… Then pulls out a semi-automatic and walks toward the school. As he leaves, the breeze rifles the pages of the notebook, which are filled with drawings of an avenging angel bowing his head atop a pile of dismembered bodies and page after page of crabbed text reading, "God doesn't like bullies," and "I'm an angel meant to destroy Satan." The camera swoops pass the impassive stone face of a Jesus statue, then focuses on the windows. We see the flashes as the child fires the gun, see blood spatter a window, and we hear screams.
The screen goes black.
It's an unusually decorous depiction of horrific violence -- even if the entire set-up feels a tad "Jeremy spoke in class today" to this Gen Xer -- but what I really like about this is how the entire episode is strung around the idea that this entire situation is shaped by the Sons. Just by going about their business, these guys have done things that led to the moment when a bullied and unwell child decided to pick up a gun. I think in terms of season openers, it ranks right up there with season three; I think it's important to remind the fans of this show that the people we're watching may be funny and charming sometimes, but at some point, they chose to do things that put innocents at risk every day.
When the screen lights up again, it's the awful controlled chaos of the emergency services. We see parents nervously scanning the crowds of children for their own babies. We see a fireman rocking in grief against a fire truck. We won't say a word about this being the third musical montage in the episode.
Transition to Colette making a bed while Jax watches, seemingly transfixed. (How much would you love it if it turns out he's simultaneously aroused and terrified by Martha Stewart? "Oh, yes, Martha! Run that napkin through your fingers as you turn it into a swan! Oh, you napery-clad enchantress! Let's get that napkin dirty!") Oh, Colette is goooooood. She's about to work the "Poor baby" on this guy and he's all for it.
Cut to the shooter's mom, having herself a quiet freak out while Primo strokes her hair and looks fretful.
Clay is hanging in his jail cell, no doubt plotting his next move. I love this guy, but why is he alive?
Someone in the holding cell just took Tara's blanket and that is the moment we see that she is Over All Of This. Maggie Siff does with an eye roll what a lesser actor would do with a monologue.
Colette's poor-babying Jax, who is okay with it.
Television Without Pity • © 2013 Bravo Media LLC • A Division of NBCUniversal •
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