FX
Everything The Sopranos wished it could have been is realized in Sons of Anarchy. Whatever interesting elements The Sopranos might have had were never explored; the show was lost in being full of itself and spending way too much time with it's protagonist in his shrink's office. That is not an issue with Sons of Anarchy.
Sons of Anarchy combines a lot of similar elements but instead of wallowing in self-inflicted grandeur, Sons keeps finding ways to keep the story moving by using a wild assemblage of great characters in interesting ways.
First and foremost I credit Kurt Sutter, the creator and writer for this show. I recognized his name early on because he had been instrumental in another show I enjoyed; but more about that show in an upcoming installment. Mr. Sutter enjoyed so much success with that show that he was able to establish his own production company - Sutter Ink - thereby making SOA possible.
The Sons of Anarchy are a motorcycle gang...er.....I mean "club." (They're a little touchy about the word "gang") Or as Club President Clay Morrow once told an ATF agent, "We are automotive mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts." The Sons operate out of the Teller-Morrow Auto Garage in the lovely community of Charming, California. John Teller and Clay Morrow not only opened the garage together, they along with seven others, formed the original club which since has spread worldwide (ala The Hells Angels). They must have been in a place called Redwood when the club was born, because they are often as not referred to as "SAMCRO" - Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original.
Although they do operate a garage, their main business is running guns - receiving guns via the IRA and selling them up and down the west coast in exchange for a big piece of the action. And that is why the ATF are involved - although the agent they have sent - Special Agent June Stahl (played Ally Walker) - brings the word corruption to a whole new level.
John Teller has died but he left behind three things. His son Jackson "Jax" (Charlie Hunnan) who is the Vice President of the club, a memoir - a written chronicle of the club describing where John hoped it was headed and his disillusionment when it started to become just a criminal operation. Jax has found the manuscript and is now confused about the future of the organization. John also left behind his widow who was quickly snatched up by Clay who is now her husband. Gemma Morrow is played brilliantly by Katie Segal (forget that she is Kurt Sutter's wife - she is wonderful in this). Watching her walk around in slutty clothes and handle a handgun effortlessly helps you to easily forget that she was once the wife Peg on "Married With Children".
The show is very much about being torn between two worlds. The love interest of Jax is his old high school girlfriend Tara Knowles (Maggie Siff) who has returned to Charming after becoming a Doctor. She is torn between her professional life and the motorcycle club. Police Chief Wayne Unser (Dayton Callie) has cancer and is torn between being a police officer and being a friend to the club that he secretly wishes he was a member of. The list of colorful and wonderful characters goes on and on.
There have been some unforgettable moments on the show. One was when a former member had been a snitch and was tossed out of the club. It was discovered that he still had his club tattoo on his back. He was lured into the garage, hung up and given the option to have it removed: "Fire or knife?" He chose fire and club sicko Tig Trager (Kim Coates) lit up the blow torch. Another was a moment at the end of season three when I literally jumped out of my chair in disbelief whooping it up. But that's all I can say about that.
Sons of Anarchy is a show for anyone who likes an out of the ordinary story with characters that are totally unpredictable. I personally can't wait to see where the gang...er....club... is headed next.
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