I had big problems with tonight’s Season 6 premiere of Sons of Anarchy; specifically the school shooting that closed out the episode, which to me was the first time that the show, which always pushes the envelope, finally went too far. I first saw the season premiere during TCA summer press tour, and at the time, creator Kurt Sutter insisted that he wasn’t doing the school shooting to be sensational, explaining that sets everything in motion this season. As I wrote at The Daily Beast,

So a few weeks later, when FX sent out the season’s first three episodes, I watched them with Sutter’s words in mind. Judging the first three episodes as a whole, he’s right: the school shooting isn’t just a gratuitous jolt, as it seems to be in the premiere. Instead, it’s far more damaging to the series and its characters.

I had to admit that this review got away from me a bit, and I don’t think I did a great job articulating my issues (in other words, kind of like what happened to Sutter himself in this episode). And I think it’s best for all involved if step away from writing about the show going forward. Some shows are just no longer worth the headache…

Why ‘Sons of Anarchy’s’ Controversial Season Premiere Twist was a Mistake