Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter gives us hope

By April MacIntyre Nov 12, 2009, 0:16 GMT

Last night\'s episode of "Sons of Anarchy" was the aptly titled "Balm." The fans of the show know that it was Gemma\'s (Katey Sagal) actions that kept Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) from making the mistake of going Nomad. © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Last night's episode of "Sons of Anarchy" was the aptly titled "Balm." The fans of the show know that it was Gemma's (Katey Sagal) actions that kept Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) from making the mistake of going Nomad.  

It repaired the deep rift between him and step-father Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman), to unite them just at the right time to battle Ethan Zoebelle (Adam Arkin) and his toady AJ Weston (Henry Rollins). 

What a great stroke of casting alchemy this season! On top of a stellar cast lead by Sagal, Hunnam and Perlman, Tom Arnold (Tom Arnold!) played a shitbag porn purveyor named Georgie Caruso, and he nailed it beautifully, the right amount of skeez and venom. Titus Welliver surfaces as badass Jimmy O, the ruthless gun-running IRA chieftain who has come to haunt our Chibs (Tommy Flanagan). Both these cats are still wild cards in the series. 

We have the already solid core cast highlighted by great character actor performances this season: Darby (Mitch Pileggi), Piney (William Lucking), Bobby (Mark Boone Junior), Tig (Kim Coates), and the Chief (Dayton Callie) to shine ever so much this sophomore run.

And the women, repeating myself over and again, Katey Sagal should take the Emmy this year for her matriarch Gemma (She should have won last year too).  Agent June Stahl (Ally Walker) has pulled a tour-de-force as the persistent Type "A" thorn in SAMCRO's side; Tara (Maggie Siff) has unfolded in a very earthy sexual way; Luanne (Dendrie Taylor) played her part well, the first real female collateral damage in SAMCRO's turf war. Donna's season one execution was a SAMCRO internal snafu thanks to Stahl's machinations, and Opie (Ryan Hurst) is now finally coming out of his funk and living life again.

Arkin's supremely restrained performance has beautifully camoflauged his mercenary heart and revealed the ideological schism between his dogmatic right hand, Weston and his true nature.  Arkin is a master criminal and has a bigger picture in mind; he artfully uses others' hatred for his own end-game.

Which brings me to Kurt Sutter.

Former "The Shield" writer, Sutter created this gem and fleshed it out with respect, love and a gut for the fluid lines of the law that a motorcycle club would dwell.  No apologies, cliches or hackneyed biker lingo. This outlaw realm and the voices of the characters come to him naturally. Sutter also turns in a dynamite performance as the tragic Otto, who for the love of his club loses his eyesight and his woman in a brutal retaliation against SAMCRO. 

Not only can he write, he can really act. He had two pivotal scenes that will forever be etched in my memory; the Agent Stahl savaging (season one) and his devastated realization that Luanne's death was payback for Jax's actions protecting club interests. 

Sutter blogs too. In today's "Sutter Ink," he threw us SOA fans a bone:

"And yes, there will be a next season.  Season three is a big renegotiating year.  A lot of two-year contracts are up.  FX is getting their financial ducks in a row.  I have faith that they will announce the pick up before the end of this season." - Kurt Sutter

There are only three unaired episodes left in this American gothic epic drama that crosses the pond and pulls in a bit of the IRA baddies too. 

And now for more really good news. From my friends at FX Publicity, who I drive crazy with my incessant foot stomping for concrete word comes great ratings for SOA:

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Total U.S. ratings (Live + Same Day)

"Sons of Anarchy was basic cable’s #1 ranked show in primetime (8-11P) among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 on Tuesday night, delivering 2.50 million A18-49 (1.9 rating), 2.32 million A25-54 (1.87 rating) and 3.38 million total viewers (2.06 rating).

Last night’s 90-minute episode (10-11:30P) of SOA also ranked #1 for the night in basic cable in delivery of Men 18-49 (1.52 million, 2.32 rating), Men 25-54 (1.37 million, 2.23 rating), Women 25-54 (946,000, 1.51 rating), and Men 18-34 (821,000, 2.39 rating).

During the 10-11PM time period, Sons was the #1 show – broadcast and cable – in delivery of A18-34, M18-34 and M18-49.

Through 10 episodes of SOA’s second season, the series is averaging 2.54 million A18-49, 2.38 million A25-54, 1.33 million A18-34, and 3.62 million total viewers.  In calendar year 2009-to-date, SOA is basic cable’s #1 ranked scripted series in delivery of A18-49.  Compared to its season one average, Sons has posted increases of:

+74% - A18-49;  +75% - M18-49;  +72% - W18-49

+66% - A18-34;  +71% - W18-34;  +64% - M18-34

+79% - A25-54;  +82% - W25-54;  +77% - M25-54

+64% in total viewers

For our UK and overseas viewers, watch SOA on HULU.com