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Warning: This article contains spoilers for both Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C.
HBO might have a reputation for critically-acclaimed prestige dramas, but FX has quietly risen through the ranks with some excellent thrillers with more than five seasons. In the age of streaming, binge-watching, and early cancellations, this is an impressive achievement that shows viewers have been hooked on many of FX's best TV shows, which are often gritty, violent, and compelling from beginning to end. One of these is Sons of Anarchy, a Shakespearean tragedy told through the lives of an outlaw motorcycle club.
The seven seasons of Sons of Anarchy are loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, and while the show's quality dipped in later seasons, it was saved by the outstanding performances from the actors, especially Charlie Hunnam as the tormented Jax Teller, whose quest to get his motorcycle club out of organized crime forms the show's main storyline. The mark of a great series is knowing when to end, but after Sons of Anarchy's inevitable but heartbreaking final scene, it was clear that there was more to explore within the world of the show.
This is where Mayans M.C. came in as a sequel that takes place roughly two years after Jax Teller's death. Viewers already knew the motorcycle club in the context of Sons of Anarchy, with the two clubs having an uneasy relationship that ranged from a reluctant partnership to outright antagonism, and this made the show's premise instantly intriguing. Seeing events from the other side's perspective and with several Sons of Anarchy characters appearing in Mayans M.C. it looked set to keep the original show's fans and attract new ones, while telling the original story backwards.
Mayans M.C. Reverses Sons Of Anarchy's Story
Mayans M.C. follows Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes on his journey from a motorcycle club prospect to the president of his chapter. However, this is not a success story, as EZ is corrupted by the life he has chosen. Both shows share a brutal and unflinching tone, with violence, heartbreak, betrayal, and sacrifice. Both also share a similar ending, but the way this builds is drastically different, as Mayans M.C. tells the same story as Sons of Anarchy, but in reverse.
Jax Teller is born into the club, with his father being a founding member. Most of his actions, however flawed, begin from the desire to help take the club away from the dark path that it was on. On the other hand, EZ is born to outwardly law-abiding parents, but after being framed and imprisoned, he joins the Mayans M.C. with the aim of getting revenge. As he rises through the ranks, the club corrupts further under his influence as EZ sacrifices more and more.
The characters in Sons of Anarchy are antiheroes, but many are good at heart, which is what makes Jax's downfall so painful. Jax places the people in the club above all, refusing to become an informant, no matter the deal he was offered. On the surface, EZ also places his club first. However, EZ values the power rather than the people, working as an informant before finally being executed in a move that is the polar opposite to Jax's sacrifice. Even the clubs' futures are reversed, with the Sons of Anarchy beginning a new path, and EZ's Mayans chapter destroyed.
Why Mayans M.C. Did Not Recreate Sons Of Anarchy's Success
Sons of Anarchy was the best crime drama of the 2010s, but Mayans M.C. had the potential to be even better. Not only did it bring back some fan favorite Sons of Anarchy characters, but the tone was similar to Breaking Bad, another groundbreaking crime thriller. However, Mayans M.C. had a 69% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is hardly a failure, but it does not reflect the success of the original series. After Sons of Anarchy's success and Breaking Bad setting a new standard for writing, Mayans M.C. had a lot to live up to.
Mayans M.C. could have benefited from tighter storytelling and character development, as EZ's downfall happened rapidly. This could have worked if the story had focused on him and a few core plotlines. However, several storylines competed for attention, and the sequel lacked the central family dynamic that held Sons of Anarchy together. While Mayans M.C. should have incorporated more of the original show's best elements, the story still hits many of the same emotional beats and it is well worth watching in its own right.
