‘Mayans M.C.’ is an American crime drama TV show that airs on FX. The series first premiered on September 4, 2018. The show has been created by Kurt Sutter of ‘The Shield‘ and ‘Sons of Anarchy’ fame, and Elgin James. ‘Mayans M.C.’, for people who aren’t aware of the show at all, is a ‘Sons of Anarchy’ spin-off. Mayans is the name of the Latino Motorcycle Club. They used to be rivals of the SOA before they became allies, and the show has been set in the same universe.
The journey for this show hasn’t been easy. It is said that the pilot was reshot and that the cast had to be replaced as well. Initially, Emilio Rivera was to be the star of the show; but later was replaced by DJ Pardo.
Nick Grad who is a co-presidents of original programming at FX networks and production stated, “Kurt Sutter is a master storyteller, and Mayans MC has the raw energy and intensity that are hallmarks of his signature style. Thanks to Kurt, co-creator Elgin James, and this amazing cast, Mayans MC builds on the legacy of Sons of Anarchy, taking it in a thrilling new direction that we can’t wait for the world to see”.
It is not surprising to see the network stand staunchly behind Sutter and his creative vision considering the popularity of ‘Sons of Anarchy’. Notably, the spin-off managed to draw quite a strong fan base, most of it comprising of fans of the original show. Critics too were warm to the new idea and said that the drama is thrilling, and some of the characters are compelling. However, it struggles a bit to find its place, and it is difficult not to draw comparisons to the original, and the immense performative shadows cast by the Tellers of SOA.
Mayans M.C. Cast: Who is in it?
The main cast of ‘Mayans M.C.’ includes JD Pardo who plays the role of Ezekiel EZ Reyes who has just been released from prison. The story revolves around him. Angel Reyes played by Clayton Cardenas is the brother of EZ. Edward Olmos who plays Felipe is the father of EZ and Angel; he also runs a butcher shop. Apart from them, ‘Mayans M.C.’ also stars Sarah Bolger of ‘The Tudors‘ fame appears as Emily Thomas, EZ’s childhood sweetheart. She is now married to Miguel Galindo and is the mother of their child. Miguel’s character is played by Danny Pino of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit‘ fame. There are several supporting and guest characters in this intricate world of biker gangs that run on alliances and feuds.
Hopefully, in the upcoming season, we will see most of the main characters return, and perhaps some new faces could be thrown into the mix to make things interesting. Also, we would not be surprised to see some familiar faces from the original show popping up here.
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Mayans M.C. Plot: What is it about?
After two and a half years of the events of the ‘Sons of Anarchy‘, ‘Mayans M.C.’ takes place. The final day of Jax Teller is spoken about on the show. It focuses on the life and struggles of a prospect in the Mayans M.C. His name is Ezekiel EZ Reyes. EZ belonged to a Latino family who had the American dream. This dream was stamped on due to cartel-related violence. Vengeance, however, has its way in, which drives him towards a life he never expected for himself and which would be a difficult one to escape.
In the show, the biker gang has set up a store or shop in the fictional California border town. This town is called Santa Padre. In the shop, postal color dresses are manufactured which are packed with hidden heroin and are then stamped with a special stamp. These shipments containing the heroin-filled dresses are loaded on trucks.
During one shipment to Las Vegas, EZ decides to accompany it. Driving there, EZ has flashbacks of his childhood and life prior to this. The season then progresses to tell us more about the events that took place after this. The series shows that EZ tries to cut out an identity for himself as an outlaw and the trials and tribulations that he has to go through.
What stands out in the show is the fact that all the people are deeply flawed, and while SOA dealt with white people, this series focuses on Latin Americans, making the political weight that much more considering the current conservative shift in American sociopolitics. The setting of this show thus allows the makers to explore issues of undocumented immigration and family separations. However, at its core is an even more valuable lesson, that of showing marginalized people as navigators, not just of countries but socioeconomic classes as well. The setting and narrative are compelling, authentic, and valid.
Critics have summed up the show excellently, drawing some high parallels, saying, “Part if not all of that story will resonate with Sutter’s fans, but it might also feel familiar because it can be found at the core of many a drama about immigrants, their first-generation children, and the “American dream.” The Godfather saga is such an obvious inspiration for Mayans that Miguel and EZ casually reference the Corleone family in the midst of sizing up one another. Like Michael Corleone before him, Miguel also makes a bid for legitimacy, investing considerable funds to turn a deserted town into a kind of oasis. Francis Ford Coppola’s trilogy can be found in other corners of the Mayans landscape”.
Hopefully, the show will continue in a similar manner in the upcoming season, and we will get to see more of how the story of this biker gang unfurls and whether this will shape up to be another Shakespearean tale at par with ‘Sons of Anarchy’.
Mayans M.C. Season 2 Release Date: When will it premiere?
‘Mayans M.C.’ Season 1 premiered on September 4, 2018. As far as the next season goes, we have good news for the fans. In October 2018, FX renewed the show for another season. Our best guess is that ‘Mayans M.C.’ Season 2 can release sometime in September 2019. We will update this section as soon as we learn more.
Mayans M.C. Trailer:
While we wait for the release of ‘Mayans M.C.’ Season 2, check out the season 1 trailer to refresh your memories. If you haven’t seen the show yet head over to FX to catch all the episodes of the previous season.
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