When Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014, it had firmly cemented itself alongside FX’s other prestige dramas like The Shield, Nip/Tuck, and Rescue Me. It became one of the defining series of its era, and its finale left a void that even its spinoff Mayans M.C. didn’t fully fill. But a series many viewers missed captured that same outlaw energy. WGN America’s Outsiderspremiered in 2016, just two years after SOA wrapped, and now, the show’s two seasons are free to stream on Tubi.
Outsiders trades SAMCRO’s motorcycles for the rugged Appalachian wilderness, but the spirit is unmistakably similar. It blends lawless family drama, violent power struggles, and intense character arcs into something that feels both familiar and surprisingly fresh. With shades of Sons of Anarchy and even the dynastic tension of Succession, Outsiders is a gripping, under-the-radar gem that never got the mainstream attention it deserved. And with all episodes now easily accessible, there’s no better time to dive in.
What Is ‘Outsiders’ About?
Outsiders follows the Farrell clan, a reclusive family that has lived on Shay Mountain for more than two centuries, fiercely independent and violently protective of their way of life. Their self-governing code, traditions and rejection of the modern world immediately set them apart from the town below — especially as a corporate coal company attempts to seize their land and strip the mountain. At the center of the clan is their volatile patriarch, Big Foster Farrell (David Morse), whose old-school hunger for power collides with the pressure of a world they can no longer ignore.
Much of the show’s heart comes from the younger generation, especially Hasil Farrell (Kyle Gallner), whose tenderness and curiosity make him an unexpected breakout. His forbidden romance with local woman Sally-Ann (Christina Jackson) becomes the emotional spine of the series, bringing issues of racism, class, and identity to the forefront. Their storyline perfectly contrasts the clan’s isolation, highlighting what it truly means to be an outsider, both on the mountain and in the town.
Rounding out the ensemble are standout performances from Joe Anderson as Asa, who is met with immediate tension and turmoil when he returns to the mountain after spending time away. Ryan Hurst plays Lil Foster, Big Foster’s hulking son (and a clear draw for Sons of Anarchy fans), and Gillian Alexy as the sharp, strategic G’Winveer, who gets caught in the clan’s shifting power struggles. Opposing them is Sheriff Wade Houghton (Thomas M. Wright), a haunted lawman drowning in alcoholism, addiction, and PTSD. His unraveling obsession with the Farrells fuels the series’ slow-burn tension that sets the same dangerous, unpredictable tone Sons of Anarchy thrived on.
Fans of ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Will Love ‘Outsiders’
Sons of Anarchy fans will immediately feel at home in Outsiders. The series taps into the same outlaw-family DNA, governed by its own brutal laws, torn between tradition, and squeezed by a world determined to change them. Like SAMCRO, the Farrells are both villains and victims, pushing against the life they were born into while remaining bound to a code no outsider could ever fully understand. The power struggles inside the clan echo the old-guard tensions between Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and Clay (Ron Perlman), while Asa’s conflict with Big Foster recalls the push-and-pull between Sons of Anarchy‘s next generation.
The character parallels run even deeper, and like Sons of Anarchy, the exceptional cast helps bring the world to life. Ryan Hurst, beloved as Opie on Sons of Anarchy,brings a similar wounded intensity to Lil Foster, instantly making him a draw. Hasil and G’Winveer deliver the emotional weight that Sons of Anarchy fans will recognize from Jax and Tara (Maggie Siff), grounding the show’s violence in real human stakes. Meanwhile, Sheriff Wade Houghton’s complicated fear/respect of the Farrells echoes that of the lawmen of Sons of Anarchy, like Taylor Sheridan’s Deputy Hale or Dayton Callie’s Unser.
Unfortunately, unlike Sons of Anarchy, Outsiders never reached the audience it deserved. WGN America was still a smaller, overlooked network in 2016, and even other outstanding shows likeManhattanstruggled to break through simply because few viewers knew where to find them. But now is the perfect time to catch up. While Outsiders is a natural fit for fans of Sons of Anarchy, Succession, and even Yellowstone, the series stands entirely on its own thanks to its originality, gorgeous Appalachian setting, sharp writing, and a stellar ensemble cast. Criminally underrated, Outsiders is absolutely worth the binge, and with the full series streaming free on Tubi, there’s no better moment to dive in.
