Sons of Anarchy 2008

Review Score 8,5/10

SEASON 1

The series is essentially Hamlet on motorcycles: betrayal, loyalty, family, and power struggles within an outlaw biker gang. It balances Shakespearean tragedy with modern grit. The plotlines are often gripping, though sometimes it leans into melodrama or stretches subplots longer than needed.

In Season 1 of Sons of Anarchy, we are introduced to Jax Teller, vice president of the SAMCRO motorcycle club in Charming, California, who begins questioning the violent direction of the club after discovering writings from his late father, John Teller, that describe a more idealistic vision for the brotherhood. As Jax wrestles with his loyalty to the club led by his stepfather, Clay Morrow, and manipulated by his mother, Gemma, SAMCRO faces escalating conflicts with rival gangs like the Mayans, while also coming under pressure from ruthless ATF Agent June Stahl. The return of Jax’s old flame, Tara Knowles, forces him to reflect on the life he wants for himself and his newborn son, caught between family and the outlaw world. Meanwhile, Jax’s best friend Opie struggles to balance his desire to rejoin the club with his family’s wishes for a peaceful life. The season builds to a tragic climax when Clay, convinced Opie is a government informant, orders a hit meant for him, but it mistakenly kills Opie’s wife Donna instead—an act that shakes Jax’s trust in the club and sets the stage for growing conflict within SAMCRO.

Sons of Anarchy (SAMCRO) delivers a strong and gritty introduction to the outlaw biker world, blending crime drama with Shakespearean themes of loyalty, betrayal, and family. It succeeds in building a rich atmosphere, with Charming feeling like a character of its own, and establishes Jax Teller’s inner conflict as the emotional core of the story. The writing balances tense action with personal struggles, while standout performances—especially from Katey Sagal, Charlie Hunnam, and Ron Perlman—anchor the drama. Though the pacing can occasionally feel uneven and some subplots are stretched, the shocking and tragic finale gives the season a powerful impact, setting up deeper conflicts for the series ahead. Overall, Season 1 is a compelling and emotional start, laying a solid foundation for the darker, more ambitious arcs to come.