Season 7, Episode 1

Premiere date: Tuesday, September 9, 2014, 10pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“That’s a natural reaction; the desire for revenge is a part of grieving.” – D.A. Tyne Patterson

The past year has been one of increasing anxiety for Sons of Anarchy (SOA) fans ever since series creator Kurt Sutter announced the show’s upcoming seventh season would be its final one. Considering last season’s finale, “A Mother’s Work,” upset many fans with the tragic death of Dr. Tara Knowles (Maggie Siff), will the final season’s premiere live up to fans’ expectations?

*Drum Roll please*

I say it will!

After the loss of Tara, Jax (Hunnam) isn’t in his characteristic introspective mood

The action picks up exactly nine days after the murders of Tara and Eli Roosevelt (Rockmond Dunbar) with the police and SAMCRO trying to figure out who committed these crimes. Emerging from these tragic events is a very important season-long theme that centers on intelligence gathering, who will supply it, and if it will stick (whether it’s real or fictional), all of which will influence future events.

At the heart of “Black Widower” is another important theme dominating season seven — whether the sins from the past, which don’t easily fade into the background, will continue to impact the decisions of our favorite Charming MC family. More specifically, Tara’s gruesome death is constantly present during this episode, almost like a dark cloud looming that doesn’t go away. Her murder also dominates most conversations and is a key factor in many of the Sons’ decisions.

As expected, the character most affected by the unfortunate chain of events is Jax (Charlie Hunnam). When we caught up with Sutter during this year’s Comic-Con, he revealed Jax isn’t in his characteristic introspective mood. With Tara’s death weighing heavily on his mind, Jax is focused on taking action and exacting revenge. Only time will tell whether the decisions he’s making are the best for him and the club or his family. During that same press roundtable, I also recalled Sutter stating Hunnam is “crushing it” this season so as soon as I got my screeners for the first three episodes, I couldn’t wait to check this out for myself. I’m pleased to report Sutter is right on the money; Hunnam remains superb! On an emotional level, Hunnam is extremely effective in transmitting the pain and anger his character is experiencing, and in spite of some of the decisions Jax makes, I still find myself caring about what is going to happen to him. I can’t say the same for the other two characters who are most closely burdened by Tara’s murder: Gemma (Katey Sagal) and Juice (Theo Rossi). However, at a performance level, Sagal is formidable in conveying the duress her character is under. Overall, both Sagal and Rossi are terrific in characterizing the tension and internal conflicts experienced by those who harbor terrible secrets.

Gemma (Sagal) harbors a terrible secret that leads to even bigger lies

Sutter is well-known for sending shockwaves with SOA’s story lines and after seven seasons, I wondered how far he would be willing to push the series during its final season. With “Black Widower,” Sutter makes it clear he doesn’t plan on holding back. This is quickly evidenced by his continual criticism of organized religion; he certainly doesn’t sugarcoat the dynamics of real life ethnic-based criminal organizations/gangs and their need to maintain working relationships with one another for business purposes.

Fans of SOA should pay close attention to this episode from the get go as the action picks up steam fast, and as “Black Widower” progresses, the dialogue is rich with hints and insights about what is to come.  I must note, halfway through the episode, long-term fans will enjoy the action sequences as they’re reminiscent of the show’s first few seasons when the MC faced less complex problems. These scenes also provide some much-needed comedic relief. The episode then takes a pivotal turn when a lie gets even bigger; setting the MC on a course that will have substantial repercussions.

One aspect where “Black Widower” falls short is the glossing over of details about the events that transpired right after the Roosevelt and Knowles’ crimes were committed, especially since we’re invited to the action nine days after the murders. I’m not a big fan of the practice of purposely omitting conversations in a show with the goal of shocking the viewers later with a supposed twist so I’m hoping the decision regarding where to pick up the action is mainly related to centering the story lines on Jax. In addition, showcasing some of these missed moments could have helped in making more sympathetic some of the characters that have made questionable decisions.

Music supervisor Bob Thiele once again outdoes himself with his poignant music selection. Covers of “Never My Love” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” serve to frame key video sequences.

Overall, “Black Widower” is effective in that it abundantly sets up all the key story lines that will be explored this season. As the action progresses, expect to be glued to your seats because what Jax is really thinking and scheming is gradually revealed. Last but not least, and given the episode title, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the season premiere starts with violence and ends in an increasingly vicious manner.

Ultimately, I believe it’s DA Tyne Patterson’s (C.C.H. Pounder) words to Jax that best capture the essence of not only “Black Widower,” but the final season as a whole. After suffering such a tragic loss, will Jax recognize the importance of family or will he engage in even more violence that could destroy what is left of them?

What did you think of “Black Widower?” Do you agree with my review? Leave me a comment here or hit me up on Twitter @LutzElle.”

Tune in to Sons of Anarchy Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT, only on FX.

For more on the show, go to http://www.fxnetworks.com/soa and http://www.sutterink.com/.

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