The ordered chaos of Sons of Anarchy

I've been watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix this past week and I have to say, it's really an incredible show. My recent Netflix obsessions have featured cops or crimesolving, so this is a view from the other side of the law. But the Sons of Anarchy, a motorcycle club, have their own rules about morality, and strict ethics codes that they follow. Often, they are more about vigilantism than "gangbanging," and it's actually satisfying to see the bad guys get killed, without so much as a flinch from the club members. No sending them to jail with chances of getting let out, no last-minute flicker of a conscience, or whining about how every life is precious. It's like the Wild West, which had its merits. The Sons of Anarchy control a small northern California town, but they love it, so drugs aren't allowed to be dealt, and often when there are problems that law enforcement is unable to "properly" take care of (such as the rape of a young girl), townspeople turn to the Club to take care of things.

What I really like is the depth of the characters. There is no cut-and-dry character on this show, despite their stereotypical appearances (motorcycle gangmember, gang matriarch, dirty cops, etc).

The men are hardened, tough guys, many of whom have been born into the Club, with fathers who died for the Club, or are leaders in it. But they love women, and I mean, they respect the women, not just their flesh (though they certainly have plenty of "girls" around). Despite their tattoos, black leather vests and Harleys, seeing one of these men treating their "old lady" with care is enough to make you melt. Becoming their "old lady" means being put up on a pedestal for life, with a troupe of bodyguards surrounding you. The juxtaposition of tough and soft is squeal-inducing, and watching these guys do anything to avenge them is hot. We also see that vulnerability when Jax becomes a father, and nurses his son through prematurity. They're men's men, for that entails, but we see their affectionate side often, calling each other "brother," fearlessly hugging each other (albeit with manly backthumping) and even cheek-kissing each other before they go into "battle."

And the women. These wives and girlfriends are tough and battle-hardened in their own rights, continually standing up for themselves, the men they love, and the Club. But they too, have flashes of this beautiful fragility, especially the rare occasions when matriarch Gemma breaks down. And she's arguably the toughest person on the show, even among the men. Time and again, when the guys get into messes, it's the women who hold them together while they fight their way out. Gemma, despite her love-hate attitude toward most people and trigger-happy finger, is continually a voice of reason for the Club. Jax's Tara finds her own inner toughness after Gemma takes her under her wing. Her new street education is shown in Season 2, when she grabs a malicious supervisor by the throat, throws a solid right hook and successfully threatens her home and children to drop a damaging report involving the Club. The women keep many secrets, all for the good of the club, and often to their own inner turmoil, and we rarely see any obnoxious waffling or pretentious morality debates from the women. The raw black-and-white attitude is refreshing, though harsh at times, and the portrayal of simply taking care of business, removing the debate about what's defined as right is where this show's strength lies.

Despite Club fights and arguments, the club, the family, is what prevails, always at the day's end. It's an alternate reality that one feels comfort in delving into, and despite not-so-rare moments of shock and horror, it's usually surprisingly easy to root for the Club. Plus, like any family, there's enough joking around to make one laugh at least once per episode.