Here are some instances where Mayans M.C. excelled over SOA (and instances where it didn’t), ranging from the action scenes to the lack of character development.
The groundbreaking Sons of Anarchy developed a devoted following for Jax Teller and his lawless motorcycle gang during its seven-season run. This series was so captivating that a spin-off, Mayans M.C., was made to continue satisfying the appetites of SOA fans for more intense action.
The first season of this show, which takes place in the same make-believe world as the men from SAMCRO, completely blew viewers away, despite the fact that many were skeptical that it would live up to the hype of its predecessor. Let’s examine some of the ways that Mayans surpassed all expectations, even in comparison to SOA, as well as the features of the original program that its spin-off was unable to quite match in its first season.
Flashbacks
In one of the opening sequences of the pilot, EZ rode his helicopter down a lengthy stretch of highway before arriving in front of his former high school. It was the first of several flashback scenes that were used during the first season of the program when the picture of the school brought back memories from years past.
Such scenes whetted audience members’ interest by giving them a glimpse into the history of EZ’s character. This made viewers curious to find out more about the major characters in this program and to understand the importance of the scenes’ focal points.
Action Sequences
While SAMCRO engaged in some intensely violent encounters, such as shaving Kyle Hobart’s tattoo from his back, this spin-off program featured fights that were bigger and had a much wider range of participants. After their package was hijacked, the whole Mayans crew was immediately thrust into a fierce conflict with the Samoan gang.
While the majority of fight scenes in SOA served as serious plot points, Mayans M.C. was able to use some of them for comedic effect, as in the dog shelter brawl between the Mayans and Galindo’s men.
More Focus On Supporting Characters
While SOA did a good job of developing Jax and his clan’s plot and evoking viewers’ emotions in the process, it did a poor job of giving viewers any real insight into the lives of supporting characters or the SAMCRO community as a whole. Characters like “Juice” Ortiz were only allowed to provide comedic relief for a few seconds at a time, whereas prospect “Halfsack” was given a few seconds of glory when he represented SAMCRO in the bareknuckle boxing competition.
On the other hand, Mayans M.C. gave supporting characters the attention they deserved in order to make the world as a whole seem more realistic. Authenticity was conveyed to viewers in a variety of ways, not just through the actions of the main protagonist EZ, from the conflict between Johnny Cruz and his mother and daughter to Felipe Reyes’ interactions with law enforcement officials in an effort to protect his son.
Symbolism
Focus on a particular culture, which is continually alluded to by the inclusion of minute elements that emphasize the civilization’s beauty, is what Mayans have that SOA eventually lack. Each episode’s title, which consists of two names—the first in Spanish and the second referencing the Haab and Tzol’kin calendars—includes such references.
Additionally, the title of each episode makes reference to the symbolic animal that appears at the start of each episode, which in turn denotes the main subject of that particular episode. For instance, the title of the pilot episode, “Perro/Oc,” refers to the canine that appears in it. This dog represents faithfulness and fresh starts, which EZ brings to the table in his new position as a Mayan prophet. Such symbolism gives each episode additional depth and suggests how important it is to the
More Fast-Paced Story
It took a few episodes for viewers to fully understand the underlying plot, as the earlier episodes of the first season seemed to be mostly made up of stand-alone stories, even though SOA did a good job of fleshing out the backstories of the main characters and the organizational procedures of the motorcycle club.
The Mayans, on the other hand, did well to start out with a challenging narrative. The collaboration between the Mayans and Gallardo, the danger posed by Los Olvidados, and EZ’s dealings with the Feds were all introduced to viewers in the pilot episode, making Mayans a show that was simpler for viewers to get invested in right away.
