lavaside-60237 Review of Sons of Anarchy

Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)

If only on HBO...

[9/10 · 11 February 2024]

Probably the only show to really compete with Sopranos for best of the genre.

Some things it did better.

Some things it did worse.

The things it did better:

• Kept the story focused around the 'gangsterness' that people tuned in for; even when incorporating family drama. Sopranos not only had more family drama, but 90% of the family drama didn't have anything to do with the mafia premise; downright boring at times.

• In shows such as these, you have to have your per episode arcs, as well as your season long arcs. SOA had better in depth and entertaining arcs; both episode and season wise.

• Better final episode.

The things it did worse:

• While an achievement to be as entertaining as it was, when it was a 'PG-13 biker show' - one still has to wonder how awesome and more authentic it would have been, with cursing and nudity (being it's about bikers). All of the other qualities, plus an R rating - would have put this show over the top of the Sopranos. We never have to wonder about that with Sopranos, because it was on HBO.

• While Sopranos had some annoying characters, it didn't have any glowingly bad miscasting. SOA had a horrible miscast in one of its main roles - Maggie Siff as Tara Knowles. Seriously, it's like watching wood.

• Sopranos didn't have corny antagonists. SOA had some so corny you'd think they had a time machine to the 80s; most notably 'The League'.

• No one on the Sopranos was married to the creator, with their horrible music being played constantly from season 2 on.

Seasons ranked:

1. Season 1

2. Season 4

3. Season 3

4. Season 2.

5. Season 5

6. Season 7 -

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10. Season 6. (The 2nd to last season flounders, much like the Sopranos. School shootings. Trannies. Like they were drawing subjects out of a hat. The last few episodes are decent, but can't redeem the season.)