Our resident SOA expert Kevin Plummer just had to throw out a review on this week’s show. For an fan of SOA or someone who wants the inside track on what’s going on. Here the scoop from K and G Cycles!

While I had not done any other SOA reviews this year except for the opening of the season, I felt last night’s show deserved some comments…

Sons of Anarchy Review: “Family Recipe”

It looks as though the death of John Teller many years ago, has come back to haunt Clay Marrow for the things he had done.  However at the end of the show I was very sad to see that we lost yet another SAMCRO member last night.  I felt that Piney was the voice of reason within the club, with his older wisdom, and what he knew of what John Teller wanted to do with the SAMCRO MC.  So, RIP, Piney.  We cannot say at the moment whether or not your death was in vain from what we know of the current storyline.

Piney’s death and Juice’s near-death were the two key developments on a packed episode that also showed us how Clay and the Sons have been able to survive in Charming for so many years. It goes far beyond intimidation.  It gives us an insight of all the politics at work here, as Clay proved in his shrewd speech, donation and support for Elliot, in the hopes to save Charming.
Which was the main light moment within the show, which helped ease the tension for a few moments.  Clay may know how to work the residents of Charming, but he and his crew have no idea how to respond to a bag of heads being dropped at their doorstep.  Jax feels the problems are getting so bad, that he had to admit as much when he bid goodbye to Tara, and the boys.

From Juice’s second chance to Piney’s final breath: Wow. Of those involved in the Clay/Tara/Piney threat triangle, this member of the Original 9 was the most likely to take a fatal bullet, but that didn’t make the closing scene any less powerful, especially considering Piney’s previous chat with Jax.

Piney is was a man who returned to an active life in the club for reasons as opposite as can be from the motivations now being driven by Clay at the head of its table.  Clay feels the need to want more money and to make a comfortable exit from SAMCRO, as he knows with his hands causing more and more problems.  If he can’t ride, he can’t lead…  I feel that Piney always wanted to keep the MC running in the direction that JT would have, respectability, brotherhood, inspiration from the son of his late best friend. Jax screamed at Piney that he didn’t want to talk about the past, but will he ever understand how the past holds the key to a safe future for SAMCRO? And also for Tara and his boys?

Will Piney’s death – even if the club believes it was committed by the blood-smearing LS – finally wake Jax up to the dangerous path he has agreed to go down? And even if it does, at this point, what can be done about it?

And then there’s the affect Clay’s actions will have on others.  We do not know whether or not Tara learn of this incident before departing for Portland, but imagine if she ever discovers the truth. Piney was murdered, after all, via a chain of events that started when she told him about Maureen’s letters.  While Opie fought with Piney a lot throughout the seasons, but no one could doubt their love for each other.  Gemma was aware of Piney’s threats toward her husband, and certainly aware of Clay’s murderous side.  How much inner club killing can one woman take?!?  And on a practical level, Bobby just lost one surefire vote against Clay for the Presidency.

And lastly, there’s also the occasional need for chili, though you’ll understand if I never go near any meal made by Chucky again.