Sons of Anarchy (season 1)

Sons of Anarchy (season 1)
Season 1 DVD cover
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	13
Release
Original network	FX
Original release	September 3 – November 26, 2008

The first season of the American television drama series Sons of Anarchy created by Kurt Sutter, about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California's Central Valley. The show centers on protagonist Jackson "Jax" Teller (Charlie Hunnam), the then–vice president of the club, who begins questioning the club and himself.

Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 3, 2008, on cable network FX.

Plot

The series begins with the torching of a SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original-the club's full name) gun assembly warehouse and the theft of guns by a rival club, the Mayans. The police attend the scene where Joaquin County Sheriff Vic Trammel, who is on SAMCRO's payroll, finds two dead illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Jax's heroin-addicted ex-wife Wendy, who is pregnant with his child, collapses. An emergency C-section is performed and a baby boy is delivered ten weeks prematurely. Wendy has decided that the boy shall be named Abel.

Jax goes to a storage unit to collect some old baby clothes and comes across a box of his father's stuff, in which he finds a "manifesto" outlining what the now-deceased founding member (John Thomas Teller, "JT") of SAMCRO hoped the club would become. This document sends Jax into a dilemma as he struggles with the direction the club is taking. Gemma, Jax's mother, club president Clay Morrow's wife, former wife of JT, and unofficial club matriarch, visits Wendy in the hospital and tells her she will kill Wendy if the drug addicted mother attempts to gain custody of Abel. She says that because Wendy took drugs during pregnancy, Gemma will see to it that the baby never calls Wendy "Mommy." A broken-hearted Wendy overdoses on the methamphetamine supplied by Gemma. Charming's Deputy Chief Hale finds the immigrants' bodies at the burnt-out warehouse, but Tig and Bobby remove them before he can forensically examine them. Tara, Jax's high school flame, recently returned to Charming after several years away earning her M.D. and completing her residency, now works at the local hospital, where she played a significant role in Jax's premature son's survival and eventual recovery. Tara receives a threatening phone call from a former boyfriend, ATF agent Josh Kohn, who comes to Charming stalking Tara, pretending to investigate the Sons, but apparently on vacation status.

To solve a gun trafficking problem under the ATF's watchful eye, the Sons head out to Indian Hills, Nevada, to patch over the Devil's Tribe Motorcycle Club. While there, Clay sleeps with a girl named Cherry, who takes a liking to Half Sack. Kohn follows the Sons and witnesses their shootout with the Mayans. Kohn provides Tara pictures of Jax in compromising situations to try to split them. The Sons soon become aware of Kohn's presence in Charming. Clay is arrested on charges of aiding and abetting a triple homicide after guns sold by the Sons are used in a shootout. Cherry arrives in Charming, and Gemma realizes Clay has slept with her. Shortly afterward, Gemma assaults Cherry with a skateboard and is subsequently arrested.

Tara reveals to Jax that Kohn has been stalking her since she broke up with him, and she has a restraining order against Kohn. Jax throws Kohn through a plate glass window before beating him and telling him to stay away from Tara. Kohn is arrested for breaking his restraining order, which ends Kohn's career as a federal agent. Kohn returns to Tara's house and attempts to rape her, but Tara is able to grab his gun and shoot him in the stomach. Jax comes to her aid and advises Tara to let the police handle the situation. However, when Kohn calls Tara a "biker slut", Jax shoots him in the head. Jax takes Kohn's body to the hills and later returns to burn it. He also throws his father's memoir into the fire, but takes it back out within seconds.

Opie, Jax's closest friend since childhood and fellow MC club member, botches a planned assassination that was a favor for the IRA, and Bobby steps in to complete the task. However, their crime is witnessed by the victim's 17-year-old black mistress. ATF Agent June Stahl tries to crack the club's unity by interrogating the women associated with the club: Tara, Luann, Donna, and Cherry. Stahl arrests Cherry on outstanding warrants, but Charming Police Chief Wayne Unser aids Cherry, who escapes Charming that night. When Big Otto learns that Stahl is trying to use the RICO Act to bring the club down for racketeering, he violently assaults Stahl in prison. The young girl who witnessed Bobby commit murder provides the ATF with sketches of Bobby and Opie, and they are subsequently arrested. Stahl sets up Opie to look like a rat, even though she knows it endangers his life, and Tig and Clay fall for the ploy. They believe Opie has turned informant when they find wire taps in Opie's phone and truck. Clay orders Tig to kill Opie without telling anyone else in the club; however, Tig mistakenly kills Opie's wife Donna while she is driving Opie's truck.

Clay set up the shooting to look like the One-Niners shot Donna, protecting members of the club. However, feeling guilty, Deputy Hale tells Jax that Stahl set up Opie. Jax subsequently realizes that Clay organized the shooting.

