There's been one show that's been doing some pretty amazing things all season long and has quietly become one of the best programs on television. No, it's not Mad Men, which is the best thing in the world (to everyone expect me, apparently). No, it's not ratings juggernaut NCIS, which is also the best thing in the world (to about 20 million people weekly, anyway). No, as indicated in the headline above, is FX's Sons of Anarchy.
A show about a gun-running motorcycle club in Northern California sounds like a one-trick pony, and for much of its first season, that's what Sons of Anarchy was. Sure, there was violence, beer, and no shortage of impressive hogs, but what we really wanted more of was the internal strife between club VP Jax (Charlie Hunnan) and Prez Clay (Ron Perlman, pictured above, right), a tense relationship made all the more tenuous by the fact that Clay happens to be bangin' Jax's mom.
Thankfully, much of SoA's second season has centered on the Hamlet-ish stepdad vs. stepson tension, and it's become the type of show we always hoped it would. Two well-defined central figureswho are supposedly on the same teamconsistently butt heads to create an atmosphere thick with "when are these two going to beat the living crap out of each other?" anticipation. And even when they do swap knuckle-y makeovers, no one ever lands that finishing blow, resulting in bruises and scabs that remind them (and us) of how much they hate each other. How this is going to turn out is anyone's guess, but we're already preparing for a nailbiting season finale.
Of course, now there's someone that Jax and Clay may more than each other. The addition of villainous white separatist Ethan Zobelle (played perfectly by Adam Arkin) has also been a boon to the show, providing a lecherous catalyst for the impending nuclear explosion between Jax and Clay. Seriously, Zobelle is one of the best TV villains in recent historya real jerk we can all get behind and hate.
While most shows would collapse under the weight of story lines about the porn industry, ethnic gangs, and an accidental murder or two, Sons of Anarchy thrives on such fodder. The show no longer covers such topics simply to add shock value as it did in Season 1 (well okay, maybe the compulsive masturbator is a little over the top); they're completely relevant to the story this season. It's like a weekly helping of a smarter "Grand Theft Auto," and despite what video game naysayers will claim (video games are art, people!), that's a compliment.
Sons of Anarchy is doing everything right this year, but what it's doing best is being consistent. These days, even the best shows on television are lucky to achieve an 80-percent hit-to-miss rate. There have been plenty of episodes of Lost that were just "okay," a Breaking Bad episode here and there that have been "pretty good." Yet every Wednesday morning, when I chat up my fellow SoA fans, we're always discussing another awesome episode. I keep waiting for the lull in Season 2, but it never arrives. Showrunner Kurt Sutter (The Shield) put his foot on the gas at the start of the season, hasn't let up, and we've happily been wiping the splattered bugs off our faces ever since.
There's a special extended episode airing tomorrow night (warning: of the 90-minutes carved out for it on FX, apparently only 55 minutes are show), so now would be a good time to get in on this gem before the home stretch. If history proves accurate, it will be another excellent ride.
Sons of Anarchy airs Tuesday nights at 10pm on FX.
Comments (27)
So I have an idea for a Sons of Anarchy video game. Start as a prospect and do things for the club until you earn a patch. Also your bike gets more bad ass as you level it up as well as yourself. I wonder if they already made it?
The first time I saw Katy Segal in season one I was wondering if MRS. Al Bundy was going to be able to pull this role off. Was I ever surprised by her acting she completely sold her part to me. The show has Grit, and plenty of wit, it's the only thing that turns my Television on a Tuesday night. Last night's episode was the best in two seasons!
You are right this series rocks i love it
Been watching this show from day one. The second season has become much more focused on the rivalery between Clay and Jax. Loads of good acting, Katy Segal is awesome. Truthfully, didn't think a show like this had a chance in hell, but then who knows about network execs nowadays. The show is hitting its stride big time. I'll enjoy it until it gets big enough to draw attention and then some tool will think it's offending someone or something and they'll find a reason to shut it down. They always do, trust me.
I have not had time to check out this TV series, but I will.
Yeah man there's no such thing as a bad episode of Sons of Anarchy. I loved the first season but the trick at the beginning was getting us to watch a new type of show then they upped the story with something more heavy. This season every episode seems to outdo the one previous, it's simply fantastic. It's so refreshing to see such grey characters on TV as protagonists. Also Tim, loved your article... I feel like a dick pointing this out, it seems you missed a few words here and there stopping it from being a perfect piece. I totally understood what you were meaning, though and just filled in the blanks myself. Now people call Joss Whedon a "genius" and a few gems aside, he's not all that. Kurt Sutter on the other hand.. well, genius is a generous term but what other word can you use to describe Sutter? Awesome? Badass? In tune with humanity? He's all of those things. I hope we get a good 7 seasons or more out of SOA, hell, even the Zobelle story is big enough to extend multiple seasons without being dragged out.moreless
ABSOLUTELY GREAT SHOW, My favorite. It has everything, beer, boobs, bikes and brawls.Absolutely awesome show, and Kurt Sutter really knows his stuff, i mean this is even better than the Shield, so WOOOHOOOO, SOA wish you a LONG LONG LIFE.
