Sons Of Anarchy: 15 Insane Details You Definitely Missed!

The SAMCRO members regularly throw around gang slang in order to emulate the way real bikers speak. Even when these idioms aren't explained, viewers can make an educated guess as to what they mean.

However, there's so much lingo tossed about, it's hard to pick up on everything they're saying. The Northern Irish gangsters called the police "Peelers" which is a nod to the founder of the British modern police force, Robert Peeler. When SAMCRO talk about "rat bikes", they're referring to crummy motorcycles composed of salvaged parts. A sweetbutt or a Crow Eater is a girl who hangs around clubs to have sex with the members. When the club discuss "The AB", they're talking about Neo-Nazis. If a club member is described as having "a dime", it means they spent at least ten years in jail. Anyone who wants to join the club but isn't being considered is a "Hang Around".

Unless you have a deep understanding of motorcycle club history, it's likely references like this went right over your head.

As Sons of Anarchy became more popular, every celeb under the sun began guest-starring. Jenna Jameson, Courtney Love, Doug Jones, Robert Patrick, and Michael Chiklis are but a few who pop up throughout the series.

However, the one cameo most people didn't recognise is also the most important. In Season 3 Episode 13, Otto seeks advice from Lenny "The Pimp" Janowitz, who is one of The First 9. Despite having his vocal cords removed, he can speak by pressing his fingers into his throat.

Unless you're a hardcore fan, you probably didn't know Lenny is portrayed by the founder of Hells Angels, Sonny Barger. Since the Hells Angels are the motorcycle club who inspired the show's creation, Sons of Anarchy would feel incomplete if Barger didn't make an appearance. It was also nice that Barger's character was the only member of The First 9 to survive SOA's entire run.

Sonny Barger may be the most famous Hells Angel but he's not the only one to star in SOA. David Labrava, who plays Happy Lowman, was a member of the biker club for many years. Although most of the actors use make-up for their biker tattoos, Labrava's are the real deal. He received all his ink during his tenure with the Hells Angels. (The smiley face tat on his arm is where his moniker "Happy" is derived.)

Hired to serve as the show's technical advisor, Kurt Sutter cast Labrava as a SAMCRO member, knowing he could easily draw from his own experience as a biker to give the character depth.

Because he never acted before, you would assume Labrava would only make the odd appearance. But Sutter thought Labrava was such a natural, he became a regular and even co-wrote the episode, Hands.

Labrava is no longer with the club nor does he speak about his time as a Hells Angel, but he says he has maintained a good relationship with them.

In the second-last episode, Nero tells Jax's ex-wife, Wendy, to back off or she'll be "riding in the trunk." She quickly retorts with "It won't be the first time." It may sound like a throwaway line but this quote is a reference to The Sopranos.

Drea de Matteo, who portrays Wendy, also played Christopher's partner, Adriana, in the Emmy-award winning gangster series. When Adriana confessed to her mobster boyfriend that she was a mole for the FBI, Tony Soprano had his henchman drive her into the woods and put a bullet in her skull.

Adriana's demise is also referenced in the episode, Small Tears, when Otto's wife becomes convinced SAMCRO is going to have her whacked. When Jax learns this, he jokingly asks her, "You think I brought you here to Adriana you?"

Katey Sagal has become legendary for her roles in television. Starring as Peggy in Married with Children, Leela in Futurama, and Gemma in Sons of Anarchy, it's hard to think of a time where the Golden Globe-winning actress hasn't dominated our screens.

However, it's easy to forget Sagal is also an accomplished singer. During the 1970s, she sang with Bette Midler in stage shows. After being spotted by a talent agent, she became a backing singer for KISS, Olivia Newton-Jon, Etta James, and Bob Dylan. She released her first CD, Well, in 1994 and her debut album, Room, in 2004.

The show's creator Kurt Sutter, recognised his wife's talent and had her perform a song every season - Son of Preacher Man, Ruby Tuesday, Bird on a Wire, Strange Fruit, To Sir With Love, For a Dancer, and Greensleeves. Although one could accuse Sutter of nepotism by asking his wife to sing throughout the series, there's no question Sagal's vocals perfectly match SOA's themes and tone.

