Reasons We Loved Watching TV in 20124 of 14
Earlier in "Sons of Anarchy (2008)", there was the idea -- a dream, really -- that SAMCRO's heir apparent Jax would realize his late father's original, peaceful dream for the motorcycle club he co-founded. Jax's father envisioned the Sons less as an outlaw biker gang than a band of brothers living outside of system, relying on each other and no one else. But in this case, the unrealized lofty ideals of the father became twisted and corroded in the son, and while Jax claims to keep dreaming of a better life for his children and Tara (Maggie Siff) the woman he loves, his actions to take the throne have left him chest deep in a swamp of blood and dirty deals.
"Sons of Anarchy" has long been one of the most underappreciated dramas on television, largely due to its unflinching presentations of corruption and violence, and the show's the heroic representation of the outlaw biker lifestyle.
But anyone in their right mind who follows "Sons of Anarchy" would not want to be Jax or Gemma or any of the other characters. They are fascinating to watch, though. In 2012 writers and creator Kurt Sutter solidified the drama's frequent comparisons to Hamlet by bringing the long-brewing central tragedy to the fore: the old king, Clay (Ron Perlman), is deposed; his queen, Gemma (Katey Sagal), has abandoned him but is not quite ready to cede her power as the club matriarch.
Whether Jax has the strategic skills or the wisdom to successfully separate from SAMCRO remains to be seen. As things currently stand, he's more tangled in the club's thorny dealings than ever, and when Tara moved to set the family's purported plan to leave SAMCRO's darkness and take the kids with her to a safe new life, Gemma cruelly thwarted that plan.
Even those who aren't fascinated by "Sons of Anarchy's" literary influences can't help but marvel at this season's incredible parade of guest stars, from Ashley Tisdale's turn as a hooker to a jaw-dropping surprise cameo by Walton Goggins, playing a transgender call-girl with ample and eerily realistic cleavage named Venus Van Dam. At some point, "Sons of Anarchy's" ride will come to an end. But as it stands, we're delighted to hang on through every breakneck twist and turn.
"Sons of Anarchy" has long been one of the most underappreciated dramas on television, largely due to its unflinching presentations of corruption and violence, and the show's the heroic representation of the outlaw biker lifestyle.
But anyone in their right mind who follows "Sons of Anarchy" would not want to be Jax or Gemma or any of the other characters. They are fascinating to watch, though. In 2012 writers and creator Kurt Sutter solidified the drama's frequent comparisons to Hamlet by bringing the long-brewing central tragedy to the fore: the old king, Clay (Ron Perlman), is deposed; his queen, Gemma (Katey Sagal), has abandoned him but is not quite ready to cede her power as the club matriarch.
Whether Jax has the strategic skills or the wisdom to successfully separate from SAMCRO remains to be seen. As things currently stand, he's more tangled in the club's thorny dealings than ever, and when Tara moved to set the family's purported plan to leave SAMCRO's darkness and take the kids with her to a safe new life, Gemma cruelly thwarted that plan.
Even those who aren't fascinated by "Sons of Anarchy's" literary influences can't help but marvel at this season's incredible parade of guest stars, from Ashley Tisdale's turn as a hooker to a jaw-dropping surprise cameo by Walton Goggins, playing a transgender call-girl with ample and eerily realistic cleavage named Venus Van Dam. At some point, "Sons of Anarchy's" ride will come to an end. But as it stands, we're delighted to hang on through every breakneck twist and turn.