay that shocked fans. By this point, he was out of control.
Hero: SAMCRO And The Mayans
It was Clay who smoothed things over with the Mayans biker club. The two clubs used to beef like crazy. The bodies were piling up even in the streets. One day Clay decided enough was enough. We don’t know if it was seeing all those bodies or his arthritis was making it hard to shoot a gun but whatever it was, Clay made some changes. Soon the clubs were able to work together and even had a few common enemies that they easily eliminated with their new alliance. Don’t get it twisted though, Clay every once in a while would backtrack but would always manage to pull the club out it.
Villain: He Murdered Piney
Founding member of SAMCRO Piney was brutally murdered by none other than Clay. Piney was one of the founding members of the club. He knew Jax’s father and as old and sickly as he was, he kept kicking. In season 4, Piney couldn’t stand that Clay was using the club to run drugs for the cartel.
Being a founding member he thought it wasn’t what they stood for. Piney is in possession of letters from JT to Maureen Ashby hinting at what a bad person Clay is and that JT fears Clay is trying to kill him. Clay ultimately guns down Piney in his cabin in an attempt to recover the letters. So much for old friends.
Hero: Opened Teller-Morrow
Only hardcore fans know that Teller-Morrow was Clay’s idea. It was mentioned once MAYBE twice in the show. Clay came home from the war and after celebrating reality kicked in. He needed a job no one was going to hire a trouble maker and a lot of people were not hiring vets. Clay made his own way and he and JT opened Teller-Morrow. The shop has always just been a cover for the gang's real work but as you can see real people carry their cars there to be worked on. Sometimes they ended up asking for off-menu help. Without Teller-Morrow as the hub, the show would be so different.