How Sons of Anarchy Hidden Calls to The Shield Reveal a Shared Universe

Aficionados of the popular series might recognize that it boasts a rich tapestry of intricate characters, compelling narratives, and graphic violence, yet some may not be aware that it’s also brimming with Easter eggs. These could range from discreet tributes to other tales and television programs, or hints at the creator Kurt Sutter’s private life and traits. These hidden gems are sprinkled throughout the episodes and ingeniously woven into the narrative itself.

There are many subtle references in Sons of Anarchy that link it to another FX crime series, The Shield. These references, or ‘Easter eggs,’ aren’t just for amusement – they show a creative bond between the two shows.

Sons of Anarchy’s Subtle Callbacks to The Shield

From Shared Gangs to Cast Overlaps

The similarities between “Sons of Anarchy” and “The Shield” are evident in both direct references and more subtle callbacks such as recurring characters and shared criminal organizations. Viewers of both series have observed that the One-Niners and Byz Lats, two gangs, appear in both shows. In “Sons of Anarchy,” the One-Niners play a significant role by collaborating with SAMCRO to obtain weapons. These gangs occasionally teamed up to execute attacks on rival groups, but tensions often erupted due to SAMCRO’s tendency to blame the One-Niners for their own misdeeds. On the other hand, the Byz Lats have a minor presence in the series, as their leader had a brief friendship with Jax (Charlie Hunnam).

In the television series The Shield, both the One-Niners and Byz Lats make an appearance. These gangs, along with their professions and ethnicities, remain consistent within the show. Detective Vic (played by Michael Chiklis) is on a mission to dismantle the One-Niners, but they manage to grow stronger and more influential even while under law enforcement scrutiny. The Byz Lats are infamous for controlling the drug trade in Farmington, New Mexico. This overlap of gangs has caused some viewers to speculate that they belong to the same fictional world. Moreover, both Sons of Anarchy and The Shield have a number of shared actors.

A significant number of main actors from the show The Shield can be found in Sons of Anarchy, often playing different characters. However, some key actors like Catherine Dent, Michael Jace, and Anthony Anderson were absent from Sons of Anarchy. The majority of the remaining cast members, including Jay Karnes, appeared in both shows. For instance, Jay Karnes played detective Dutch Wagenbach in The Shield and Agent Josh Kohn in seven episodes of Sons of Anarchy. Other actors who appeared in both shows include Benito Martinez, Kenny Johnson, CCH Pounder, David Rees Snell, and David Marciano. Notably, the most thrilling actors from The Shield to appear on Sons of Anarchy are Vincent D’Onofrio (Chiklis) and Walton Goggins.

In the finale of “Sons of Anarchy,” Michael Chiklis, known for his role as the main character Vic in “The Shield, was given an unexpectedly significant yet brief part. He portrayed Milo, the truck driver, who collides with Jax while escaping police. This minor role has ignited a popular fan theory among “Sons of Anarchy” enthusiasts that suggests Milo could be none other than Vic himself, having taken up truck driving after the events in “The Shield“. Although it remains unconfirmed if the characters are one and the same, Milo subtly references Vic through mentioning he has four children, just like Vic does.

In Sons of Anarchy, Goggins’ character shares a clever reference to his role in The Shield. In The Shield, he played Detective Shane Vendrell and used the alias Cletus Van Damm when undercover. In Sons of Anarchy, a character named Venus Van Dam is a nod to this alias.

How Sons of Anarchy Pulled off Its Tributes to The Shield

The Shows Share a Key Creative

In the series “Sons of Anarchy,” there are more than just shared actors and organized crime groups linking it to “The Shield.” Intriguingly, “The Shield” makes a brief appearance within “Sons of Anarchy.” During Season 4, Episode 14, titled “To Be, Act 2,” one of the SAMCRO members named Juice (played by Theo Rossi) is detained in an ATF cell. While in this cell, some observant viewers will spot that “The Shield” is playing on the TV. This appearance suggests that within the universe of “Sons of Anarchy,” “The Shield” might be just another television show, despite the similarities between their gangs.

It’s intriguing to ponder how and why Sons of Anarchy made those callbacks to The Shield. The answer lies in the fact that before creating the former, Kurt Sutter had prior experience with the latter. In fact, Sutter was an actor on the show, playing Margos Dezerian, and held various key roles behind the scenes such as executive producer for seasons 6 and 7, story editor for season 2, and staff writer for season 1. Additionally, his wife, Katey Sagal, also starred in The Shield with a guest role as Nancy Gilroy in season 2.

In later years, Sutter and Sagal reunited on screen in the show “Sons of Anarchy.” Sutter, during this time, also cast Sagal in a role within the series. Simultaneously, Sagal appeared in twenty episodes as the SAMCRO member “Big” Otto Delaney. As a result, many callbacks and references found in “Sons of Anarchy” are due to its link with “The Shield,” a connection established by Sutter, who skillfully paid tribute to the earlier series through his writing.

Sons of Anarchy and The Shield’s Similarities Go Deeper Than Kurt Sutter

The Shield Paved the Way for Sons of Anarchy

Sutter seamlessly connected “Sons of Anarchy” and “The Shield” through his callbacks and references, but it’s clear that the similarities between these shows run deeper than just Sutter and a few Easter eggs. In truth, “The Shield” played a significant role in shaping “Sons of Anarchy.” After all, “The Shield” essentially blazed a trail for “Sons of Anarchy.” It was a daring, bold, and gritty crime drama that revolved around morally ambiguous characters who were sometimes reprehensible. The main character, Vic, is a complex anti-hero as a detective who employs unethical and brutal tactics to combat gang activity and the drug trade in his jurisdiction. Furthermore, “The Shield” was not afraid to push boundaries with its intense and often disturbing portrayals of violence.

It was established that there was demand for gritty and violent narratives centered around gang activity, featuring intricate characters and plotlines. This paved the way for Sutter to introduce his Sons of Anarchy, a series that explores gang activity, moral gray areas, and violence through the lens of an outlaw motorcycle club instead of a law enforcement unit against gangs. Interestingly, Vic and Jax share similarities as complex anti-heroes who strove to do what was right but often took the wrong paths, ultimately leading to unfortunate ends. The Shield demonstrated that audiences were keen on such morally ambiguous characters if they were portrayed effectively.

Essentially, references to “The Shield” in “Sons of Anarchy” aren’t just fun nods, but a demonstration of a strong creative bond between the two shows that may have played a crucial role in shaping “Sons of Anarchy”. The similarities between the shows, stemming from Sutter, imply that some genetic material of “The Shield” was passed on to “Sons of Anarchy”. However, it’s crucial to note that while Kurt Sutter had creative control over “Sons of Anarchy”, he did not have the same for “The Shield”. This means both shows pushed boundaries and share a gritty aesthetic with anti-heroes, but they are distinct from each other.

The numerous tributes to The Shield in Sons of Anarchy clearly demonstrate that not only did the latter series draw heavily from its predecessor, but it also played a significant role in launching creator Kurt Sutter’s career within the television industry. As a staff writer on The Shield, he began his journey, eventually climbing up to executive producer – a position that undoubtedly contributed to FX’s decision to greenlight Sons of Anarchy. The references in Sons of Anarchy to The Shield become even more meaningful when we consider them as nods to Sutter’s early career before he achieved television stardom with his own series.

2025-06-03 05:53