Does Sons of Anarchy rebound after Season 3? (No spoilers, please.)
January 11, 2016 11:19 AM Subscribe
I liked the first two seasons of Sons of Anarchy, but I think Season 3 is aggressively stupid and I'm begrudgingly finishing it today. Should I keep going or stop here?
I like the show's characters and actors, and the first two seasons' storylines made sense within the show's universe. The third season's been illogical and had several characters acting out of character.
I like the show's characters and actors, and the first two seasons' storylines made sense within the show's universe. The third season's been illogical and had several characters acting out of character.
No.
posted by erst at 11:24 AM on January 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by erst at 11:24 AM on January 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
I liked it until the last season.
posted by something something at 11:30 AM on January 11, 2016
posted by something something at 11:30 AM on January 11, 2016
I watched until the end of Season 4 - where I felt it was a really good spot to stop watching. I was sufficiently satisfied with ending there and haven't looked back.
posted by Sassyfras at 11:32 AM on January 11, 2016
posted by Sassyfras at 11:32 AM on January 11, 2016
Best answer: god no, get out now and save yourself.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2016 [15 favorites]
I thought plot line and character development was just replaced by more violence.
posted by PJMoore at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by PJMoore at 11:36 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
They basically never stop rushing from one place to the next place because something IMPORTANT has just happened or is about to happen. That, plus wistful, aching musical montages.
You can quit now.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:44 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
You can quit now.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:44 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would say it gets more fun in a Grand Guignol kind of way. It stops being a show about "rugged individuals outside the law but with hearts of gold," and more about "bad guys double-crossing the worse guys."
It was always gruesome and grotesque, and that turned up several notches as it went along, but dammit, I watched it all the way through because it always had good-to-great moments. It entertained.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:54 AM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
It was always gruesome and grotesque, and that turned up several notches as it went along, but dammit, I watched it all the way through because it always had good-to-great moments. It entertained.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:54 AM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: No.
Go ahead and watch The Shield from beginning to end, if you must expose yourself to that much violence.
Or Deadwood, if you have not seen that yet. Much much better!!
Put down the Sons of Anarchy. just put it down and walk away. You've already seen what was worthwhile, it only gets so much worse. Oof.
posted by jbenben at 11:59 AM on January 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
Go ahead and watch The Shield from beginning to end, if you must expose yourself to that much violence.
Or Deadwood, if you have not seen that yet. Much much better!!
Put down the Sons of Anarchy. just put it down and walk away. You've already seen what was worthwhile, it only gets so much worse. Oof.
posted by jbenben at 11:59 AM on January 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
I watched it all the way through, usually binge watching a season than taking a break for a while...
I've seen worse, I'm actually watching now for the 2nd time through....
That said.. if you decide not to watch it all, find an episode guide, skim through until the last couple of episodes and then watch the last two.... At least it will bring some closure to it for you.
posted by HuronBob at 12:11 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've seen worse, I'm actually watching now for the 2nd time through....
That said.. if you decide not to watch it all, find an episode guide, skim through until the last couple of episodes and then watch the last two.... At least it will bring some closure to it for you.
posted by HuronBob at 12:11 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I liked the first two seasons of Sons of Anarchy, but I think Season 3 is aggressively stupid and I'm begrudgingly finishing it today. Should I keep going or stop here?
I recapped the show, seasons 3-6, for Television Without Pity, and for season 7, I hosted a flashcast podcast for each episode. I have spent a lot of time watching and re-watching this show, and thinking about it.
Here's what I recommend: If you're to the point where you're begrudgingly finishing it, then cut your losses and find a new show.
I personally think season four is outstanding because it sets up the series endgame. A lot of characters make decisions that spin out over three subsequent seasons, and you can see the tragedy looming on the horizon. Buuuuuut, season five is a hot disaster and seasons six and seven should have been compressed into one season. The latter years of the show suffer from "Nobody says no to the showrunner" disease. They're bloated and spready and fan-service-y.
I applaud you for having the sense to avoid Completists' Disease. Well done on respecting your time.
posted by sobell at 12:14 PM on January 11, 2016 [5 favorites]
I recapped the show, seasons 3-6, for Television Without Pity, and for season 7, I hosted a flashcast podcast for each episode. I have spent a lot of time watching and re-watching this show, and thinking about it.
Here's what I recommend: If you're to the point where you're begrudgingly finishing it, then cut your losses and find a new show.
I personally think season four is outstanding because it sets up the series endgame. A lot of characters make decisions that spin out over three subsequent seasons, and you can see the tragedy looming on the horizon. Buuuuuut, season five is a hot disaster and seasons six and seven should have been compressed into one season. The latter years of the show suffer from "Nobody says no to the showrunner" disease. They're bloated and spready and fan-service-y.
I applaud you for having the sense to avoid Completists' Disease. Well done on respecting your time.
posted by sobell at 12:14 PM on January 11, 2016 [5 favorites]
Stop now. You've seen the best ones already.
posted by gryphonlover at 12:30 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by gryphonlover at 12:30 PM on January 11, 2016
By the beginning of the last season, I hated everyone on the show. Every one. I wanted them all to die because it was such a horrible batch of humans.
Get out now.
posted by teleri025 at 1:21 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Get out now.
posted by teleri025 at 1:21 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Nope, bail. First two seasons were the best, then Ireland was a waste of time and talent. Season 4's resolutions were the beginning of Sutter pulling deus-ex-machinas to make the plot work, whereas previously he just turned characters into idiots for 30 minutes to make plotlines work.