The one aspect of SOA that's generated the most fan-theories is The Homeless Woman. Even though she appears in every season, often when Jax and Gemma are going through a major conflict, next to nothing is known about her.

Some viewers suspect she's Emily Punter - a woman supposedly killed by Jax's father, John. In Season 6 Episode 9, Jax sees a picture of Emily and points out that "she looks familiar" despite the fact she allegedly died years ago. Certain viewers believe Emily did die and The Homeless Woman is a ghost driven to torment the Tellers.

Because her final scene shows her with wine and bread, some suspect she is an angel or Jesus Christ. Since she's often cloaked and surrounded by death, some speculate she's the Grim Reaper. This idea is heightened by the fact that Jax dies very shortly after she gifts him with her robe.

Although fan-theories are fun, the reality is we'll probably never know since Kurt Sutter says The Homeless Woman's identity is up to interpretation.

Each SAMCRO member wears a kutte jacket labelled with multiple patches, which distinguish their position or rank. Labels like President, Treasurer, Enforcer, and Sergeant may be self-explanatory but the meaning behind certain patches isn't as obvious.

Clay gifts Juice with a Men of Mayhem patch after he successfully deals with The Mayans and the Russians. This title is reserved for members who've suffered for the club and are expected to perform dirty jobs.

Happy has a Nomad patch, showing that he doesn't belong to any specific club. However, Nomads can attend club business in any charter if they attain permission from the sitting president.

The Prospect patch is for potential club members. They must perform menial tasks for a year before the representatives decide to officially invite them into their ranks.

Clay and Happy earned The Unholy Ones patch, which is for members who kill to protect the club. Although SAMCRO have no qualms about taking the life of an enemy, Unholy Ones have to pull the trigger without question, even if it's to snuff out another club member.

For 30 years, Wayne Unser served as a police officer in Charming. After he retired, he used his clout as former chief to help SAMCRO anyway he could. Although Wayne's involvement with the gang makes him a dirty cop, he has nothing but noble intentions, since he believes Jax's group maintain order.

Even though SAMCRO sees Wayne as an ally, they blatantly take advantage of his good nature. Being in his 60s and fighting cancer, Wayne knows there's little he can do to fight back, forcing to submits to the club's terms, no matter how unreasonable they are.

Just to emphasise Wayne's role further, his surname, Unser, is German for "ours," which serves as a reminder the club own him and see him as a lackey more than a friend.

In the episode, Caregiver, Tig's partner gets in a scuffle and accidentally stabs herself to death. Knowing he has to dispose of the body, Tig hires a professional "cleaner" called Bachman.

Horror fans were thrilled to see the cleaner was played by none other than Stephen King. Considering he chops up a body and stuffs it down a slop sink, the visionary author probably has the most memorable cameo in the whole show.

Even if you recognised King, there is one little Easter egg that might've escaped your notice. When King became a famous writer, he was advised to release one book per year to avoid his name being oversaturated. To get around this, King wrote under the pseudonym, Richard Bachman. Under this persona, King wrote many stories including The Regulators, Rage, Roadwork, and The Long Walk. (Interestingly, some critics didn't like these books, saying they were too similar to King's style!)

Sutter always had King in mind for the role and so, named him Bachman as a tribute to to esteemed novelist.

Although SAMCRO try to resolve issues diplomatically before engaging in violence, Alexander "Tig" Trager is always ready to kick the crap out of anyone. Because of his volatile demeanour and salacious manner, it's easy to forget Tig has a sensitive side. He's a doting father and makes it clear there's nothing he wants more than to be loved.

Even though he's quite complex, the element most people remember about Tig is his irrational fear of dolls. It's never explained why, but nothing freaks Tig out more than gazing into the lifeless eyes of a marionette puppet.

Pediphobia may sound bizarre but it's more common than you would imagine. In fact, the show's creator, Kurt Sutter, admitted that Tig's trait was inspired directly from his own fear of dolls. In a bizarre twist of fate, Sutter's wife, Katey Sagal, happened to own a collection of life-like dolls when they started dating. Any time he was in her house, he had to "turn them the other way whenever she left the room".

A hamartia is a fundamental flaw which brings about the downfall of a hero. Every great tragic hero has one. Achilles' hamartia was his heel. Jay Gatsby's is his pursuit of the unachievable. And Jax Teller's fatal flaw is his heart.

