Classic tragedy and biker gangs combine in the stellar first season of Sons of Anarchy. Just like the roaring majesty of a Harley, the show goes anywhere and everywhere it damn well pleases. Although the drama goes a little too Shakespearian at times to the point of predictability, the show’s an intelligent and human take on a subject that is normally either idolized or cartoonized.
The Sons of Anarchy are a western biker gang with its roots in social upheaval. Today, they’re more gangsters than a gang, running guns and fending off rivals who are looking to increase drugs and mayhem on their otherwise quiet, working class territory. With agreements, some might call them bribes, with all corners of the area from law makers to law enforcers, the Sons – or SAMCRO, as they call themselves – have largely worked their way into the role of the better of all the evils. Making themselves public in the community without being shunned, SAMCRO has become an accepted part that does strive to bring a greater good.
Created by former producer and writer of The Shield, Kurt Sutter, Sons of Anarchy opts for a classic structure that centers around the young and fresh-thinking Jax (Charlie Hunnam), son of one of the founders of SAMCRO. Jax is struggling with several major family issues as well as a growing social conscience that’s starting to question what has become of his father’s more peaceful vision. But current SAMCRO honcho and Jax’s step dad, Clay (Ron Pearlman) is all business. And whatever gets in the way of business must be removed, by force if necessary. But, really, who’s calling the shots? It’s neither of the guys. Rather, it’s the matriarchal mother, Gemma (Katey Sagal) who manipulates her way into everyone’s business and shifts ideas to her vision with ease.
Surrounding the First Family are a group of loyal men and women loyal to their men. SAMCRO preaches the idea of family, something they usually live up to until paranoia or extreme danger kick in. Hey they’re human, not biker gods.
From rival gangs encroaching on their territory to a big-time ATF investigation to the complicated premature birth of Jax’s son to an addict mother, there’s a lot going on in the first season’s 13 episodes.At first the story begins as a slow build where someone could likely pickup what’s going on very quickly. But then the season’s overriding stories take over and Sons of Anarchy becomes more like a guy’s version of a soap opera in that it’s addicting, sucks you in and keeps getting more and more intense.
The show’s greatest strength is the dignity and respect in which it treats its characters. They share the same problems guys with office jobs and families do. They’ve just got different jobs. Like The Sopranos wasn’t really about gangsters, Sons of Anarchy isn’t really about bikers – at least until the end of the season. Both shows focus on the human side of their characters and the personal struggles they have. Sure, there’s scenes that paint a different, more violent picture but the essence of Sons of Anarchy is the brotherhood the gang swears by. And when that brotherhood is compromised, that’s where the true drama of the show begins.
Sons of Anarchy: Season One DVD Review
The debut season of Sons of Anarchy rolls onto DVD as a four-disc set. Each episode is shown in widescreen format (1.78:1 aspect ratio) with 5.1 Dolby Surround audio. An additional track in Dolby Surround Spanish is also present. Subtitles are in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin.
A total of three episodes are accompanied by optional commentary tracks featuring Kurt Sutter and assorted members of the show’s cast and crew. “The Making of Sons of Anarchy, Season One” is self explanatory. Cast and crew open up largely about how great they think the show is and the fun they had creating it. It also cleverly branches into a preview of season two. “Ink” looks at the design elements used in the show from the distinct logo, to the jackets, to the tattoos. Additional featurettes are included on the show’s motorcycles, casting and “greatest hits” reel that is just that, a couple minutes of the most violent moments from the season followed by a few minutes of bloopers and other highlights. Finally, there’s 29 deleted or extended scenes.
Sons of Anarchy: Season One Gallery
