Chris Bryant | On 05, Nov 2014

“The Sons of Anarchy have a duty. A mission.”

The Separation of Crows is one of Sons’ ‘lighting the fuse’ episodes. In the weeks to come, fans may look back at moments of it and realise the gravity of each decision, each sentence; for now, it comes across as tense and mysterious, but also somewhat aimless. With so many major story arcs that are likely to result in a character’s death, Episode 8 progresses all without resolving any.

Juice’s scenes suggest that his struggle is far from over, and he may have to do a little more than killing in order to buy his way back in with SAMCRO. Abel’s behaviour further suggests that he’s seen and heard too much of the club’s dealings to hold on to normality, while Unser’s interactions with Juice begin to set his detective mind in motion. The biggest headline is Jax’s reaction to Bobby’s torture by Marks’ new head of security, Moses Cartwright. All of which are interesting, eggshell-stepping storylines – with Kurt Sutter still helming them in a way which leaves open a myriad of possible outcomes, retaining the show’s unpredictability – but with fans worldwide strapped into their seats for the ascent, eventually the rollercoaster has to plummet.

The Separation of Crows’ title refers to the only parts of the episode in which the shock of certain actions results in a new fear, as opposed to continuing the cutting anxiety. A break-in at Gemma’s house and Jax’s talking to a fellow Sons’ chapter both pay off with attention-grabbing events. And although Jury’s revelation feels a little empty and obviously foreboding, the face-off and what it means for the bigger picture is enough to keep interest.

Once more, the show is crafted and produced unlike any other. It’s dark and it’s brutal and yet we are shown enough love and heartbreak that we are never desensitised to the violence. The back-and-forth between Bobby (Mark Boone Junior’s loveable moral compass) and Moses Cartwright (Mathew St. Patrick) could be the highlight of the episode. Brief, witty and precisely written, Cartwright appears as Bobby’s mirror image – quippy, respectful and perpetually uncompromised. The scene unfolds beautifully, with two soldiers smoking and discussing their situation.

In spite of the flightless nature of the episode, The Separation of Crows is pieced together well and undoubtedly contains some moments that have paved the way for deadly consequences. As Chibs states in the pre-credits teaser, the Sons are on a mission. The entire season, every move, has been about Tara. With only five more episodes to go, there’s a lot of truth left to uncover.

Sons of Anarchy Season 7 is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription, and on Amazon Prime, as part of a £5.99 monthly subscription.

 

Where can I buy or rent Sons of Anarchy online in the UK?

For more information, see where can I watch Sons of Anarchy Season 7 online in the UK?

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