My Thoughts on the End of Sons Of Anarchy

'It's rare for a show to deliver exactly what you expect' 

So, Sons of Anarchy finally met the reaper after seven seasons of bikes, bare bodies and blood and I have to say the final season didn't disappoint. As someone who watched from episode one it honestly feels like a chapter of my life has ended and not just one of my favourite shows. It's because of this that I have decided to write this kind of review of the final episode. Warning, some spoilers ahead! 

Firstly I want to say that I am a massive tv addict and not just american drama (though that is a big part) but I also enjoy comedy and documentaries and pretty much anything save for musicals. Never make me watch a musical. Yes it's fair to say I'm hooked and have watched pretty much most of the major series in the last ten years. It started with Lost which remains my all time favourite, with it being more of a way of life than just a tv show for me. One thing that caused this i believe is that I watched it from the beginning as it originally aired on tv the only other show that thisapplies to is SOA perhaps reflecting my love for that series too. Don't get me wrong I still love the likes of breaking bad, mad men, fringe and game of thrones along with the classics sopranos and wire but all of those I came to late along with other shows like Boardwalk empire and Dexter which I didn't carry on with. So it's fair to say, SOA has a special place in my heart. 

It's testament to the show that nearly four days after I watched the final episode, it is still on my mind. The final chapter was preceded by controversy due to the official book being released early and some fans learning Jax's fate because of this but I'd like to think that any true Sons fan had already worked it out. As my tagline says it delivers what you expect and I think we all expected Jax to meet his end not only because of the hamlet theme but because of the whole season's plot in general. Lesser tv shows may have been inclined to save the main protagonist but Sutter and co pulled no punches and did what was expected. This is nothing new of course as we have seen with both the demises of clay and Gemma. Fans wanted them to pay for their sins and after all it's what you would expect to happen even in real life. So as Jax drives headlong into the trucks path we have our end and one that satisfies. The episode in a whole tied up lots lose ends, death of Marx, death of baroski, future of the club and the final end to the Irish ties of the club. We also see Chibs finally become horatio and take the lead as well as the amazing redemption of tig. Jax also gets his boys out of charming and probably saves them from the patch.all in all it's what we all expected and probably wanted yet unlike some shows when this happens we are happy. Why? Because in the end the appeal of Jax and SOA is that it could actually happen so for everything to play out on cue makes us feel better. That's what makes it special. That's what makes it addictive. That's what makes it timeless. 

In the end SOA should be remembered not for it's blood or for it's sex but for it's ability to to deliver exactly what you expect . It's sad to say that too many tv shows fail to do that but SOA is not one of them. 

Skinnier the Better

This is dedicated to L who will probably never read this.

‘You know you have a twin right?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘You have a twin, I’m sure of it.’

‘What there can really be someone else as good looking as me? ’

They were sat there, together again. It had been about a year since they’d last done it and I guess you could say it helped.

‘No seriously, he has the same hair, same jacket and he even has legs as skinny as yours.’

‘Impossible. Bet he couldn’t fit into these baby’s.’

Alex lifted his right leg high upon the table and caressed his impossibly small black skinny jeans as if they were his pet.

‘He even has room to spare.’

‘Bull shit. Lemme meet this guy, I bet I can fit into his jeans twice over.’

‘You can’t I don’t know him. I’ve just seen him around. But really he just looks like you.’

As she said this Laura began to smile. She wasn’t lying; the guy really could be his twin. And it was true she didn’t really know him. Not really.

‘Yeah well whatever. Do you want another drink?’

‘Sure, just an orange juice.’

‘No probs.’

When he stood Alex had a hard time reaching the bar. If he had known the football was on he would have arranged to meet her somewhere else. He barely got to see her anyway and the last thing he needed was a bunch of football louts screaming their heads off.

‘Two oj’s please.’

He hated asking for soft drinks but they were the doctor’s orders. Shouldn’t be much longer though, maybe a week.

While he waited he checked his appearance in the mirror behind the bar, god he looked good. Smart suit jacket, slick black hair, almost handsome if it wasn’t for his damn glasses but shit not everyone can be perfect.

‘Here ya go.’

‘Thankyou.’

‘So he really looks like me.’

‘Absolutely.’

‘You find him attractive.’

‘Oh no, I’m not falling for that.’

‘Falling for what?’

‘You know. If I say no you’ll take it personally as a slight against you now I’ve said that you and him are identical and if I say yes then I’ll have just admitted to fancying you.’

‘And is that such a bad thing?’

‘It is when I know from your own admission that you wanna fuck the life out of me.’

This was true. He thought she was beautiful because she didn’t think she was. Maybe not at first but it didn’t take long. Not quite a blonde but not brunette either, slim but small and blue eyes that said more than anything she could ever say with her tongue.

‘I suppose that’s a crime now?’

‘No I just know your game too well Alex.’

I guess she liked him too though but she wasn’t sure. Why had she brought the twin thing up? Idiot. If he ever found out. No he won’t.

‘What’s your plan then, for the rest of the day?’

‘Oh I don’t know. I’ve arranged to meet up with some of the girls, you know from college.’

‘Yeah that should be nice, catch up and all.’

‘I hope so. What about you?’

‘Fucked if I know. I guess I’ll ring James see if he fancies a frame or two then I might just head home and read.’

‘Sounds good. How is James?’

‘Not bad. He’s been out about a month now. Nearly back to normal.’

‘Good. Anyway I better be going, Jess will be waiting.’

‘Sure. And hey, it’s been nice catching up.’

‘Ditto. Let’s try not to leave it a year till our next one.’

‘Agreed.’

Then they both stood up and embraced with a hug.

‘Think I’ll stay here a while, see if James fancies coming down.’

‘Oh alright. Take care Alex.’

‘Yeah, you too.’

She watched him sit back down as she walked to the exit. Now she felt really bad.

It was raining so she put up her umbrella and made the short walk around the corner, up the street and to the left.

Then her umbrella came down as she tapped on the door. Was she really going to do this?

But before she could change her mind she met the gaze of a spectacled man in a grey suit jacket with slick black hair and impossibly small skinny jeans.

Perhaps Alex’s were skinnier after all.

'Blogging is the new poetry'

Maybe it is.

Maybe that's why after around six months of contemplating i have finally decided to join in.

At first i was unsure about the whole thing, whether putting up my thoughts could end up hurting people. The last time i did something like this i very nearly lost a close friend so i guess this time around i should be more careful.

I hope to use this i suppose as a kind of canvas on which i can put stories and poetry and maybe rid myself of this paranoid feeling that everyone out there either wants to steal or vilify my work.

Maybe they do.

But i doubt it.

So where do i start? i really have no idea so I'll get back to you soon.

But before i leave i must say thanks to three people whose blogs eventually persuaded me to the dark side.

Jem Henderson: http://weaseljem.blogspot.com/

Emily Battye: http://ihategracefulpeople.blogspot.com/

Steve Nash: http://starlighttocasualmoths.blogspot.com/

Check these guys out, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Yours, Will.