Sons Of Anarchy: Season Three Rides In

Posted on Wednesday September 8, 2010, 05:15 by James White in Small Screen

Apologies to anyone seething in the UK, where the second season has only just finished, but the bikes of SAMCRO roared back on to America's airwaves on Tuesday night, which can only mean one thing: Sons of Anarchy has returned.

Kurt Sutter’s blacktop Shakespeare tale of a motorcycle gang and the various shifting allegiances as they smuggle drugs, run weapons and rule their small California town has grown into one of the best dramas to come out of the US. The emotions run high, the violence is brutal but the characterisation is sharp and this is the most charismatic bunch of criminals since The Sopranos left the air. Even if they can’t swear like them…

I came late to the Anarchy party. After sampling the pilot and one or two episodes of the first season, I decided I simply couldn’t connect with these lawless bikers. But sheer pressure from people whose opinions I respect led me back this summer, and I binged on both seasons in a fortnight’s marathon. I’m glad I did, as the show evolved into something great, and has come back strong.

A warning to anyone who has yet to make it though the second season: spoilers lurk from this point on.

The last season saw our anti-heroes seeing off a group of white supremacists who tried to muscle in on their territory, plus matriarch Gemma (Katey Segal) fleeing after being framed for the murder of a Real IRA terrorist. And it all ended with another of the IRA operatives murdering SAMCRO rookie Half-Sack and kidnapping Jax (Charlie Hunnam)’s infant son, Abel.

It’s a lot a of plot to juggle, and while there are one or two cracks in the Sons’ armour (the kidnapping plot tends to dominate other stories, such as the kick-off for the town’s mayoral election), Sutter and his cast and crew handle them with the skill and fluidity that were a hallmark of the solid second season.

A particular standout is Hunnam, who has mastered the American accent he once struggled with and has made Jax a compelling central figure. While Sagal and Ron Perlman were the main draws during the first year, Hunnam’s Jax has become a watchably tragic figure, particularly now with his child missing. Sinking into despair, it’s a great role for anyone to play and Hunnam nails it. Plus, even in the depths of misery, Jax easily proves why no one messes with the Sons – or their sons. And Perlman is right there with him as stepfather figure Clay, quietly using the situation to turn Jax into the brutal soldier he’s always resisted becoming.

Sagal, as usual is excellent, giving Gemma yet another layer as she reconnects with her estranged, aged father, played by Hal Holbrook. While few of her scenes reach the raw power of last year’s rape/revenge plot, it’s a very different gear from the usual Sons style. And she also generates some of the laughs after getting caught trying (unsuccessfully) to hotwire a truck so that she can get to her father’s side.

While the series is heavily testosterone driven, Sagal is not the only female cast member to get solid material. Maggie Siff as Jax’s girlfriend/doctor Tara expresses her frustration with his attempts to push her away. Ally Walker, meanwhile, schemes and plots with subdued evil glee as ATF agent June Stahl, the woman who framed Gemma.

This year, Sutter and co are aiming to branch out a little, expanding the show’s scope from the boundaries of Charming to Belfast, where SAMCRO will head to track down Abel. Fortunately, US network FX were willing to cough up some money to let the show film some scenes in Ireland. It’s also a chance to bring more talent to the table, with Deadwood’s Paula Malcolmson on board for an arc this year.

While the focus is definitely on the central trio, the rest of the ensemble get their little moments here and there. Kim Coates enjoys more layers in 20 seconds of screen time than his entire role in the upcoming Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

This first episode, So, ends with an electrifying attack on the gang as they mourn Half-Sack, an incident that leaves a least one major character dead and a brand new dangling mystery over who is targeting SAMCRO this time. The Sons are back. And they were worth the wait.

*A brief footnote, because someone asks every time: I’m Empire’s Man In LA, so I watched it live on TV. No pirating here.