Crime TV: Sons of Anarchy

May 17, 2011

Crime TV: Sons of Anarchy

There is one night a week my husband and I agree on what to what to watch on TV. One night when he gives up his doco’s on building muscle cars, and I step away from the SciFi and crime channels. Sunday night. Sons of Anarchy night.

The show focuses on the Sons of Anarchy (also called SAMCRO or Sam Crow) motorcycle club. So what’s that got to do with crime? Well, a lot actually. SAMCRO are outlaw bikers, they run guns and protection scams and make deals with crooked cops. They murder – and are murdered – for money, revenge and, quite often, by accident. This is crime and drama from the other side of the fence.

The Sons of Anarchy aren’t all bad. In fact, the scriptwriters have done an amazing job of luring the viewer into having sympathy for what are, essentially, criminals. But they’re criminals with a conscience. SAMCRO protect the small community of Charming where they’re based from meth traffickers and other drug dealers. This puts them at odds with other local bikers and, in series two, white supremacists, the Nords. They’re tightly entwined with the local police chief, Wayne Unser who has a past with Gemma – the matriarch and one of a handful of central characters in Sons of Anarchy.

Gemma is played superbly by Katey Sagal – yes, she of Peg Bundy fame. Only two things matter in Gemma’s life, and that’s her family and her club. Her first husband, John Teller, was one of the founding members of the Sons. After his death, she married his deputy, Clay Morrow played by Ron Pearlman (Hellboy himself). But it’s Gemma and John’s son who’s the star of this drama. Jaxon, known as Jax is Vice President of SAMCRO. Series one kicks off with the birth of Jax’s son, Abel, to his ex – a meth addict. With full custody of Abel, he soon hooks up with another ex-love; the brilliant but flawed Dr Tara Knowles.

The family drama surrounding the Morrows and the Tellers is the central theme of Sons of Anarchy. Based loosely on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character of Clay is based on King Claudius, Gemma on Gertrude, Tara on Ophelia and Jax stands for Prince Hamlet himself. Jax has a journal that once belonged to his father, and is constantly questioning the SOA culture, especially after the birth of his son. He ‘communicates’ with his Dad (via voiceover reading of the journal) just as Hamlet communicates with the ghost of his father. There are many references throughout the show to the Shakespearian element – Kurt Sutter, the creator of the show admits the Hamlet connection, but says it’s more of a nod to the Bard rather than a direct version.

Sons of Anarchy is violent and not for the squirmish. The political aspect is intense between a crooked ATF agent, local cops and other outlaw gangs, as well as the IRA and white supremacists. It’s been proven that no character is safe, anything can, and usually does happen. Throughout it all, the moral decisions of the club and its members remain strong, and though they may be criminals, these are definitely good guys.

Strong female characters play an enormous role in this series. Maybe this has something to do with Sutter and Sagal being married in real life. Both Gemma and Tara prove that a woman can be smart, beautiful and have a career as well as a family. They’re not above getting their hands bloody – but, of course – it’s always for the right reasons.

Sons of Anarchy is currently in production for season 4. In Australia, series 3 is airing now on Showcase on Sunday evenings at 8.30pm.