Who would have thought that a realistic show could be made about a motorcycle club – the ins and outs, drama, enemies, loyalties, betrayals, and the family ties that hold all this together? But Sons of Anarchy: Season Two brings life and authenticity to a TV show about just that – life in a motorcycle club.
Anchored in the fictional town of Charming, California, season two of the FX series Sons of Anarchy builds upon a solid foundation set by season one. In season one, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (aka SAMCRO) is working to keep control of Charming through intimidation and bribery, with a bit of community relationship thrown in for good measure.
Keeping rival gangs at bay is one of SAMCRO’s biggest challenges, and season two highlights the struggles between the Sons of Anarchy and the League of American Nationalists, a white separatist group that is looking for a place to set up shop for their heroin trade.
Violent attacks, murder and plots of murder, a porn studio and other underworld situations, locations and circumstances bring life to the second season of Sons of Anarchy, which is haled by regular viewers as a perfect follow up to season one and a perfect set up for season three.
Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter actually spent time with members of motorcycle clubs in an effort to create a show that was authentic. That effort has paid off, with the results being a TV show that is very reminiscent of motorcycle club culture.
While authentic motorcycle club culture is mimicked, at least to a degree, in Sons of Anarchy, it has been said that one of the influences for the show, which is essentially a show about family relationships and family ties, is Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Sutter says that while that may be true, the show only loosely follows the story of Hamlet, possibly paralleling some of the main characters in the show with characters in Shakespeare’s classic work.
The lineup of actors in Sons of Anarchy: Season Two is enviable. Charlie Hunnam, Katey Segal, Mark Boone, Maggie Siff, and Ron Perlman are among the talented crew of regulars. Other actors with recurring roles include Adam Arkin, Drea de Matteo and Henry Rollins.
The soundtrack is somewhat eclectic, but fitting for the genre and tone of the show, featuring covers of the Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter and Ruby Tuesday, and songs by the bands Monster Magnet and The Glasspack.
Son’s of Anarchy: Season Two isn’t for everyone. But for anyone who loves real-life drama, without trying to sugarcoat situations that could really happen, this is a prime example of great entertainment. Expert portrayal of characters and story lines and plots that weave themselves together to create an engrossing story is what Sons of Anarchy is.
Sons of Anarchy is thought-provoking and raucous series of stories being told about people who live their lives on the edge, removed from the mundane world of white picket fences. And Sons of Anarchy: Season Two upholds the promises given by the debut season.
