In Sons of Anarchy Season 2 we see some of the seeds planted in the first season come to fruition. Jax’s relationship with Clay worsens as he continues to read his father’s memoirs and questions Clay’s every move. The death of his wife haunts Opie throughout the season and nearly destroys the club when the truth about her murderer comes out. On top of dealing with federal agents and white separatists, the club is dealt its biggest blow when Jax’s son Abel is abducted by an IRA member.

In Season 3 of Sons of Anarchy, SAMCRO is once again thrown into the cycle of vengeance. Jax’s son, Abel, has been abducted by Cameron Hayes of the IRA as retribution for the death of his own son, Edmond. Meanwhile, Opie must come to terms with the club when it’s revealed to him that his wife was mistakenly killed by Tig in what was supposed to be a hit on himself.

Having just been released from prison, SAMCRO returns home in the first episode, “Out,” to find that the local law enforcement is now being run by Lieutenant Eli Roosevelt of the San Joaquin Sheriffs’ Department. More legal worries loom in the distance as U.S. Attorney Lincoln Potter works with Roosevelt to build a RICO case against the club.