Throughout the story, we learn many members of Jax's family have serious heart problems. His son, Abel, has a congenital heart defect and Jax's brother, Thomas, died due to suffering a hole in his heart. Gemma's chest scar is a constant reminder of her open-heart surgery.

Even though Jax has a heart defect, it doesn't seem to have impaired his health. But Jax's heart problem isn't physical but psychological. Despite the fact he tries to rule with his head, he cannot stop following his heart. Blinded by love to his mother and loyalty to his club, Jax is betrayed time and time again by the people he trusts. By the time he realises he has been manipulated, it matters little since the damage has been done.

Crows have served as an important symbol throughout human history. Depending on the culture, these birds are perceived as thieves, tricksters, messengers from the gods, or keepers of souls. But in Sons of Anarchy, crows are depicted as harbingers of death since they always appear before, during, or after a significant character meets their maker.

In the opening shot, we see a pair of crows feasting on a dove, which is often seen as a symbol of purity. In the beginning of the series, Gemma has a pet cockatoo. But after many members of SAMCRO bite the dust, Gemma's pet is replaced with a crow.

In the last scene in the final episode, the song, Come Join the Murder, is played. ("Murder" is a term used to describe a group of crows.) As Jax accepts his death in this scene, we cut to a shot of a crow soaring through the sky while the lyric "curse the raven's fire" is sung. And to top it all off, the series concludes with two crows nibbling on a piece of bread, which mixes with Jax's blood, implying his grisly fate was inescapable.

Since the word "anarchy" is in the club's title, it's easy to assume the group is in constant chaos. But in order for the club to function, SAMCRO must abide by a rigid set of laws. Most of these rules go without saying. Club members are forbidden from using hard drugs. Patches must be worn at all times. Club members must obey the president.

However, there's a couple of stipulations you may have forgotten. If any club member loses their motorcycle or are unable to ride, they cannot vote. (Also, their motorcycle has to be a Harley Davidson.) While on their bikes, the club must ride in order of rank, with the president in front and the prospects at the back.

If a club member is in jail, their other half is allowed to sleep with whoever they want. (Otto's wife takes full advantage of this since she gets with Bobby after her husband is incarcerated.)

Different clubs have slightly different rules but since SAMCRO is regarded as "The Mother" of all clubs, most groups try to follow their laws as best they can.

Even if you never read Hamlet, it's obvious Sons of Anarchy is a retelling of Shakespeare's most famous play. Clay murdered his brother, married his wife, adopted his son, and seized control of the territory, just like Claudius did in Hamlet. Although the club members do their best to move on from this tragedy, Jax becomes tormented by his father's legacy, much like how the ghost of Hamlet's father haunt his son. Juice snitches on his club members to the police as a nod to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on Hamlet.

Every main character perishes in the bard's play, so it was no surprise the same thing happened in SOA. Even though Jax exacts his revenge against his father's murder, he dies, as well as his mother. Tara dies with her head in water, as a reference to Hamlet's partner, Ophelia, drowning herself. Characters like Piney, Bobby, and Wayne serve as advisors to the club. Unsurprisingly, they all meet their end, much like the advisor for Hamlet's uncle, Polonius.

Just to drive the point further, the show concludes with a quote from Hamlet's letter to Ophelia, "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love."

Sons of Anarchy may have been originally pitched as "Hamlet on bikes" but it has more allegories to Christianity than anything. From beginning to end, the show is dripping in Biblical references.

In the pilot, we learn Jax's son is called Abel, which is the name of Adam and Eve's child. When Clay is told to stop the drugs from coming in, he says, "If the Devil wants in, he'll find a way," as a reference to the serpent sneaking into Eden. The Mayans' president wears snakeskin boots to symbolise his club is the serpent. Jax reveres his father like he is a divine being. Charming's idyllic appearance and name highlights how it's a stand-in for Eden.

And all those references are just in the first episode! Even though the whole show is filled with Christian symbolism, the most obvious reference is in the finale. Like how Jesus died to save humanity, Jax sacrifices himself to preserve his club's legacy. Just before he crashes into a truck, he holds his arms out, emulating Jesus' pose on the cross. Just before the truck collides into Jax, the driver yells, "Jesus!" just to make sure the viewers got the message.