Briefly Noted: Anarchy in the USA

The FX television series Sons of Anarchy entered its third season in September. The crime drama stars Charlie Hunnam as Jackson "Jax" Teller, vice president of the Sons of Anarchy, an outlaw motorcycle club whose violent exploits are loosely based on those of the Hells Angels.

Despite its title, the show doesn't deal with anarchist ideas. But abusive government officials do loom large. The first season featured a rogue federal agent who stalked and assaulted Teller's girlfriend. Season 3 opened with Teller's mother Gemma, played by former Married With Children star Katey Sagal, on the run after being framed for murder by a lawless FBI agent. Meanwhile, the Sons have grown so powerful that they've essentially taken over law enforcement in their California hometown.

Like The Godfather, Sons of Anarchy examines the business of organized crime, focusing on the club's gun running, drug dealing, and brief foray into adult filmmaking. It's a compelling world with heroes and villains on both sides of the law.