They had me at the first gunshot.
It took roughly two min utes of Tuesday’s “Sons of Anarchy” season premiere for me to become immersed in the world of this well-written, well-acted FX series encompassing an outlaw biker gang called the Sons of Anarchy.
In those two minutes, the camera pans several “Sons” members taking target practice to the (soundtrack) accompaniment of The Who’s “Slip Kid.” For starters, it’s pretty hip to use the unheralded B-side “Slip Kid” (or a reasonable facsimile thereof — the rights to the original were probably too expensive). But, more importantly, it sets the stage for what’s going down in Charming, the northern California hamlet in which “Sons of Anarchy” unfolds.
Charming seems, well, downright charming on the surface, but it’s in its seamy underbelly that you’ll find the Sons of Anarchy, the tattooed, dangerous outlaw Hog riders led by Clay (Ron Perlman), his earthy wife Gemma (Katey Sagal) and Gemma’s son, Jax (Charlie Hunnam). Jax’s real father was an original SOA founder; his death, and pal Clay’s marriage to Gemma, sets up some pretty interesting family dynamics.
Jax had just become a first-time dad at the end of last season and divorced his druggie wife, Wendy (Drea de Matteo, Adriana on “The Sopranos“), whose crystal meth addiction led to their son’s premature birth. Jax is back with high school sweetheart Tara (Maggie Siff), a young doctor who loves Jax — but doesn’t really want to know what he does in his spare time.
Smart move. While Jax and crew run a semi-legitimate auto-repair shop adjacent to their hangout (a la The Bada Bing in “The Sopranos”), their main income derives from running guns up and down the California coast. In Tuesday’s second-season opener, they strike a new business deal with an Irish crime syndicate, but in the “Sons of Anarchy” universe, circumstances change quickly.
Tuesday’s episode also ties up some loose ends — while at the same time spinning a whole new web of intrigue that’s likely to spread in many different directions as the season progresses.
SOA member Opie (Ryan Hurst) is back from prison after a botched attempt on his life — triggered by Clay, who suspected him of snitching. The whacking-gone-awry killed Donna, Opie’s girlfriend, and he’s still mourning her death — and is hungering for revenge not knowing that Clay ordered the hit. Juicy stuff.
And there’s also a new gang in town, a neo-Nazi group called LOAN (League of American Nationalists) led by dapper, silver-haired Ethan Zobelle (Adam Arkin) and his beefy, chrome-domed lackey, AJ Weston (Henry Rollins). When the Sons refuse to play ball with LOAN, it results in a game of brinksmanship that will likely have damning repercussions.
There’s more, but I don’t want to spoil anything. “Sons of Anarchy” fans won’t be disappointed, and series newcomers will, I think, be riveted. The acting is terrific (by all concerned — there’s no weak link), the writing stays true to the spirit of the show and nothing feels forced.
That’s the mark of a winner. I can’t wait until next week’s episode.