BWW Recap: SONS OF ANARCHY Turns a Porn Party into an Assassination

In the weeks leading up to the season premiere of FX's SONS OF ANARCHY, there was much talk about how gruesome and shocking the first few minutes of the show would be. Viewer discretion would be highly advised. Thinking back to many past episodes, this advisory seemed wise.

The show started with a series of "Last Season on SOA" clips to get you both excited for what was to come, and angry about what had already occurred. Creator Kurt Sutter is known for toying with our emotions this way. The scenes transitioned to one of Jax (Charlie Hunnam) in prison, beating the hell out of some guy. I watched the premiere with a friend who was new to SOA, and he asked who Jax's victim was, and though I squinted my eyes to 20/20 vision, I couldn't tell who he was behind all of the blood, sweat and tears.

During this introduction, we were reminded that Gemma (Katey Sagal) was still alive and kicking (unlike Tara. R.I.P, Baby Girl), with full access to both of Jax's sons, Abel and Thomas. Now these kids are a hot commodity, because although you don't really see a whole lot of tender family moments, people like Wendy (Drea de Matteo) would love to get some precious moments with at least one of them. Granted, she's Abel mother (not that he's aware), but her overall interest in him seems to ebb and flow depending on her sobriety.

"Never My Love" sung by Audra Mae & the Forest Rangers takes us through a soulful montage of nude pushups, forlorn glances, forced prison dentistry, and Nazi branding, and SOA is officially back in season.

So was the intro violent? Yes. Overly gruesome and shocking? Meh. We've been with SOA for six seasons now, and I'm pretty sure I've seen worse. Maybe it's the idea of ripping someone's teeth out that got the internet all riled up. The internet should reintroduce themselves to THE DENTIST starring Corbin Bernsen then... I feel sick just thinking about it, but clearly I'm digressing.

DA Patterson (C.C.H Pounder) and Gemma both went to see Jax, who's imprisoned for a minor parole violation, and not for being found sitting literally in the center of a bloody double homicide. With an invisible hair flip, the DA told the guard to make sure she gets in before Gemma. This small assertion of power over Gemma is of note, because not many women who do so end up happily ever after. The two women sat together while they waited, and Gemma waxed sorrowful about how hard everything must be for Jax since he lost the woman he loved. I refrained from throwing something at her because, you know, she's not real. Remember, she who wields the skull piercing grilling fork should not be allowed to play sensitive.

When we meet Ron Tully (played by Marilyn Manson, who's changed slightly since his years in the androgynous body suit), we learn that he's not a huge fan of African Americans. He does seem fond of loose teeth though. Manson's stint as a white supremacist should be interesting to watch.

Juice got naked again. I'm not quite sure why. It could become an ongoing theme in the show. Perhaps he's shedding off his metaphorical baggage with his clothing. He's been working out though (never forget the nude pushups), so more power to him. I imagine that he has a ton of free time to work on his fitness, what with being in hiding from SAMCRO and all.

Wendy kept making appearances and I just couldn't bring myself to care. I held a small hope that since Juice was hiding out in her house (she was supposed to be away for 90 days in rehab, but left about 80 days early), they might become roommates and the entire show could turn into some madcap buddy comedy. JUICE AND CASE coming Tuesdays next Fall to FX. No?

Honestly, I feel that the episode got to a slow start. Wacky prison beatings aside, there was a lot of time spent showing us what everyone had been up to on their summer vacation.
Gemma has perfected her caring, protective, SAMCRO matriarch role. After Jax is released and he and Gemma are in the car, she explained that she'd been looking after the boys and going to funerals. She said that Abel only "knows that his mommy is in heaven," and I roll my eyes so hard that they almost burst from my skull. DON'T PLAY INNOCENT, YOU MONSTER.

Remaining SAMCRO members and another gang mocked a legless man in a wheelchair and then dragged him through the streets. Granted that guy had said something vulgar about violating Tig's (Kim Coates) mother, proving that even people in wheelchairs can be terrible human beings. SAMCRO also completed the setup of RedWoody, their new porn studio. Hooray for legal enterprise!

Gemma didn't approve of Wendy's being back in town, especially since she's "rented" out her home. Jax seemed mostly nonplussed about Wendy's appearance, but he's preoccupied with plans for vengeance. During a club meeting, he told his SAMCRO family that although he'd lost the woman he loves (I think everyone mentions this phrase at least once), he refuses to lose his club. I'm sure his concern for his children was implied.
So onward with the retaliation. Gemma explained that although she feels bad for the way Season 6 went down, she was doing it for the club, so whatevs. She convinced poor, naïve Juice, that keeping their secret was more about protecting Jax than themselves. This was followed by a weird, eye lock that made me think they might kiss, and I got really uncomfortable.

A party at RedWoody gave Gemma the opportunity to be utterly selfless and save Jax from losing everything he cares about. She implicated some random Chinese gang member for Tara's murder. Now, Jax is a trusting son. He couldn't fathom a world where his mother would go all PSYCHO on his wife ("The Woman He Loved"), let alone frame someone for it. He also suffers from impaired memory, since he seemingly forgot the 947 other times Gemma deceived him for the so-called greater, Teller good. Anyway, if Mommy says someone from Lin's Triad killed Tara, then it must be true.

The guy is kidnapped and brought back to Jax's house, where he performed an execution dripping with meaning. He was sure that the guy murdered his wife and that Lin had put him up to it. No denials would be heard that night. He injured him, literally poured salt in his wounds, and then stabbed him in the head with a grilling fork. The scene was drawn out and dramatic, highlighted by "Bohemian Rhapsody." Everything came full circle.

But we know vengeance is never easy. Even if Jax believed he had taken care of the man that killed his wife, there was still the man behind the order.

There is a still a full season of engines to be revved, guns to be drawn, blood to be spilled, and flannel and leather to be worn. At almost two hours, the episode filled us with several different plotlines to follow. If Jax is ready for a rampage, will that really leave room in his heart for the club? Will someone try and stop him? Can a hero remain our champion once his journey has turned so dark? Will that darkness mean the eventual destruction of everyone and everything he holds dear?

The next episode of SONS OF ANARCHY comes to you next Tuesday at 10pm on FX. Let me know what you thought of the premiere in the comments below.

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