I would call tomorrow nights extra-long episode (itll run in a 90-minute time slot, albeit with only 55 minutes of content, so brace yourself for some long commercial breaks) a new creative peak, except that Ive seen the episode the week after, and in many ways, its even more intense.
Weve reached a point in the season where Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), crown prince of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club, has gotten fed up with the Sons and all the drama around them. He knows that the clubs president (and Jaxs stepfather) Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) tried to have Jaxs best friend, Opie (Ryan Hurst), killed and accidentally murdered Opies wife instead, and he has to swallow that information because it would only lead to more violence and heartbreak. So Clay goes unpunished, and Jaxs attempts to wrest control of the club from him have only made things worse and, to Jaxs disbelief, turned an ignorant Opie into Clays closest ally. And this civil war has come at a time when the club is under siege from a group of white separatists (whose leader is played by an ironically cast but quietly effective Adam Arkin) who want to take over the Sons gun-running operation.
So as tomorrows episode has begun, Jax has decided to cut the cord with the club and go nomad. Only matters get even more complicated with the arrival of the clubs former gun supplier from True IRA, Jimmy O (Titus Welliver from Deadwood), a vicious man who wants back in with the club and will use a personal hold over club member Chibs (Tommy Flanagan) to get his way.
Theres an epic feel to the proceedings, and thats even before Jaxs indomitable mother, Gemma (Katey Sagal, whos been doing Emmy-worthy work all season), hears what her son is planning and tries to stop him.
Now, theres a reason most TV show-runners dont go all-in on their storytelling this soon. Sutter is steering all the characters to places from which he might not be able to bring them back, and assuming FX does plan on many more seasons, that could be a big problem.
But right here, right now, Sons of Anarchy is 100 percent riveting. Enjoy it now, and worry about later seasons if and when we get there.