Sons Of Anarchy – Season Two (2009/Fox Blu-ray)

 

Picture: A-     Sound: A-     Extras: C     Episodes: B+

 

 

I can not sing the praises of FX and their many wonderful series enough.  When it comes to drama, torment, action and sheer depth Sons of Anarchy has it.  Now blasting onto Blu-ray is Sons of Anarchy: Season Two to deliver a level of excellence that is usually reserved for full length motion pictures and big budget HBO series.  The gritty series that chronicles the life of a biker gang returns to treat audiences to another chapter in the life of The Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club.  If viewers thought this was simply a crew throwing back the occasional beer and getting into a tussle here and there, they better think again.  Sons of Anarchy is deep, dark and gritty as it shows one clubs path in life as they make new wounds and cut open past scars to deliver one sensational tale.  Each episode feels epic, as guns blaze, motorcycles rumble and words flow like a soliloquy from Shakespeare.  Any preconceived notions you may have about ‘motorcycle gangs’ or Sons of Anarchy should be thrown out the window as this “high-octane thrill ride” peels away the dirt and debris to express a world where loyalties are tested and there is no escape.

 

For those who missed Season One of Sons of Anarchy, Season Two is not the place to start.  This high tension action/drama has an ongoing storyline with crucial character development that can only be fully appreciated from the beginning.  Each episode feels like a cliff hanger that leaves the viewer hankering for more; for that reason I will attempt to not deliver any spoilers.  The series continues to explore the internal struggles of the Sons of Anarchy (SAMCRO) as the power struggle between the head of the club/co-founder Clay (Ron Pearlman of Hellboy) and his step-son Jax (Charlie Hunnam) battle over the path of the club.  Clay had gotten the club mixed up in son darker doings, of which Jax does not approve.

 

Jax’s father helped create the club and Jax feels that the path SAMCRO has taken is well outside of what his father intended.  Season One had Clay igniting the flame of misdeeds that had the club mixed up with the ATF; with Jax following behind to pickup the pieces before it was too late.  Season Two has the aftermath of Season One to clean up, now adding Ehtan Zobelle (Adam Arkin) to the mix as his League of American Nationalist hate group sets their sights on the club.  The battle between LAN and SAMCRO comes to head as the LAN wants SMACRO out of the gun peddling business; as they distribute to minority gangs without a second thought.  The hate within the group may destroy them internally before external forces have a chance; so mending the wounds of the fallen is the only way to save SAMCRO from self destruction.

 

The series is purely amazing as it utilizes comedy, action, drama and unbridled violence to propel this epic tale forward.  With so much good television on today it is hard to imagine what else is to come, but for now we have Sons of Anarchy.

 

The technical features on this set are amazing.  The picture throughout each episode features a 1080p AVC @ 23.55 MBPS MPEG-4 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition presentation that demonstrates an amazing crispness, a vibrant array of colors and solid framing blacks.  Like the series itself the picture quality is sharp and bold.  If it wasn’t for the digital noise in some darker sequences the picture would be nearly perfect.  The sound is a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio that completely delivers with booming bass, splendid directionality and crisp, clean, clear dialogue.  The soundscape is immense and whereas not in line with the biggest blockbusters it is very nice; offering up plenty of atmosphere to surround you in action.

 

The extras are somewhat weak as they offer a featurette entitled ‘The Moral Code of the Sons of Anarchy’ that gives a bit of history behind the club, ‘Sons of Anarchy Roundtable’ featurette that delivers about 40 minutes of Kurt Sutter answering fan questions, Deleted Scenes, Gag Reels and one other item.  The best feature in the extras are the 3 audio commentaries with the cast/crew that offers plenty of insight, trivia, emotion and laughs.

 

 

-   Michael P. Dougherty II