Tig, Happy, and Chibs find the witness to prevent her from testifying. Tig is about to kill her, but Jax has followed them and confronts Tig, putting a gun to his head. Instead of killing her, Jax threatens her and gives her enough money to leave California. Jax is clearly unhappy remaining under Clay's rule, as he sees Clay as immoral, and leading the club away from its roots.

Cast and characters

Sons of Anarchy is the story of the Teller-Morrow family of Charming, California, as well as the other members of Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (SAMCRO), their families, various Charming townspeople, allied and rival gangs, associates, and law agencies that undermine or support SAMCRO's legal and illegal enterprises.

Main cast

• Charlie Hunnam as Jackson "Jax" Teller (13 episodes)
• Katey Sagal as Gemma Teller Morrow (13 episodes)
• Mark Boone Junior as Robert "Bobby Elvis" Munson (13 episodes)
• Kim Coates as Alex "Tig" Trager (12 episodes)
• Tommy Flanagan as Filip "Chibs" Telford (11 episodes)
• Johnny Lewis as Kip "Half Sack" Epps (10 episodes)
• Maggie Siff as Tara Knowles (13 episodes)
• Ron Perlman as Clarence "Clay" Morrow (13 episodes)

Special guest cast

• Drea de Matteo as Wendy Case (6 episodes)
• Ally Walker as Agent June Stahl (6 episodes)
• Tom Everett Scott as Rosen (2 episodes)
• Brian Van Holt as Kyle Hobart ("Giving Back")

Recurring cast

• Dayton Callie as Wayne Unser (12 episodes)
• Theo Rossi as Juan-Carlos "Juice" Ortiz (11 episodes)
• Ryan Hurst as Harry "Opie" Winston (10 episodes)
• Taylor Sheridan as David Hale (10 episodes)
• William Lucking as Piermont "Piney" Winston (9 episodes)
• Dendrie Taylor as Luann Delaney (8 episodes)
• Sprague Grayden as Donna Winston (7 episodes)
• Jay Karnes as Agent Joshua Kohn (7 episodes)
• Mitch Pileggi as Ernest Darby (5 episodes)
• Emilio Rivera as Marcus Alvarez (5 episodes)
• Tory Kittles as Laroy Wayne (4 episodes)
• Taryn Manning as Cherry/Rita (4 episodes)
• Keir O'Donnell as Lowell Harland, Jr. (4 episodes)
• Glenn Plummer as Sheriff Vic Trammel (4 episodes)
• Julie Ariola as Mary Winston (3 episodes)
• Jamie McShane as Cameron Hayes (3 episodes)

Guest stars

• David LaBrava as Happy Lowman ("Hell Followed" + 4 as co-star)
• Patrick St. Esprit as Elliott Oswald (2 episodes)
• Kurt Sutter as "Big" Otto Delaney (2 uncredited)
• Olivia Burnette as Homeless Woman (2 episodes)
• Michael Shamus Wiles as Jury White ("Patch Over")
• Kenneth Choi as Henry Lin ("Giving Back")
• Michael Marisi Ornstein as Chuck Marstein ("Giving Back")
• Marcos de la Cruz as Estevez ("The Sleep of Babies" + 1 uncredited)

Production

Although Sons of Anarchy is set in Northern California's Central Valley, it is filmed primarily at Occidental Studios Stage 5A in North Hollywood. Main sets located there include the clubhouse, St. Thomas Hospital, and Jax's house. The production rooms at the studio used by the writing staff also double as the Charming police station. External scenes are often filmed nearby in Sun Valley and Tujunga.^[1] Interior and exterior scenes set in Northern Ireland during season 3 were also filmed at Occidental Studios and surrounding areas. A second unit shot footage in Northern Ireland used in the third season.^[2]

