Set in the same universe, ‘Mayans MC’ follows a different motorcycle club and involves drugs, violence, and, you guessed it, bikes.
‘Sons of Anarchy’ gripped fans with its fantastic storytelling and relatable (though outlaw) characters, and consistently delivered high ratings for FX. About a motorcycle gang and its leader Jax Teller, the show had violence, action, and even a generous amount of melodrama.
Highlights —
- ‘Mayans MC’ is doing well ratings-wise
- ‘Sons of Anarchy’ was slow
- Focus on supporting characters
So when ‘Mayans MC’ was announced, fans were excited, since the show was essentially a spin-off of ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and was set in the same universe. Expectations were high. Would ‘Mayans MC’ be as good as ‘Sons of Anarchy’, if not better? Social media sites like Reddit were rife with debates and discussions on ‘Mayans MC’ versus ‘Sons of Anarchy’.
Kurt Sutter, the creator of both the shows, informed viewers that ‘Mayans MC’ is not a Latino version of ‘Sons of Anarchy’, and that it is a show in its own right. Taking place four years after the finale of ‘Sons of Anarchy’, and set in Santo Padre, which is a town located on the border between US and Mexico, ‘Mayans MC’ is the story of Ezekiel Reyes or EZ, a prospect but later full-patch member of the Mayans Motorcycle Club. A gifted man, EZ sets out on a course of vengeance following cartel violence that leaves a huge impact on him.
But is the show really as good as it sounds? Let’s find out.
‘Mayans MC’ is doing well ratings-wise
‘Mayans MC’ seems to be doing unequivocally well on FX, being a hit show on the channel with only two seasons in and a third on the way. In fact, it has even surpassed the ratings that ‘Sons of Anarchy’ received during its airtime.
In all fairness, part of the reason for this could be because ‘Mayans MC’ was catering to an audience that was already there, created and prepared by ‘Sons of Anarchy’. ‘Mayans MC’ was ready to provide for all the fans hungering after more stories related to motorcycle clubs.
Moreover, since the show is now also about Mexican drug cartels, many Hispanic audiences (at least in the US) have also been wooed in.
‘Sons of Anarchy’ was slow
One criticism levelled at the hit show on and off was the fact that it was a bit too long. It took its time to get the audiences acquainted with Jax Teller and the issues related to his personal life, which meant the series took a while to settle in with the audience.
Thankfully, the creators learned their lesson and, as a result, its spin-off gets the story going right from the start. The family issues have been detracted, and more focus is put on the actual activities of the biker gang and the dynamics between various members.
Focus on supporting characters
A ‘Mayans MC’ vs ‘Sons of Anarchy’ crossover is likely not going to happen, mostly because of the death of its main character, Jax Teller. But if it could, what would they focus on with Jax gone?
‘Sons of Anarchy’ did not have fully fleshed-out characters, and everything revolved around Jax Teller. With ‘Mayans MC’, things are different. Supporting characters on this show have been given the spotlight they deserve, which helps viewers get emotionally involved with more characters, and ultimately the show itself.
So, while ‘Sons of Anarchy’ will always have a place in the hearts of its truest fans, we believe ‘Mayans MC’ is on its way to making an even bigger place in their hearts! Which of the two do you like better?
