Continuing on as one of the very few members of the crossover audience for Glee and Sons of Anarchy, here is my previously-promised SoA rant followed by some thoughts on tonight’s episodes.

I’ll rant first so I can hide anything spoilerish under the “continued” jump.

I think it’s great that Sons of Anarchy has become popular with a diverse general audience and isn’t just a biker cult thing. Many of my co-workers and my husband’s co-workers watch the show, and only a few of them are bikers or motorcyclists (there is a difference). We look forward to discussing the show on Wednesdays (or Thursdays if someone is DVRing).

But I have a problem with one sector of the fan base: the posers. And to them, I say: it’s okay to not be a biker and still like SoA. It is not okay to pretend you are a real biker and try to live SoA. It’s offensive, though still mildly amusing, when you try to impress and it’s obvious your knowledge comes from your one neighbor who was in the local H.O.G. chapter for a year and actually rode a motorcycle on a long trip once, and from watching Gangland on The History Channel. It’s not amusing at all when you wear the ripoff merchandise that resembles a three-piece patch and act like you think you are in a real club or something.

I’m also not too thrilled with actual bikers who nitpick the show to death rather than enjoy it for what it is: a biker soap opera with one of the best casts and possibly the strongest writing on television right now. I know it’s easy to be critical when it’s a lifestyle, subject area, or location you are very familiar with. But too many of us have lost the ability to suspend disbelief and just enjoy.

Rant over… for now.
[Read more…]