As the first basic cable network to get into the original programming game, FX consistently delivered some of television’s most groundbreaking series like “The Shield,” “Rescue Me” and “Nip/Tuck.” So when it came to announcing their latest show – the outlaw biker drama, “Sons of Anarchy” – people pretty much knew what to expect. That it came from the mind of Kurt Sutter (who served as a writer on “The Shield” during its seven-year run) certainly helped, as did the comparisons to HBO’s own flagship drama, “The Sopranos.” But while there are definitely similarities between the two, “Sons of Anarchy” never emerged as the kind of show that Emmy voters fawn over.
It’s certainly not for a lack of trying, however, as the biker drama was nothing short of brilliant in its early seasons thanks to some amazing writing and standout performances from Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal and Ryan Hurst. And yet despite avid support from critics and viewers alike, its ballsy subject matter has seemingly prevented it from breaking into the Emmy elite. Thankfully, that never affected the direction of the show, because while it would be nice to see “Sons of Anarchy” rewarded for making us actually care about a group of ruthless, gunrunning bikers, the audience was the real winner as long as Sutter keeps his hand on the throttle.
Unfortunately, things went haywire in the last several seasons, and one can argue that the ending for “Sons of Anarchy” ranks among the worst of all time. What a shame . . .
Check out all of our “Sons of Anarchy”-related coverage below, including interviews with creator Kurt Sutter and actor Ron Perlman, Blu-ray reviews and much more.
Interviews and Features
Sons of Anarchy: Season Five Preview (September 7, 2012)
Jason Zingale previews the fifth season of the FX motorcycle drama, including what to expect from the first two episodes.
“Sons of Anarchy” cast and crew discuss Season Five at PaleyFest 2012 (May 6, 2012)
Creator Kurt Sutter and the cast of FX’s “Sons of Anarchy” spoke about the upcoming fifth season of the popular biker drama.
Ron Perlman interview (April 13, 2009)
Ron discusses his role as Clay Morrow: “I didn’t have TV on my radar screen. But I read (“Sons of Anarchy”), and when I realized the scope and breadth of what these guys were asking me to do as an actor, it was just an offer that I couldn’t refuse.”
Kurt Sutter interview (November 13, 2009)
Series creator Kurt Sutter gives us some great background on his creative process: “Initially (I was fascinated) with the subculture, and I think I was sort of drawn to characters that live in the grey, kind of challenging those lines between good and evil and what’s acceptable and not acceptable.”
Mitch Pileggi interview (October 1, 2008)
In his Premium Hollywood interview, Mitch discusses his Ernest Darby character: “They haven’t killed me yet. Somebody…actually, everybody…is looking to kill me, I think. I just don’t know who the bullet’s gonna come from.”
Blog
Check out our episode recaps.