The Best Moments of Sons of Anarchy Season One

While it certainly wasn't one of Sons of Anarchy’s most explosive moments, Clay Morrow's meeting with Laroy Wayne was important nonetheless. It was not only an early glance at the expansive California underworld that the show would later mine for drama and conflict, but it was a clear reference to another successful FX drama: The Shield. While we haven't seen any characters from the Michael Chiklis-starring show appear on Sons of Anarchy (yet, at least), the very fact that they take place in the same world is a cool nod and serves to lend the newer show some of the older one's credibility.

YOU THINK YOU  KNOW CLAY? TEST  YOUR SAMCRO KNOWLEDGE WITH SONS OF ANARCHY TRIVIA - CLAY MORROW EDITION

Much of Sons of Anarchy's first episode was dedicated to building up viewer sympathy for Jax Teller, the show's main character. But when we were just beginning to feel bad for the son of the deceased John Teller and father of the ailing Abel, he went out and reminded us what he really is: a violent man that's part of a criminal organization. After learning that his estranged wife's overdose almost killed his son, Jax seeks out her dealer and proceeds to beat the holy bejeezus out of him with a pool cue.

SEE IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SAMCROW, LIKE HALF-SACK, IN SONS OF ANARCHY TRIVIA - PROSPECT INITIATION EDITION

When it first aired, Sons of Anarchy's third episode, “Fun Town,” felt like an odd one. It abandoned much of the show's overarching plots for a done-in-one story about a sex crime. Over the course of the first season, and the two subsequent ones, many elements of this particular episode bubbled back to the surface -- the club's relationship with Elliot Oswald, especially. However, for us, the absolute highlight of the episode was when the Sons confronted a group of carnies, one of which raped Oswald's young daughter. If only Carnivàle had more scenes like this, maybe it would still be around.

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One of Sons of Anarchy's biggest selling points is that it's a show about a world that, while rooted in Americana and totally contemporary, is still completely foreign to most audiences. While the amount and prevalence of outlaw motorcycle gangs begins to veer into somewhat ridiculous territory later in the series, early on it's a thrill to get a glimpse at a counterculture with so many well-defined rules and traditions. When SAMCRO travels to Indian Hills, Nevada, not only do we get a look at the smaller Devil's Tribe club, but we also get a peek at the political maneuvering involved when one club absorbs (i.e. patches over) a smaller one.

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Later in that very same episode, we get a somewhat more violent look at the lives and politics of outlaw motorcycle gangs. On his way back after a morning spent in the desert, Jax kicks over a row of bikes in front of a bar frequented by the Sons' longtime rivals, the Mayans. When the Mayans follow Jax back to the Sons of Anarchy's new Indian Hills Clubhouse, they find themselves at the wrong end of a heated shootout, learning that their rivals have branched out into their Nevada territory.

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There are a few tattoos that appear on Sons of Anarchy, but the most important one is the back piece sported by several members, including Jax and Opie. The tattoo looks like the grim reaper image found on the back of the members' vests (which also serves as the show's logo) and is a permanent sign of loyalty to the club. When a disgraced former member of SAMCRO, Kyle Hobart, returns to Charming, the club learns that he has failed to get his ink covered up or removed. As a result, SAMCRO gets Kyle liquored up and gives him two options: "Fire or knife?" Kyle chooses fire, and it ain't pretty.

Violence against women is never a good thing... unless it's also perpetrated by women, in which case it can be hilarious, cool, sexy or even all three (i.e. women's wrestling). Jax's mom Gemma knows that Clay likely cheats on her while on the road, but she's generally okay with it as long as it stays away from home. But when a "sweetbutt" from Indian Hills that shared an evening with Clay comes to Charming, Gemma ends up greeting her with a skateboard to the face.

TEST YOUR GEMMA KNOWLEDGE IN SONS OF ANARCHY TRIVIA - GEMMA TELLER MORROW EDITION

One of Season One's subplots is the relationship between Jax's old flame Tara and her ex-boyfriend: current stalker, ATF agent and all-around creep, Josh Kohn. When Jax learns about Kohn, who has recently arrived in Charming, he warns the guy to stay away from Tara. Kohn, however, has other ideas, and breaks into Jax's house, vandalizing his infant son's room. By way of retaliation, Jax tracks Kohn down at a nearby barbershop, where he chucks the guy through a plate-glass window.

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Some guys just can't take a hint, right? After getting threatened, his radiator stabbed and thrown through a frickin' window, you'd think Kohn would slink back to Chicago. But instead, Kohn, obsessed with getting back together with Tara, sneaks into her house with bad intentions. Kohn attempts to rape Tara, but she shoots him in the stomach before the act can occur and then calls Jax for help. As Jax and Tara discuss their options, Kohn, bleeding out in the corner, calls Tara a “biker slut,” which is enough for Jax to unload a round straight into the ATF agent's head, letting out a season's worth of tension.

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Speaking of people getting what they deserve, how about Agent Stahl? As an ATF agent bent on destroying SAMCRO no matter what the cost, Stahl is one of the most infuriating characters in the entire show. Attempting to bring the club in on RICO violations, Stahl tries to use porn queen Luann Delaney as leverage to get her incarcerated husband, Otto, to turn over on SAMCRO. But when Otto, who is played by series creator Kurt Sutter, gets the full story from Luann, he responds not by signing Stahl's agreement but by beating the absolute snot out of her.