I started watching Sons of Anarchy first and that's probably why I ended up liking it more even though seasons 6 and 7 weren't good, while Justified's last season was the second best of the hole series (first to season 4). Anyway I know that these shows get compared, a lot because they are similar and have multiple actors that appear on both shows. I wonder which one people find better?
shareLOL justified all the way (just finished last episode tonight)
If you want a real question, i would say : The Shield or Justified
The Shield was superb its first two seasons. Season 3 was bad, though. The writers put in a bunch of outrageous stuff just for the sake of being outrageous (and ridiculous). Season 4 recovered with a superb turn by Glenn Close. From then on it got painful to watch as all the characters turned ugly and there was no fun or humor in the stories at all. Pretty much the way SOA was all the way through. I found it hard to believe so many people watched it. Nothing but misery, and what's entertaining about that?
shareThe Shield was superb its first two seasons. Season 3 was bad, though. The writers put in a bunch of outrageous stuff just for the sake of being outrageous (and ridiculous). Season 4 recovered with a superb turn by Glenn Close. From then on it got painful to watch as all the characters turned ugly and there was no fun or humor in the stories at all. Pretty much the way SOA was all the way through. I found it hard to believe so many people watched it. Nothing but misery, and what's entertaining about that?
I will say, without any hesitation, that The Shield reaches heights that Justified never does. That's not to say Justified is bad on that account, it's just that the way the two shows played out, The Shield had the opportunity to go to places that Justified didn't. I would say Justified had better dialogue, the seasons were probably better structured than (some) of the seasons of The Shield, the characters in Justified were more colorful and memorable, and it is just a more entertaining series overall. The Shield on the other hand had an incredible break-neck pace and was incredibly intense. I would also say the directing on The Shield is probably more memorable than the directing on Justified (not that it was bad).
For me, I would choose Justified because of that entertainment value and because I have a stronger emotional connection to it. But The Shield is a damn close second. Great question!
Justified hands down is superior in my eyes. Sons was good until I realized around season 3 that Sutter is pretty much just telling a story for shock value and brutality. When it got to the point I could not even stand the lead protagonist was when I walked away from the show. I just ceased to care what happened to the characters. once that happens I've got better ways to spend an hour. Whereas even the a-hole characters were strangely likable in Justified. Not one character in Sons could hold a candle to Boyd. One of the great characters in TV history. Solid narrative that kept the characters fairly consistent to who they are. Strangely it did seem that the female characters, aside from Rachel, were a little more all over the place. That would probably be my biggest complaint about the show. Aside from not enough Tim in some seasons.
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Barbecue corn nuts
Rest upon lily pads safe
For frogs have no teeth
Justified.
I just cared about the characters more, even Boyd, as bad as he got. The villains were written so well. Wynn Duffy!
None of the lead characters in SOA interested me for any length of time, although I thought it had good promise with the "Hamlet" concept.
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Justified, without a doubt.
SOA felt more like a procedural-type show as the seasons went on: bikers show up on other people's turf, they do something overly dramatic to let others know they mean business or they'll discuss business propositions with rival gangs, and don't even get me started on the underwhelming car chase/shootout scenes -- I would've fast forwarded right through those if I wasn't watching the show with other people.
SOA was like watching a newer, less exciting version of The Shield. Except in The Shield, it actually made sense when the gangs would get put in their place because the Strike Team had badges to go with their guns, unlike Jax and the rest of his crew.
Justified.
SOA definitely has some great moments and plot developments, but it's takes tons of filler and contrivances to get to those moments. The show was granted lots of leeway in its later seasons to have long episodes (due to its high ratings), and sadly they filled most of that time with complete nonsense.
Justified has its flaws (namely, there's a few major plot turns that are implausible), but each individual episode is very tightly written and entertaining. Plus, the characters and weekly scenarios are way more fun.
Venus Van Damme the apple of Tig's eyes.
Tommy Flanagan (Chibs) did a great cameo as the Shelby clan's fallen patriarch in Peaky Blinders, an awesome series. I'm streaming my way through Justified now, it started weak but now it's developing into a hillbilly version of The Wire. As such I can't say which show is better.
The only weakness I see in Justified, they haven't figured out what to do with Winona. Ava has been consistently strong throughout. And I expect Ellstin Limehouse to play an important part in later seasons. You don't set him up as, to quote Henry Hill from Goodfellas, protection for wise guys and relegate him to just Season 3.
Veteran character actor Neil McDonough (Quarles) was awesome. Best series villain since Joey Pantoliano (Ralphie Cifaretto) in The Sopranos.
No contest, Justified is good stuff... and SOA was painful to watch.
I can't say I liked one more than the other.
I was glued to the TV for both of them, and ended up getting all the seasons on DVD.
I gave SOA a 7 and Justified an 8, but it really isn't that close.
If you take out the few really great moments of SOA it becomes just a stupid ass dude show. Justified was so much more.