When Kurt Sutter came up with the idea for a dramatic television series focusing on a motorcycle club, there was no way he could have predicted it would turn into one of the most successful cable television shows of all time. But it was more than just the concept, it was the delivery. Each and every episode of Sons of Anarchy brought something new, and fresh, to the storyline that fans needed to bridge the gaps between weeks. The writing felt like you were watching Shakespeare in leather, but the acting was the most compelling part of the entire series.
For seven bloody seasons, fans of Sons of Anarchy were given incredible performances by the main cast and the several guest stars that appeared throughout the show too. But even the best performances could not cover up the lack of need for certain characters, and that is what we are going to look at today. We are going to take a look at 15 SOA characters and rank them from the most useless to the ones that are irreplaceable to the plot.
15 15. Piney Was Always Around But Was Never Needed, Usually
For four seasons, Piney Winston drank whiskey and carried his oxygen tube around with him, normally only being noticed when there was a vote called. He also showed up whenever Opie needed a slap in the face but, for the most part, Piney could have left behind for six seasons and no one would have noticed.
14 14. Wendy Actually Did Disappear For Awhile And No One Noticed
After appearing during season one, Wendy (Drea de Matteo) left the series for two seasons before coming back in season four and making random appearances for the rest of the show. Her departure went unnoticed because Wendy's importance ended the moment Abel was born.
13 13. Damon Pope Should Have Been More Respected
For four seasons, Damon Pope (Harold Perrineau) was nothing more than just a name that was mentioned when they talked about the black gangs in Oakland. He was a powerful businessman that was in charge of all the gangs, but it never felt right. He was too lenient for being in that type of role and never felt too intimidating.
12 12. David Hale Was A Boy Scout That Wanted Peace
In the beginning, David Hale (Taylor Sheridan) was this boy scout that earned the nickname "Captain America" because of how clean and All-American he looked, but also how perfect he wanted to run the police force. He was determined to stop Jax and his gang from taking justice into their own hands.
11 11. How Many Times Was Wayne Unser Supposed To Die?
From the first moment we are introduced to Wayne Unser (Dayton Callie), we are told that he is dying from cancer and does not have very much longer to live. However, he ends up living for seven seasons before being shot to death and is responsible for knowing a lot about the secrets the gang all kept from one another.
10 10. Thank You Jimmy Smits For Playing Nero So Brilliantly
The first time we meet Nero (Jimmy Smits), we know exactly what his purpose is going to be on the series. He is going to help Gemma move on while always remaining the person that stands between SAMCRO and the Mexican gangs as a former member. But Jimmy Smits brought even more depth to the character and stuck around until the very ending.
9 9. Otto Was The Man Inside That Always Trusted The Club
It is not very often that the creator of a television series ends up starring in his own show, but Kurt Sutter ended up being the perfect person to play Otto. His loyalty to the club and his role in saving them time and time again made him such an important person. Without Otto, the club would have been caught and arrested very early on.
8 8. Juice's Storyline Could Have Become A Spin-Off
At some point, Juice (Theo Rossi) turned into a horrible person that completely lost sight of everything. He went from being a lovable joker to a weasel that turned audiences against him. But it was his character arc that we loved so much about Juice, and the reason he made our list.
7 7. June Stahl Was The Most Hated ATF Agent Ever
For a show that stars a motorcycle gang that deals drugs, sells guns, produces adult content, and murders people on a daily basis, it is amazing how the ATF are the main antagonists on the series. Special Agent June Stahl (Ally Walker) did a phenomenal job of turning the "good guys" into a bunch of corrupt bad guys.
6 6. Clay Morrow Put Things In Perspective For Everyone
By the time he died, Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) had become a boring character that felt almost unwanted on the series. It came a little too late, but that does not change the way Clay was able to give Jax the motivation to be a better man. He showed Jax the way life is when you take the wrong path.
5 5. Ethan Zobelle Forced Us To Watch The Show
One of the toughest characters to create on a cable television drama is a villain that is so convincing as an antagonist that the audience physically hates the person. Ethan Zobelle (Adam Arkin) was able to unite the club, and the town, simply by being a horrible human being.
4 4. Opie Always Wanted To Be Better
When Opie (Ryan Hurst) was brutally murdered in the third episode of season five, fans of the show were stunned. It was one of those shocking decisions that needed to be made by Kurt Sutter, but it happened when no one was ready for it. The impact of his death, and the assassination of his wife in season one, helped to drive the series for seven seasons.
3 3. Katey Sagal Outperformed Her Own Character, Gemma
As important as Gemma Teller's character was on the series, it was Katey Sagal's performance that gave Kurt Sutter the ability to expand his storyline while also allowing her to grow from season to season. But her most pivotal moment was the season two premiere when an event would happen that would change the way the cast all interacted for the rest of the series.
2 2. There Is No Series Without The Club's Prince, Jax
Every single time he tries to bring about positive change for the club, Jax always seems to run into trouble, sending him back down the wrong path. Charlie Hunnam was able to convince the audience that this murdering gang member could also be a great guy that wants to be better for his family. He is truly one of the most amazing characters in television history.
1 1. Tara Was The Perfect Balance Jax Needed To Stay Grounded
Although most people would have assumed Jax is the easy pick for the number one most irreplaceable character, it is actually Tara (Maggie Siff) that earns the top spot on our list. Why? Because she kept Jax from becoming Clay, or even worse. She was able to always bring him back to her and when she died, it would mark the ending of Jax, and it did.