Previewing Sons of Anarchy 3.x

On most network shows, I usually have trouble remembering what happened three months previous, but cable show are either worse. Thankfully Sons of Anarchy returns tonight with a lengthy two minute “previously On” segment. I remembered Jax had his son stolen from him, but I forgot pretty much everything else. But that wasn’t the only cliffhanger were for left with last season. Gemma had to go on the lamb when agent Stahl framed her for the murder of Cameron Hayes’ son which set the Abel kidnapping that also left the prospect lying in the pool of his own blood trying to protect Abel.

At the start of season three, SAMCRO is in full find Abel mood with all available members trying hunt him or Hayes’ whereabouts with the lone exception of Tig (and a couple of red shirts) who is on Gemma duty. And with the strong headed Gemma, things do not go as planned for Tig with keeping her on the down low including a trip to her father in the form of Hal Habrook (Into the Wild) which is an odd place because wouldn’t immediate family be a place the FBI would look for a fugitive? But anyway.

Halbrook isn’t the only notable guest star as Deadwood’s Paula Malcomson doesn’t have to hide her Irish accent as cousin to Cameron with ties to Sons of Anarchy: Belfast and the real Irish Republican Army. Kenny Johnson (Saving Grace) will also be back this season as SOA Tacoma member who has bad blood with Tig (which I cannot remember what). And Ethan Zobelle may go unmentioned in the first couple episodes, but Alan Arkin interesting enough is listed as director of Episode 11 and I would be surprised if we do not see him in front of the camera sometime this season because the death of his daughter by the hand of Gemma cannot be sitting well with Ethan.

The show is back with a vengeance tonight with the boys on the warpath to find Abel, but the other factions around Charming won’t be sitting still waiting for SAMCRO’s personal drama to settle down. The final scene of tonight’s premiere may include the most violent in the show’s history to date.

Sons of Anarchy airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on FX. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.