['Sons of Anarchy' -- 'Booster']

This episode provides textbook examples of what I think is working -- and wobbling -- this season on 'SOA.'

The long-term tensions, alliances, goals and conflicts that are being set up among various club members are gold, as far as I'm concerned. One thing I especially like about this episode is the variation on a theme we've seen explored in the past -- the idea that when Clay and Jax are allied, they're actually more dangerous to the club than when they're at each others' throats.

That's not to say that the alliance is smooth sailing all the way. Far from it. Jax felt blindsided by the deal that Clay had made with the cartel about transporting coke, and Clay couldn't believe that Jax would really and truly walk away from the club forever. Both men were forced, not willingly, to accept the situation as it is, and given their parallel goals -- to make money before leaving the club's leadership positions -- they had to grudgingly get over whatever problems they might have with each other's actions.

'Sons of Anarchy' - 'Out'

I offered some general thoughts on the new season of 'Sons of Anarchy' in my review of the new season, but I'll throw out a few more observations in the episodic review below.

The club is out of prison and back in Charming, so everything's right with the world, huh? Yeah, not so much. What else did you expect?