Originally, Scott Glenn was cast in the role of Clay Morrow and an entire pilot episode was filmed with him. However, series creator Kurt Sutter decided to go in a different direction with the character and re-cast Ron Perlman in the role, and Clay's scenes were re-shot.^[3] Additionally, Emilio Rivera was originally cast as a Sons of Anarchy club member named "Hawk," who eventually evolved into the character of Tig Trager.^[4] Also, the One-Niners street gang who buy weapons from SAMCRO first appeared in The Shield, which Sutter produced.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"Pilot"	Allen Coulter & Michael Dinner	Kurt Sutter	September 3, 2008	1WAB79	2.53[5]
When a rival club cleans out and then destroys their illegal arms warehouse, SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original) executes their own sense of justice in retrieving their guns. Meanwhile, family issues take center stage with a medical emergency involving Jax Teller's newborn son.
2	2	"Seeds"	Charles Haid	Kurt Sutter	September 10, 2008	1WAB01	2.20[5]
As the club deals with the aftermath of their illegal arms warehouse attack, the Deputy Chief of Police poses a new threat to SAMCRO's reign over Charming. Jax continues to worry about the fate of his newborn son and begins to question the club's rough way of doing business. Opie's financial struggles leave him with a difficult choice.
3	3	"Fun Town"	Stephen Kay	Kurt Sutter	September 17, 2008	1WAB02	2.10[5]
When the young daughter of a prominent Charming family is assaulted during a visiting carnival, SAMCRO races the authorities to capture the assailant. Meanwhile, a new shipment of guns arrives from their IRA connection with an additional price.
4	4	"Patch Over"	Paris Barclay	James D. Parriott	September 24, 2008	1WAB03	2.25[6]
The club travels to Nevada to store arms with a brother club, The Devil's Tribe. When the Mayans pose a threat, Clay decides to "patch over" the Tribe, making them an official SOA charter. An ATF agent begins investigating SAMCRO.
5	5	"Giving Back"	Tim Hunter	Jack LoGiudice	October 1, 2008	1WAB04	2.19[5]
Gemma hosts a town fundraiser, which brings the ex-club member responsible for Opie's arrest back to town and into direct conflict with Jax and Opie. Clay deals with protecting a perverse parolee who can lead to a big payoff. ATF agent Kohn continues to investigate SOA.
6	6	"AK-51"	Seith Mann	Nichole Beattie	October 8, 2008	1WAB05	2.09[5]
A small favor for Piney's old war buddy turns into a big problem for SAMCRO. With Clay detained, Jax must step up to handle the situation.
7	7	"Old Bones"	Gwyneth Horder-Payton	Dave Erickson	October 15, 2008	1WAB06	1.87[5]
When old bones are discovered on the outskirts of Charming, Clay is forced to deal with secrets he buried long ago. Meanwhile, the club sets its sights on prize money, backing Half-Sack in a bare-knuckle brawl. ATF Agent Kohn's investigation turns personal when his true intentions are revealed.
8	8	"The Pull"	Guy Ferland	Kurt Sutter & Jack LoGiudice	October 22, 2008	1WAB07	2.14[5]
With the IRA gun payment looming, SAMCRO scrambles to come up with the cash. The Mayans and Nords take a drastic step in strengthening their alliance. And Jax finds himself in a dangerous position with Tara.
9	9	"Hell Followed"	Billy Gierhart	Brett Conrad	October 29, 2008	1WAB08	2.06[5]
SAMCRO plans retaliation on a rival MC while dealing with a wounded ally in the clubhouse. Meanwhile, Jax, Bobby, and Opie aim to put an end to the gun debt for good.
10	10	"Better Half"	Mario Van Peebles	Pat Charles	November 5, 2008	1WAB09	2.14[5]
With ATF Agent Stahl pressing the women of SAMCRO, Jax sees Chief Unser as the key to the club's salvation. Tara still reels from the Kohn situation. And Cherry reveals some interesting information about her past to Gemma.
11	11	"Capybara"	Stephen Kay	Kurt Sutter & Dave Erickson	November 12, 2008	1WAB10	2.22[5]
When one SOA member is arrested for murder and another goes missing, Jax must choose between friendship and the club. Meanwhile, Abel grows stronger and is soon to be released from the NICU, but he is not the only one coming home.
12	12	"The Sleep of Babies"	Terrence O'Hara	Kurt Sutter	November 19, 2008	1WAB11	2.46[5]
In need of cash to fund Bobby's defense, Clay's solution leaves SAMCRO in a vulnerable position. What is supposed to be a happy homecoming for Abel ends in more turmoil for the club.
13	13	"The Revelator"	Kurt Sutter	Kurt Sutter	November 26, 2008	1WAB12	2.48[5]
In the wake of a great tragedy, the club must reevaluate their bonds of brotherhood.

Reception

The first season received generally positive reviews from industry critics. Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe said the first season had "real potential".^[7] The New York Times’ Gina Bellafante spoke highly of the cast's acting ability, particularly Sagal’s portrayal of Gemma. Brian Lowry of Variety gave a mixed review, admiring Sutter’s creation of the club and the town of Charming but observing the early episodes lacked direction.^[8]

Home media release

The first season was released on DVD on August 18, 2009.

References

1. "Sons of Anarchy Filming Locations". Internet Movie Database.
2. "First pictures Sons of Anarchy". Chicago Tribune. June 8, 2010.
3. Hunnam, Glenn and Sagal in FX's Anarchy
4. Emilio Rivera Talks SONS OF ANARCHY, a Guest Spot on THE MENTALIST, and Feature Projects
5. Berman, Marc (January 30, 2010). "Sons of Anarchy Ratings". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
6. "FX Orders A 3rd Season Of Sons Of Anarchy". Seat42f. December 3, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
7. "Biker Gang Saga Anarchy, has Sopranos Appeal". Boston Globe.
8. Lowry, Brian (August 29, 2008). "Sons of Anarchy". Variety.

External links

• Sons of Anarchy at FXNetworks.com
• Sons of Anarchy at the Internet Movie Database
• Sons of Anarchy at TV.com