I frequently check Wikipedia because I like to know the background of the actors. There is an especially distinguished and well regarded cast, particularly of supporting actors. For example, one, William Lucking, who plays Piney Winston, a co-founder of the Motorcycle club, has a long career in which he often acted in Westerns, both film and television. He was a co-founder of the Santa Paula Theatre Center, an acting workshop known for producing such classics as GB Shaw's Major Barbara, Albee's Zoo Story, etc.
His long career acting in Western dramas struck me as especially enlightening, given there's really little difference in the emoting and outlaw status of many of the bikers. The connections to Greek drama and Shakespeare, also, didn't escape me. Perhaps this was because so much of the plot development revolves around classic human conflict related to family relations, to the conflicts between duty to family and the state, etc.
I was quite surprised to learn that the main male protagonist, Jax Teller, the quintessential California boy hunk was played by Charlie Hunnam, a native of Newcastle on Tyne. There is no evidence of a British accent. He is thoroughly convincing as an American.
This is not the best writing ever, but it's completely amazing to me how much serious talent is involved with the production of television these days. The industry has been thoroughly transformed in a generation.
