A Controversial Sons of Anarchy Episode Nearly Got FX in Hot Water (2024)

In this modern age of television, censorship has never been more lenient, especially on basic cable. This is especially true with networks like FX, who, in more recent years with shows like Fargo and Snowfall, have almost completely abandoned any censorship of profanity. Of course, there are still limits that cannot be crossed, especially when it comes to nudity or any sort of sexual content. The classic motorcycle-driven drama Sons of Anarchy was always one of the network's most boundary-pushing series, continuously featuring mature and intense themes, as well as scenes of graphic violence. With this in mind, it may be surprising to learn that, despite all the violence and disturbing character deaths, the only instance in the show that garnered any real controversy had nothing to do with either of those elements.

It wasn't until the seventh and final season that a certain episode got both the show and the network into some trouble in the press. The tenth episode of Season 7, "Faith and Despondency", wound up facing some controversy for only one scene in particular: the cold opening. As a result, the Parents Television Council made headlines by speaking out against the network. Of course, the controversy blew over in a matter of days and both FX and Sons of Anarchy managed to come out of it and go on unscathed. Given the outcry that had resulted from the episode, however, what could have possibly happened for there to have been such a backlash?

Why Was the Sons of Anarchy Episode "Faith and Despondency" So Controversial?

Even though the episode "Faith and Despondency" doesn't usually get a mention when it comes to the show's darkest episodes, there are plenty of moments that could warrant one. This makes sense, of course, seeing how the story of the show had progressed into a much darker and more melancholy place, with Jax's own descent into his inner darkness. Despite all the episode's onscreen violence (and even one instance of off-screen violence involving a child), the controversy against it actually came from its opening sequence. While there was no violence to be found in its first few minutes, there was a montage that showed off some rather provocative imagery. Over nearly two and a half minutes, the montage featured a number of the main cast characters in moments of sexual intimacy with their respective partners (and even strangers).

In the montage, Jax is shown attempting to work his way through his grief by taking Winsome, one of Greensleeve's former prostitutes, to bed. Meanwhile, an emotionally distant Gemma is seen doing the same with Nero, as does Tig with Venus, Jarry with Chibs, etc. As graphic as the sequence may have been compared to the stricter limitations of network television, it was shot in a way that prevented any exposed genitalia or bare breasts from being shown or requiring censorship. For many viewers, this might be considered a means of showing where exactly each of the respective characters are emotionally and personally in their respective story arcs. To the Parents Television Council, however, any meaning behind the scene was irrelevant and might as well have been straight-up p*rnography.

The PTC Were Not Happy With FX's Approval of the Episode's Opening Sequence

Seeing how there was no graphic exposure of any genitalia, the episode's opening did technically still abide by broadcast rules and regulations. That being said, it was still quite sexually explicit for a series airing on basic cable ("Butts were shown, and moans were heard", as an article from The Wrap had described it). Since FX is a basic cable channel, not being blocked by the same subscription paywall as pay-per-view or channels like HBO and Showtime, its programming is much more easily accessible to anyone with a TV. When the episode first premiered, it provoked notable outrage from the Parents Television Council, a media advocacy group that has spoken out against the content of numerous other adult-oriented series, from network shows like Family Guy to even streaming series like Hazbin Hotel. In a public statement, the PTC's president, Tim Winter, likened the episode's opening to p*rnography without a paywall.

In his statement, Winter exclaimed, "It’s official: To watch cable news, ESPN, Disney, or the History Channel, every family in America must now also pay for p*rnography on FX." He went on to say that the episode's opening was perhaps "the most sexually explicit content we’ve ever seen on basic cable", while also suspecting that other networks would want to air similarly explicit content "in the name of 'staying competitive'". As a basic cable channel, FX is part of a packaged deal and is automatically included in nearly every cable service, as well as being part of every Hulu subscription. Winter, however, saw the episode's opening as grounds to have that changed, further stating "Families should not be forced to underwrite p*rnography" while calling on "Congress, the FCC and the Federal Courts to give cable consumers a real choice when it comes to deciding which networks they want to purchase.”

Sons of Anarchy Was Not the First (Or Last) Time FX Pushed the Envelope with Adult Content

While many of them make headlines and draw attention to certain issues, most complaints by the PTC often go ignored and usually don't have any lasting impact on the production of the shows that they usually speak out against. Sons of Anarchy may have provoked backlash for featuring explicit material, but it was neither the first nor the last show on FX to do so. One of the most famous examples of the network's boundary-pushing nature is its long-running sitcom, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (now on FXX), a show that continues to test the censors with a dark sense of humor that is completely unafraid to cause discomfort. Even shows like Fargo and American Horror Story have not held back in their use of uncensored profanity and graphic depictions of bloody violence. Despite the PTC's complaint that the content of shows like Sons of Anarchy has no business being so easily accessible to young viewers on basic cable, it's important to remember that those kinds of shows were never meant for children to begin with.

This is made especially clear whenever a "viewer discretion advised" warning is featured before any of its more "mature" programming is broadcast (like on most other networks), and even when considering the late-night time slots of both old and new episodes. Ever since its inception, FX has built a reputation as a channel that has prioritized the vision of its creators above all else. Thankfully, neither the show nor the network suffered from the controversy too much, and Sons of Anarchy continues to enjoy a lasting legacy that continues to entertain fans both new and old. While it could be argued that the PTC may have good intentions in wanting to keep children away from explicit and adult content, the excessive amount of censorship that they continue to strive for with their complaints against shows like those on FX would no doubt do the entertainment industry more harm than good. Luckily, seeing how well FX continues to do with its original series, even almost a full decade after the ending of Sons of Anarchy, it doesn't look like those complaints or controversies will be taking them down any time soon.

Sons of Anarchy

TV-MA

Action

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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9

10

A biker struggles to balance being a father and being involved in an outlaw motorcycle club.

Release Date

September 3, 2008

Cast

Charlie Hunnam , Katey Sagal , Kim Coates , Mark Boone Junior , Tommy Flanagan , Ron Perlman , Johnny Lewis

Main Genre

Crime

Seasons

7

Creator

Kurt Sutter

Number of Episodes

92

Network

FX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu