When Sons of Anarchy concluded in 2014, it marked the end of one of television’s most visceral and morally complex dramas. The FX juggernaut had captured the spirit of rebellion and loyalty like few others, creating a blueprint for outlaw family sagas that followed. But in the years immediately after, few series managed to recapture that volatile mix of lawlessness and loyalty — until Outsiders arrived.
Premiering on WGN America in 2016, Outsiders offered a different kind of rebellion — swapping California biker gangs for an Appalachian clan that had lived off the grid for centuries. While its network home kept it under the radar, the show delivered everything SOA fans crave: brutal internal politics, fractured loyalties, and tragic heroes torn between legacy and change. Now, almost a decade later, the series is streaming free on Tubi, ready for a second life among audiences hungry for gritty, character-driven drama.
“Outsiders wasn’t just a show about a mountain family — it was about power, pride, and the cost of belonging,” says TV critic Emily Sanford. “It’s one of those rare series that deserved far more attention than it ever got.”
What Outsiders Is About?: The Farrells vs. The World
Set deep in the fictional Blackburg County, Kentucky, Outsiders centres on the Farrells—a clan that has lived on Shay Mountain for over 200 years. The family has its own language, laws, and hierarchy, fiercely resisting government authority and the encroachment of modern civilisation.
At the head of the clan is Big Foster Farrell (David Morse), a patriarch consumed by power and tradition. His dominance is challenged by returning exile Asa Farrell (Joe Anderson), whose years away have left him more worldly — and more dangerous.
The core conflict erupts when a coal company lays claim to Shay Mountain, sparking a violent struggle between the Farrells’ independence and corporate greed. As the town sheriff (Thomas M. Wright) becomes obsessed with dismantling the clan’s rule, Outsiders becomes not just a drama about family, but a reflection on America’s long history of displacement, class tension, and rebellion.
Why Outsiders Feels Like the Spiritual Successor to Sons of Anarchy?
| Sons of Anarchy Element | Outsiders Counterpart |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle Club Brotherhood | Clan Loyalty on Shay Mountain |
| SAMCRO’s Internal Power Struggles | Big Foster vs. Asa’s Challenge |
| Jax Teller’s Search for Identity | Hasil Farrell’s Journey Toward Connection |
| Charming, CA’s Law Enforcement Pressure | Sheriff Wade Houghton’s Haunted Crusade |
| Family as Both Strength and Curse | The Farrell Bloodline’s Violent Code |
Both series explore outlaw families governed by their own codes, fighting against a world that refuses to understand them. Just as SAMCRO struggled to balance brotherhood with survival, the Farrells face the collapse of their traditions under modern pressure.
Ryan Hurst — known to SOA fans as Opie — plays Lil Foster, Big Foster’s brooding son, whose loyalty and emotional wounds echo his earlier role. “It’s impossible not to see shades of Opie in Lil Foster,” notes TV Guide contributor Darren Hudson. “He’s that tragic soul — strong, loyal, but perpetually trapped between love and violence.”
The Emotional Core: Hasil and Sally-Ann’s Forbidden Love
While Outsiders thrives on power and bloodshed, its heart lies in the unlikely romance between Hasil Farrell (Kyle Gallner) and Sally-Ann (Christina Jackson), a young Black woman from town. Their relationship bridges two worlds divided by race, class, and fear — and gives the series its most poignant human dimension.
Their love story recalls Jax and Tara’s from Sons of Anarchy — a glimmer of hope amid chaos. It’s also where the series becomes unexpectedly modern: through Hasil’s eyes, viewers experience the Farrells’ insular traditions colliding with questions of belonging and progress.
“Hasil’s innocence makes the violence around him even more heartbreaking,” says pop-culture analyst Nadine Lopez. “He’s the beating heart of the show — the reason viewers stay invested.”
Cast and Performances: A Stellar, Underrated Ensemble
Outsiders assembled one of the strongest casts of any 2010s drama — a blend of veterans and rising stars:
| Actor | Character | Notable Traits |
|---|---|---|
| David Morse | Big Foster Farrell | Ruthless patriarch; craves absolute control |
| Joe Anderson | Asa Farrell | Exiled son; challenges the old order |
| Ryan Hurst | Lil Foster Farrell | Loyal, conflicted warrior; emotional anchor |
| Kyle Gallner | Hasil Farrell | Young idealist; bridges two worlds |
| Christina Jackson | Sally-Ann | Grounded outsider; emotional conscience |
| Thomas M. Wright | Sheriff Wade Houghton | Obsessed lawman; addicted, unstable |
| Gillian Alexy | G’Winveer Farrell | Strategic matriarchal figure; political genius |
Each performance contributes to a haunting portrait of a society on the brink of collapse — a world where every gesture carries the weight of history and survival.
Why Outsiders Never Got the Spotlight It Deserved?
When Outsiders premiered in 2016, WGN America was trying to reinvent itself as a prestige network, but lacked the reach of FX or AMC. Critics praised its ambition, but limited marketing and distribution meant many viewers simply missed it.
The show ran for two seasons before being canceled in 2017 — not due to poor quality, but because WGN pivoted away from scripted programming entirely.
“It was a casualty of timing,” notes TV historian Marcus Wynn. “If Outsiders had aired on FX or Netflix, it would have been a phenomenon.”
Now, with both seasons streaming free on Tubi, the series is finding new audiences — many of them Sons of Anarchy and Yellowstone fans drawn to its rugged setting and family-driven storytelling.
What Makes It the Perfect Weekend Binge?
- Only Two Seasons: 26 episodes total — perfect for a weekend watch.
- Deep Mythology: Intriguing traditions, rituals, and power dynamics.
- Stunning Visuals: Filmed in rural Pennsylvania’s forests, capturing the Appalachian landscape with cinematic intensity.
- Gritty Storytelling: Crime, loyalty, and survival blend seamlessly with character-driven arcs.
- A Complete Arc: Despite cancellation, the second season offers emotional closure.
| Feature | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Setting | Isolated mountain culture mirrors SOA’s biker underworld |
| Tone | Brooding, violent, deeply human |
| Themes | Power, family, loyalty, identity |
| Pacing | Fast-moving but grounded in character emotion |
| Availability | Both seasons free to stream on Tubi |
Why Outsiders Matters in 2025?
In an era dominated by Yellowstone and Succession, Outsiders feels more relevant than ever. It examines the clash between tradition and capitalism, family and freedom, power and progress — issues that continue to define American storytelling.
As viewers search for shows that carry emotional authenticity and social bite, Outsiders stands out as a lost classic that deserves rediscovery. Its rawness, visual poetry, and moral ambiguity mark it as part of the same lineage that made Sons of Anarchy legendary.
Conclusion
A decade after Sons of Anarchy roared off TV screens, Outsiders offers fans a new frontier — one just as dangerous, emotional, and morally tangled. It’s a story about identity and survival, set against a landscape as unforgiving as the human heart.
For those who missed it the first time, this is the perfect moment to climb Shay Mountain and experience the saga that quietly carried the SOA torch. On Tubi, free and unfiltered, Outsiders finally gets the second ride it always deserved.
FAQs
Two seasons (2016–2017), totalling 26 episodes.
Both full seasons are streaming free on Tubi.
No — but it shares similar themes and stars Ryan Hurst, who played Opie in SOA.
WGN America ended its scripted drama lineup in 2017, unrelated to the show’s performance.
The outlaw-family dynamics, violent code of honour, and conflicted characters mirror what made Sons of Anarchy so compelling.
Yes. While it leaves room for continuation, the Season 2 finale provides satisfying closure.
