Sons of Anarchy
Season 7 Episode 3: “Playing With Monsters”
Directed by Craig Yahata
Written by Kurt Sutter and Peter Elkoff
Starring Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Theo Rossi, Jimmy Smits, Dayton Callie, Drea De Mateo, Annabelle Gish, Kenneth Choi, Billy Brown, and Courtney Love
FX
Air Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 10pm

Before the Sons of Anarchy 7.3 “Playing With Monsters” review, here’s a recap of episode two.

Beware! Spoilers ahead!

Sons of Anarchy 7.2 “Toil and Till” recap: Jax (Charlie Hunnam) is unraveling into a downward spiral of blood and lies, and taking the club with him (albeit willingly). Juice (Theo Rossi) is unraveling as well. The difference is that Jax is sure of himself with a coldblooded fury, and Juice is panicked and second guessing himself at every turn. Juice has Unser (Dayton Callie) tied up in the tub but lets him go, and Unser wants to help him. Juice calls Chibs (Tommy Flanagan) from a burner phone and hangs up on him. He takes the money from Gemma (Katey Sagal) to get out of town but ends up right back at Wendy’s (Drea De Mateo) apartment.

Theo Rossi has always played conflicted and panicked with precision. He is a long way from being the SOA tech geek from season one. Has he even looked at a computer lately? Abel is asking for his mommy and Gemma tells him she’s in heaven because she’s an angel, but she is clearly shaken up. The Indian Hills charter comes down with leader Jury (Michael Shamus Wiles) to help Jax with his Asian vengeance. They take them out, take the drugs, and take the guns, with the help of two hired guns of Jury’s. Jax wants to drop off money at one of the hired gun’s houses, but instead of money, shoots them and plants evidence, telling Lin (Kenneth Choi) they found who took out his men. Jury finds the dead boys first and cries like a baby, spying the planted evidence with understanding. Uh-oh Jax. Looks like you once again broke the cardinal rule of the club: don’t hurt one of yours.

Seems like Jax is turning into Clay (Ron Perlman).

Sons of Anarchy 7.3 “Playing With Monsters” review: this episode should be titled “Worst. Mom. Ever.” And that’s even after the season six finale. When you watch every last drop of it, you will agree. Cue: Mother-son bonding. We find the real reason behind Juice’s desperation, and it’s not what you might think. Jax continues the “mayhem” stirring up internal conflict with the niners, and external conflict between the Mayans, Niners, and Chinese. Even Abel can’t pull Jax away from this suicide mission. It seems like the good Jax is gone forever, and I don’t like what’s left. There are many more bodies and Jury’s quiet contemplation which was more frightening than the multiple shoot-outs. Nero (Jimmy Smits) is all tangled up in what he tried so hard to avoid. Although my list of likable characters is dwindling, I still have Tig (Kim Coates), Lyla (Winter Ave Zoli), Wendy (Drea De Mateo-surprising to me), and Chibs. Look for an adorable scene between him and the new sheriff. Yes–I said adorable.

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Ode to Clay Morrow (graphically violent!): Because I’m missing him this last season. Clay was the cold killer. Now that he is gone, Jax has truly stepped in as the real club president.