‘Sons Of Anarchy’ School Shooting: Why It Didn’t Cross A Line
Season six of ‘Sons of Anarchy’ started with a bang — literally. The controversial ending to the Sept. 9 season premiere caused an uproar of fans who were not happy with that ending. However, I’m on the other end of the spectrum.
Just when you thought Sons of Anarchy couldn’t get anymore shocking, season six’s premiere proved us all wrong. While some loved the new episode, “Straw,” others felt it pushed the limit. However, if you’ve watched Sons from the beginning, you know there wasn’t much of a limit left.
‘Sons of Anarchy’ School Shooting: Why It’s Not Pushing The Envelope
The dramatic season premiere ended when an 11-year-old, who was introduced earlier in the episode pulled out a machine gun, entered his middle school and started firing shots.
First things first: I understand, in the midst of the tragedy in Sandy Hook, and the violent world that we may live in today, that many felt that this crossed a line.
However, this show has been filled with violence since day one — that’s why people like it, that’s how it gets viewers.
The first five seasons have been filled with intense gun fights, lies, cheating, and violence — it’s not 7th Heaven, it’s not Glee. It’s not a family show. It’s for adults, on FX, at 10PM Eastern.
Timing May Have Been Off, But Episode Was About Emotion
The show has been violent since day one, and that’s what the plot circles around. As Kurt Sutter, creator of the show, admitted to our sister site, TVLine, yes — the timing could have been better. But at the end of the day, it was all about emotion:
If there is a social and political point of view about the shooting and a moral point of view, it is not one particular party that’s responsible for these tragedies, that it is a combination of gun laws, mental health, schools, parents, media. It was more about the emotional impact of what happened, and you just really get it in those few pops in the aftermath, when we come back from the act-out.
That being said, it all comes back to the plot of the show. This is going to cause issues within SAMCRO (the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club), since the club sold the gun to the kid’s father. This comes back to emotional impact in a television drama.
Yes, the episode showed a kid pull out the KG-9, and enter the school. Yes, we heard the kids and teachers scream before the screen went black. However, as it brings back sad memories tragic events of the past, it isn’t justifying them, or saying they’re ok — and neither am I.
As episodes to come will show, it’s actually showing that there are consequences to every action, on every side. The show centers around gun violence as entertainment — the same way video games, and action movies do.
Again, I’m not justifying the actions shown on the show, I’m just saying that as a viewer, I don’t feel it crossed any line and will continue to tune in each week.
Tell me what you think, HollywoodLifers.
WATCH: ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Shocking School Shooting – Season 6 Premiere
— Emily Longeretta
More ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ News:
- Dakota Johnson & Charlie Hunnam Cast In ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’
- ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Creator Kurt Sutter Defends ‘Gut-Wrenching’ Death
- Former ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Actor Johnny Lewis Dead At 28