Discovery has launched a new reality-show they are touting as the real life “Sons of Anarchy.” Whether “The Devils Ride” is worthy of such a comparison is still up for debate, as the season has just recently kicked-off. What we do know is that the show follows the San Diego-based motorcycle club, The Laffing Devils, as they do what any “outlaw” group does best: stir up trouble.
Who are The Laffing Devils?
Besides choppers, bandanas, and tattoos, the principles on which this club were founded are not entirely clear. About half are ex-military, but some members, such as Snubz, maintain fulltime corporate jobs.
One thing that is made abundantly clear in many of the interviews with club members is that this is a “brotherhood.” Yet, most of the drama so far deals with internal breaches of this sacred bond.
The Fate of the Laffing Devils
Developed by Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television, “The Devils Ride” chronicles the growing pains of The Laffing Devils as they add and lose members, as well as deal with finding a new club house. If you’ve seen “Sons of Anarchy” a lot of the scenarios will be familiar: there’s lots of hanging out in the clubhouse smoking cigars, hazing prospects, wrenching, and riding.
The opening episodes hinge on club president Gipsy and whether or not he will be able to negotiate between older and younger members as they try to determine where the club is heading. These tensions often translate into outbursts of wild behavior and anger that threaten to destroy the club’s future. As the club grows larger throughout the season, it’s only a matter of time before some serious restructuring will become necessary.
The Real Life “Sons of Anarchy”?
Obviously any club that even vaguely resembles the Sons of Anarchy wouldn’t let cameras into their club house. So how can a club that is under surveillance by the entire TV-watching public be considered an outlaw group?
As of yet, outlaw activity in “The Devils Ride” includes a prospect punching a photographer and a bike repo mission in which the keys are handed to them. Definitely nothing on par with the gun-running and violent shoot-outs that are everyday business for SAMCRO.
Interestingly, “Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter is currently working with Discovery, but not on this show. He has developed a six-part series called “Kurt Sutter’s Outlaw Empire,” which investigates real criminal organizations, such as the Crips, The South Boston Irish Mob, and Nuestra Familia.