To all you who mentioned me leaving out Katey Sagal in the article: you're absolutely right, she's fantastic. I've been championing her on this show since season one and hope she gets an Emmy nod. Looking forward to some SAMCRO tonight!
love the SOA
SOA has been stellar all season! Great show! Glad to read the program's finally getting the Kudos it deserves!
For me this is the Best show on the air right now! Every episode is better than is predecessor.
This is one of my favorite shows on right now. Like with The Shield, it's constantly satisfying to watch and they never let a plot line drop. I was really hoping the second season wouldn't let me down, and they actually went and seemed to make the show a hell of a lot better. Always nice to see it getting credit (especially since it has a rating of about 5 or 6 on this site).
I agree the show is great!!
XO XO
:):):):)
Sons is easily the best show on this season. Typically I think its dexter, but this season is really letting me down, but not SOA. Every episode only makes me want more. And thank god someone at TV.com is not all about Mad Men cause I'm sorry that show sucks.
Sons of Anarchy is a great show! Make us more seasons for the show.
SAMCRO
Sons (of) Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original
Love Sons of Anarchy, maybe now someone can explain to me what SamCrow means?
Love The Sons! great show! one of my current favourites! In my opinion it is also very underrated! specially here in the UK anyway!, Season 2 is becoming as great as season 1, My question is, when is it all going to kick off about Gemma's rape? When that happens it is going to intense!
I just heard amazing things about this show, so about a month after the 2nd season started I picked up the 1st season DVD. This is how much I loved the show - I didn't even know it was by Kurt Sutter (writer on one of the best shows in history, The Shield) until he showed up as the SoA member in prison (Otto?). There is NO WAY Opie's wife's death being a killing from members inside the gang is going to stay unstated for long - there's just too many "ohmigod he's going to say it right now!" moments. And they got the PERFECT actor for Jax - he is SO handsome, charismatic (no matter what he's doing, that charismatic smirk makes you want to love him), and I freakin' LOVE his hair - and I'm a hetero male! Season 1 was definitly just laying the groundwork for an AMAZING second season; each week I can't WAIT to see the next episode!moreless
A seriously great show. While season one was great, you're right about the season 2 premiere. That episode was a shocker in so many ways. The show also surprises with the development of the two female characters. I look forward to scenes between Gemma and Tara as much as the step-father/son rivalry scenes because they touch on topics that other shows would run the f*** away from and are absolutely hilarious. I really didn't know much about menopause until Gemma was loudly complaining about the effects. Not to mention the great material Katey Segel has been given to work with this season.
SOA has slowly become me favorite show ever (next to "DAMAGES" of course). FX really has some great shows.
sons of anarchy and its always sunny in Philadelphia are very under unappreciated . both shows are amazing and im impressed with FX. lie to me, south park, heroes, and the office have been so disappointing this season the only thing i really have to look forward to are these two FX shows. and 30 rock + house.
I Agree whole heartedly. I don't really get the hype around Mad Men, but I found Sons of Anarchy this season and it is my second favorite show of this season (a close second to The Big Bang Theory). It has a very Sopranos style set up but with a down to earth grittiness that smacks the viewer. Though it is a shame you didn't mention Katey Sagal, who is often mentioned as a very "Machiavellian schemer" and is the glue that holds the show together and makes it intriguing.
thank you! someone else thinks mad men is crap and loves sons of anarchy!
The Sons of Anarchy has shifted gears from the first season but I really liked it. It was a slow season in comparison to the second but the payoff was really powerful. Not to mention the season finally is source of all the conflict in the current season, namely the accidental murder of Opie’s wife by one of the gang members. Without that tragedy, season two would have no meat to it. This season has proven that this show is one of the best on the air. When watching the show it feels like the Sopranos if it was set in the town of Deadwood… with motorcycles.
i love sons of anarchy!! it is one of my favorite show's of all time,it just keep's geting better and better it's soooooooo good that it make's the sopranos look very,very, ***ed!! yeah i said it lol! oh and by the way, i also think that clay is really jax's father.
I think so too this show has quietly come out and has turned into a show where a lot of it is suprising weekly. 'Kudos to em'