Sons of Anarchy was one of the most popular shows on TV and Yellowstone is the most popular show today. Their shared success may be because these two shows have a lot in common. They share themes of family, betrayal and fighting for what belongs to them; they just tell those stories in two different settings. Sons of Anarchy focused on a biker gang in California, while Yellowstone is set on a family-run ranch in Montana.
Sons of Anarchy focused on Jax Teller, who was trying to live up to his father’s reputation as part of the titular outlaw motorcycle club. Jax was fighting for power and control of their territory and to keep out everyone who threatened the group’s future. Yellowstone has the Dutton family, who are looking to keep Montana the way it’s always been — and are willing to kill to protect their way of life.
The Duttons are fighting to preserve their land and power in Montana; the characters in Sons of Anarchy see themselves in the same light. They’re striving to maintain control of their own territory even if it’s through illegal means. The Sons of Anarchy and the cowboys on the Yellowstone ranch share identical ideals; both groups will kill or remove anyone who gets in their way.
On an individual character level, Jax Teller and Kayce Dutton have similar journeys. They’re trying to live up to their fathers’ reputations, while having a family with someone who wants no part of the family business. Beth Dutton and Gemma Teller are each willing to destroy the lives of anyone who threatens their families — no matter what despicable thing they have to do. Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter is even developing his own Western series for Netflix, while Yellowstone was recently renewed for Season 5.
The one distinguishable difference is where each series takes place and the themes that go with it. While Yellowstone plays off of themes of the Wild West, Sons of Anarchy dives more into the mobster genre. The looks and vibes of the two shows couldn’t be more different, yet they share more than a little common ground. It’s no wonder that both spawned their own spinoffs — Sons of Anarchy with Mayans M.C. and Yellowstone with its prequel 1883 — and that both have been huge hits with audiences.
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