Why so serious, Jax?
Here's some inner dialogue I had with myself while watching the season three premiere of Sons of Anarchy.
Me: "Alright! Nice to see the gang again! I remember why I liked this show so much!"
(moments later)
Me: "Okay, this is a bit slower than I remember, but it's still good. Solid character building, I can deal with that."
(a bit later)
Me: "Jax, seriously, stop being such a wuss."
(even laterer)
Me: "Well this didn't have the fireworks I was hoping for from the season premiere. Not like last season's shocking finish to the premiere."
(Five minutes before the end)
Me: "A good episode that sets everything up, but I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't get the violence that we've come to expect fr--OH MY GOD!" [ducks under couch] "What's going on! Is he... he... dead!? Holy crap Jax what are you doing!" [sobbing, tears. screams of "Whyyyyyy" with my arms stretched to the sky]
Yes, Sons of Anarchy delivered again, leaving viewers panting with final moments that came from nowhere. But it was the road there that gives the series the legs--or wheels, I guess--to become named one of TV's best dramas. Is it too soon to start talking about this show in the same sentence as The Sopranos, The Shield, or even The Wire?
Sons definitely falls into the same category as those shows; thick dramas that humanize the shadier sorts of society and appeal more to men. But in terms of quality, we're seeing Sons of Anarchy creep up on those classics fast.
The thing that separates those shows from being just average are the choices the writers make. For example, lesser shows would have had Jax moping for a few episodes, drawing out that feeling for as long as they could just to fill up space. But last night's episode didn't keep Jax boring for too long. Just as we had gotten sick of seeing our anti-hero in another weep session, he gets a stern talking-to from Clay and takes action when the bullets fly. His wallowing transformed to pure rage right before our eyes, and it was a beautiful statement about who this man is.
We all want to believe that Jax is the pure one, especially when standing side-by-side with Clay, but his choice to make that Irish gang member kiss the pavement over and over and over keeps us guessing. Is he like his dad? Or is he really more like Clay than he thinks?
We want to feel like we know who the main characters in our favorite shows are but we don't want to know what they're going to do before they do it (where's the fun in that?). And now we certainly don't know what Jax is going to do next. But golly, we're going to tune in every Tuesday to find out. Now that's fun.
Sons of Anarchy roared out of the game, sputtered, and then found an even better gear in Season Two. If Season Three proves to be as good as last season, it'll make the pain of waiting for Breaking Bad to return that much easier. I'm not quite ready to put Sons of Anarchy alongside The Wire, The Shield, or The Sopranos just yet, but I'm almost ready to have the conversation.
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
I'd put it above The Sopranos and The Shield already. I LOVE Sons but so far i'd say it's only 'on par' with The Wire...which isn't a bad thing. The Wire was excellent. Sons is easily the best show on television today.
The only question is - is Sons of Anarchy the best show on tv today? Oh yeah.
No, not up there (judging by the first season, and that would have to be enough in itself).
simply put ... it IS the best show on TV since the WIRE ... INDEED!!! the only question to ask is "will it reamain that way???"
"'m not quite ready to put Sons of Anarchy alongside The Wire, The Shield, or The Sopranos just yet.."I am!! SAMCRO!!!!
Definitely worthy of an honorable mention but we kinda have to wait for a little while longer for it to become like the other shows mentioned It's only been two completed seasons, and the death of half sack made me angry, but that's a little beside the point
This show is the best! I had the same feeling the whole way through. I was like, "this is okay, but it's just not grabbing me." Boy am I sorry I ever had those thoughts. Sons of Anarchy does it again, and always will. Take that Emmys! Golden Globes! You may snub the greatest show in the world, but you can't deny that it is the best. Sorry, I have to get that out. I really am tired of it being snubbed. But this episode definitely sets the tone for the new season. And I can't wait for Tuesday. The suspense is killing me. Keep it up, Kurt Sutter. You are my icon!
I've only seen the first four episodes of the Shield (loved them, can't wait to watch more), but I don't think SOA is anywhere close to The Wire or The Sopranos. As I mentioned in the last write-up, there are also several dramas on television right now that I like more. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this episode. The only thing I didn't like was how they tried to make relationship-drama-for-the-sake-of-relationship-drama between Jax and Tara, followed by Tara's unnecessary outburst, only for things between them to go back to normal by the end of the episode. I have to ask, you say this is the best "Macho-drama" on TV, but are there really any other shows on right now that fit that label? I thought about Dexter and Breaking Bad, but those are about individuals, while the shows you mentioned are about groups of people. Or were you just comparing SOA to the all time greats?moreless
About awards when you see shows like 24 being nominated and winning while The Wire never even got nominated we can agree that they're bs ;)Still I agree that SoA is rare gem in todays TV schedule.
The end made the episode amazing. Im not ready to put it alongside the sopranos yet, story wise its great, but Im not as much in love with the characters as I wa sin Sopranos.
omg agree. a bit slow starting out. then 150km/h into a brick wall for the last 5 min. i had to hold back the chocking feeling. my father-inlaw just flew in and saw the show with me. can't wait to watch it again when my wife gets home. was worried the baby was tossed overboard. suxs about Hal though
Crazy ending, I jumped out of my seat when I saw Hale take that hit. That is what makes the show great, violence and drama.
I would be prepared to put in in the same league as "The Wire" etc. Most of the writers/directors from "Shield" work on this show. What makes it better than "The Sopranos" -- David Chase would never have had the guts to kill off an innocent child like Sutter did to "Opie's" porn star girlfriend's son last night. Even the innocent get it on this show. One great note that was missed was Paula Malcomsen popping up with the Irish accent as "Cameron"'s sister. She should add an interesting facet to the Irish. This should be a big year for Titus Welliver's Jimmy O as well. It should be a downright "Deadwood" year in Charming. This show is better than "Mad Men" and it is ridiculous that that whiter than white fluff piece won "Best Drama" whereas "Sons" wasn't even nominated.moreless
I am absolutley ready to put SOA up along side any of the three mentioned as I did not care for 2 of the mentioned. I did like The Sopranos but not any more than I do SOA. This is an excellent series and I hope it does really well in the ratings so we can keep it around for a good long while. There isnt much of anything on tv any more that isnt reality based and I just dont care for that kind of crap. I am looking forward to trying the new HBO series Boardwalk Empire, although I am still upset with HBO over the cancellation of Deadwood. Another excellent series that bit the dust. Keep up the great work on SOA I am looking forward to this season.moreless
holy. that was awesome. the end, man it was vicious. Sucks about Hale, but JESUS was Jax an animal.
They sure as hell know what buttons to push^^I still believe The Wire to be by far the greatest, most consistent show I've seen. It never disappointed me and never made compromises.SoA isn't quite there (and may never be, lacking the profound analysis of our society) but it still remains an amazing show.
Loved the ending! Guess Jax chose the later of Clays ways. Killing to find him
Agreed. I was almost yelling (of joy and suprise) when watching this episode's ending. The episode was a bit slow. But then it was just like the creators though 'haha got you, know we do a f-ing drive-by with dead children, cop and an flipped out Jax.'
legendary cliffhangers from soa
awesome show