Summary

• Sons of Anarchy had its share of divisive seasons, but its best episodes and overall seasons are truly remarkable, making it a classic.
• Season 7 shifted focus and lost realism, with the club going on a killing spree, but still gave the show a strong send-off.
• Season 4 marked a turning point for the motorcycle club, with a new direction, intense conflicts, and changes to key characters, making it the best season.

The following article have spoilers for all seasons of Sons of Anarchy.

While it was one of the most popular TV shows of its era, lasting for seven years, when looking at the Sons of Anarchy seasons ranked, it can be a bit surprising. Running from 2008 through 2014, the show produced a new season every year during that time and cemented itself as a classic. Its mix of action, drama, and crime created a compelling story full of death and betrayal. While making it out of the show alive was a rarity, some Sons of Anarchy characters survived until the end, and a few even made cameos in the spinoff series, Mayans M.C.

Throughout its run, Sons of Anarchy proved to be a huge hit, with its final season attracting over nine million viewers. While it may go down as an all-time great, however, the motorcycle drama certainly had its divisive seasons, with some failing to find the mark. This doesn't mean these seasons were bad per se, just a reduction in quality in comparison to what the show usually provided. Sons of Anarchy's best episodes were peak television, though, and its better overall seasons are something to savor.

All Sons of Anarchy seasons are available for streaming on Star+

7 Season 7

A Disappointing Ending For A Great Show

Jax spent the season chasing down false leads Gemma provided him

While Sons of Anarchy season 7 does ultimately give the show a strong send-off, it stumbles its way there. The final season was heavily anticipated, especially after the tragic ending of season 6 that saw Gemma kill Tara, but it missed the mark. Jax spent the season chasing down false leads Gemma provided him, coming off as a misguided character who was hard to root for rather than someone getting the vengeance the audience wanted.

Season 7 also mercilessly killed off so many major characters and while Sons of Anarchy never shied away from big deaths, a lot of these felt like they were being done for the sake of it. Characters like Bobby are taken out in ways that feel lackluster given what they mean to the show. However, the final scenes with Jax are strong, the acting is up to par for the entire season, and several characters (namely Chibbs, Tig, Wendy, and Nero) end up in good positions that feel worthy of the characters.

6 Season 6

The Series Begins To Hit A Wall

Season 6 of Sons of Anarchy saw the earliest signs that the show was past its best. It still had some great moments, but this is where the show began to get more repetitive and lose some of its spark. When it isn't rehashing previously used storylines, Sons of Anarchy began creating even more complicated ones. Tara's death felt unnecessary but is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show, yet everything involving Juice and Gemma up until that point is hard to watch, and not in a good way.

Season 6 lacked a lot of those needed lighthearted moments to balance the darkness.

Although Sons of Anarchy always had its dark moments, things like the brotherhood of the SAMCRO were always at the heart. Season 6 lacked a lot of those needed lighthearted moments to balance the darkness. The aspect of the season that worked the most was the death of Clay Morrow. Given that the show is meant to be a retelling of Hamlet, the moment where Jax finally takes out his father figure is something that had been built since the very first episode and ends in satisfying fashion.

5 Season 3

The Show Takes A Detour To Ireland

Season 3 is often seen as the most contentious. While it contains some of Sons of Anarchy's best episodes, there are parts of the season that aren't up to the same standard. While some fans may love the change in scenery, the show spends a lot more time there than needed, ultimately meaning it feels like a filler season with little progression on the overall story. Frustrating storylines like Gemma hiding out with her father and Jax working alongside Agent Stahl upset many viewers at the time.

Jax pulling a long con on her somewhat makes up for the frustrating aspects of their time together

The bookended parts of the season are the high points though, as season 3 opens with a great episode and then has what many believe is the show's best finale. Agent Stahl gets what's coming to her, wrapping up several seasons of storylines. Jax pulling a long con on her somewhat makes up for the frustrating aspects of their time together, though there was still too much of it.

4 Season 1

Sons Of Anarchy Gets Off To A Strong Start

As pilot seasons go, Sons of Anarchy has a pretty strong one. Its storylines may not be as compelling as the later seasons, but the first season does lay the groundwork for what the series would become. Introducing the memorable cast and creating the fundamentals of the world, Sons of Anarchy season 1 does a good job of getting audiences hooked.

While it may not be a perfect debut season, it began the show's legacy and still holds up. The level of crime and chaos is definitely a contrast to the final season, but the more grounded and realistic feel is what made the show so good in the first place. The show pulls no punches, delivering bike chases, shocking deaths, major levels of violence, and intense drama. Sons of Anarchy may have peaked a bit after its debut but without these 13 episodes, none of it would work.

3 Season 5

The Show Gets Miserable But In A Good Way

Season 5 may be the darkest season of the entire franchise, but it is also one of the best. It featured the first true signs that the show would be miserable the rest of the way, yet at this point, that tone was fresh, intriguing, and gripping. Season 5 includes one of television's most brutal and emotional Sons of Anarchy deaths in the form of beloved character Opie.

This season really begins to show how violent things can get. For some, it may get too dark at times, with one SAMCRO member being forced to watch his daughter burned alive. That was just the start though as these horrific moments amplify how in over their heads the crew is, though, dealing with sinister enemies who are willing to make their lives hell. The action is phenomenal and includes some of the strongest acting performances throughout the show's entire run, while also featuring a hateable villain.

2 Season 2

The second season of Sons of Anarchy is where the show truly comes into its own. Season 1 put the show on the map, but season 2 made it must-see TV. Its antagonist is memorable, acting as a legitimate businessman when in reality, he has his men do some awful acts to give the Sons a warning. That kind of antagonist is ideal in a show filled with anti-heroes as audiences tend to hate characters who try to hide what they are. The Sons don't shy away from who they are and fans appreciate that.

Throughout all the violence and shocks, season 2 also finds time for humor and genuine brothership. Before the club starts to crack with betrayals and secrets like in later seasons, this set of episodes shows the club at its peak and displays how great the crew's chemistry is. It's filled with drama but also makes sure to include some laughs, proving to be one of the show's more consistent seasons.

1 Season 4

The Turning Point For SAMCRO

This is the season where Jax and Clay's conflict reaches a boiling point

Sons of Anarchy's best season comes right in the middle of its run. Season 4 is where everything starts to change for the motorcycle club. After getting out of prison, the club gets involved with the Galindo cartel, has a new sheriff and RICO case to deal with, and has an internal power struggle. This is the season where Jax and Clay's conflict reaches a boiling point with disputes all over the club and their dynamic was often the show's best. Long-time best friends Jax and Opie are at each other's throats, Clay kills the only other Original Nine member, and Jax ultimately takes over as President of SOA's original charter.

By the end of Sons of Anarchy season 4, the entire tone and look of the club and the show had changed. Important characters are killed or removed, personalities are permanently altered, and the club heads in an entirely new direction. The action and tension are undeniably brilliant during season 4 and prove to be the height of an all-time great show. Sons of Anarchy's worst seasons are rarely ever bad, but its best seasons are of such higher quality, and it doesn't get any better than season 4.