Tonight, almost everybody on my Facebook feed is saying goodbye to Jax Teller and his band of absurdly good looking, misfit motorcycle gang friends.
Whether you watched Sons of Anarchy for the beautiful Jax Man Butt, seemingly endless porn stars (Which means seemingly endless porn scenes), or maybe just the story-lines, tonight is just downright depressing. But why!? SOA is just a show. Right?
Admittedly, I only just starting watching Sons at the tail end of Season 4 when my Dad came home with all the previous seasons in a box set and began binge watching the show. I mean, his binge watching of Sons put my binge watching of Grey's Anatomy over winter break one year to shame. He watched all four seasons in maybe like, two or three weeks. Maybe that's where I get the talent of watching an entire series in a months time...
Anyways.
Most of us watch TV because they are relatable, a way to sob out the stress of the week, or even to slip away from reality for an hour or two. With shows that I adore, like Parenthood, I watch because they are so relatable. I can watch that damn show all day and just cry through every episode. And not just "Oh, so sad. Let's shed a tear or two!" Parenthood is a show of uncontrollable, need-a-whole-box-of-tissues, ugly sobbing. Or let's talk about my other obsessive TV show, Grey's Anatomy. Now, that show is relatable in the sense of the feelings the Doctors have, reactions to life, relationship woes. I don't know too many people who have survived a hospital ward being blown up, followed by a shooting, then a bunch of (the same) doctors getting into a plane crash. And don't even get me started on all the emotional trauma that Shonda Rhimes has put us through.
Then there is Sons of Anarchy.
Now. I DEFINITELY don't know anyone in a crazy Motorcycle Gang (or at least anyone who admits to this fact). But again, Kurt Sutter has put us through some of the MOST traumatizing bullshit I have ever dealt with watching a television show. The death of a wife (and also a gruesome death of one of the Son's CHILDREN), rape and domestic violence, the death of main characters... I could sit here and write out hundreds of "HOOOOLY SHIT" moments over the years. Seriously, the guy has no mercy on his viewers. And that is why seven long, heartbreaking (albeit incredible) seasons later we are all anxiously awaiting to put ourselves through torture one more time.
And every single one of us is so, so unprepared.
There has been speculation of how this show will wrap up since the beginning. Kurt Sutter told us that this entire show is loosely based off Shakespeare's Hamlet. However, what does that mean!? If you Google "Sons of Anarchy and Hamlet" there are tons and tons and tons of forums with comparisons between the two. But with Kurt Sutter being the way he is, can we really know exactly what is going to happen tonight?
I really do not think so.
"But why are you so anxious!?"
"Don't be sad, I'm sure another amazing show will take over your Tuesday nights!"
"It's just a show; many of the actors have new contracts for new shows!"
"It's just a show... Relax. It does not directly impact your life."
If only it was that easy.
Sons has been on for five years. Seven seasons. Five years. That's longer than most people's long-term relationships! Some of you have been with Sons since the beginning; since before you met your significant others! That's fucking insane when you think about it that way. Think about your best friend, and how much you have learned about them over the years of friendship. Or your boyfriend/girlfriend, and the things you have experienced together over five years, or what you will experience alongside each other in the next five years. Crazy, right? But that's what you have done with Sons of Anarchy.
Just think about all the shit Kurt has put us through, and then some, over these seven seasons.
Getting into a television show is more than just a way to pass the time for an hour once a week. Like I said earlier: It's way to sort out your emotions (Because let's be honest... When you're having an awful day and it happens to be the same day your favorite show is brand new something happens on that episode that you are convinced the writers stuck in there to jab you in the feels, because it is EXACTLY HOW YOU ARE FEELING RIGHT THEN AND THERE, and the waterworks start. And don't stop) It's also a way to escape those emotions, if you're one of those non-crying types.
So tonight, when you read that one asshole Facebook status that says something like "Not going online until next year because of all the SOA statuses. It's just a TV show!!!" show them my blog. Ask them to break up with their long-term lover, then come to all of us SOA fans.
This is the first TV show I've come to appreciate that is ending. I still have Grey's after 20+ seasons, and I have to say goodbye to Parenthood in January (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). To be honest, I don't really know how to process the ending of a long-term teleivison show. I could tell you guys all about the good, bad, ugly and downright scary part of breakups, or the loss of an old time friend, or quitting a job. But I just don't know how to deal with saying goodbye to one of the best TV shows to have graced my household in Box Set form.
So thank you, Dad, for not only introducing me to one of the most spectacular shows, but for simultaneously ruining my life.
And to my Sons of Anarchy family:
I know you’ll face pain, suffering, hard choices but you can’t let the weight of it choke the joy out of your life. No matter what, you have to find the things that love you. Run to them.
There’s an old saying – that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I don’t believe that. I think the things that try to kill you make you angry and sad. Strength comes from the good things, your family, your friends, the satisfaction of hard work. Those are the things that will keep you whole, those are the things to hold onto when you’re broken.
Here's to the #FinalRide