I bailed. But I kept on reading Sepinwall's reviews. So I suggest just reading these two pieces, which are full of spoilers, instead of watching the show: here's a series-to-date review, detailing his problems with the series (with spoilers for the final season; highlight quote is "the highly complex characters Sutter was so rightly proud of became puppets of stories that didn't make sense, stuck in a show in love with its own excess.") and here's his finale review.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 1:25 PM on January 11, 2016
I bailed. But I kept on reading Sepinwall's reviews. So I suggest just reading these two pieces, which are full of spoilers, instead of watching the show: here's a series-to-date review, detailing his problems with the series (with spoilers for the final season; highlight quote is "the highly complex characters Sutter was so rightly proud of became puppets of stories that didn't make sense, stuck in a show in love with its own excess.") and here's his finale review.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 1:25 PM on January 11, 2016
Response by poster: OK, so some pretty convincing arguments. I'm pulling the plug. Thanks!
I started watching Sons of Anarchy because (1) I'd seen The Shield and liked it (but once was enough) and (2) I love Deadwood, had just watched it for the third time, and knew a lot of Deadwood actors were on Sons of Anarchy. ("Hey! It's Calamity Jane! But she's feminine and pretty!")
I read the Sepinwall and AV Club reviews after I watch the episodes and picked up on some red flags there.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:59 PM on January 11, 2016
Go ahead and watch The Shield from beginning to end, if you must expose yourself to that much violence. Or Deadwood, if you have not seen that yet. Much much better!!
I started watching Sons of Anarchy because (1) I'd seen The Shield and liked it (but once was enough) and (2) I love Deadwood, had just watched it for the third time, and knew a lot of Deadwood actors were on Sons of Anarchy. ("Hey! It's Calamity Jane! But she's feminine and pretty!")
I read the Sepinwall and AV Club reviews after I watch the episodes and picked up on some red flags there.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:59 PM on January 11, 2016
(watch all 4 seasons of spartacus instead)
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
The only saving grace for the later seasons episodes was the shows wilingness to go to some unexpected places, but basically you saw the two best seasons.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:14 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:14 PM on January 11, 2016
OP, have you tried Vikings?
I like to joke that it fits in the "beardy tattooed dudes put the hurt on things" genre, but one of the things it has in common with Deadwood is how it explores the way that people living on a frontier balance between survivalist savagery and the dream of a more civilized society. You might find it a fun watch. It's available on Hulu, but you do need a Plus subscription. It's also available via Amazon Prime.
posted by sobell at 2:38 PM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
I like to joke that it fits in the "beardy tattooed dudes put the hurt on things" genre, but one of the things it has in common with Deadwood is how it explores the way that people living on a frontier balance between survivalist savagery and the dream of a more civilized society. You might find it a fun watch. It's available on Hulu, but you do need a Plus subscription. It's also available via Amazon Prime.
posted by sobell at 2:38 PM on January 11, 2016 [4 favorites]
I watched the first two seasons with my wife, found myself napping through the Ireland thing, and actively left the room when landmines and RPGs became a srs bzns feature of the show. So I agree with the consensus here that you're leaving at a good time.
There's so much wonderful storytelling out there that I have no problem these days dropping an unsatisfying work. Matrix sequels, Star Wars prequels, and endless Doc Martin seasons have taught me to get out while the gettin's good.
posted by infinitewindow at 4:37 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's so much wonderful storytelling out there that I have no problem these days dropping an unsatisfying work. Matrix sequels, Star Wars prequels, and endless Doc Martin seasons have taught me to get out while the gettin's good.
posted by infinitewindow at 4:37 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I love Vikings and watched it on Amazon Prime.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:50 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by kirkaracha at 4:50 PM on January 11, 2016
If someone would edit it down to 5 seasons, I'ld watch it again.
posted by ridgerunner at 5:39 PM on January 11, 2016
posted by ridgerunner at 5:39 PM on January 11, 2016
I thought Sons of Anarchy got pretty stupid early (even in season 2, the white supremacists plan makes absolutely no sense) but for some reason I stuck with it until the end.
Of all of it, really the only thing I'd say you'd be missing by getting out now is that the ending of season 6 was amazing.
posted by cali59 at 5:54 PM on January 11, 2016
Of all of it, really the only thing I'd say you'd be missing by getting out now is that the ending of season 6 was amazing.
posted by cali59 at 5:54 PM on January 11, 2016
I love Vikings and watched it on Amazon Prime.
I liked Vikings right up until my wife said "Hey, this is just like Sons of Anarchy!"
posted by srboisvert at 6:15 PM on January 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
I liked Vikings right up until my wife said "Hey, this is just like Sons of Anarchy!"
posted by srboisvert at 6:15 PM on January 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: So I ended up dropping Sons of Anarchy, skipping the Season 3 finale, and watched Bosch instead. I liked it quite a bit, and it was refreshing to see Titus Welliver not having to struggle with an Irish accent. Plus I went from Deadwood reunions to Wire reunions.
I like Vikings a lot, much more than Sons of Anarchy.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:05 PM on January 23, 2016
I liked Vikings right up until my wife said 'Hey, this is just like Sons of Anarchy!'
I like Vikings a lot, much more than Sons of Anarchy.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:05 PM on January 23, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by supercres at 11:22 AM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]