Series Summary
In the first season, Jax discovers a book, written by his father, John Teller (JT). The book was a journal, a guide, to how to get the club back on the right path. John had wanted to get the club away from criminal activity, away from gun running and the things that got them killed or incarcerated. Jax sees this book as his opportunity. He uses it as his own code, his guide to the future of SAMCRO. His first act toward getting the club on the right path is setting up a porn business which is, while not generally morally acceptable, is perfectly legal. After his drug-addicted ex-wife, Wendy gives birth to his son, Abel, Jax falls for an old flame, Tara Knowles. Tara is attacked by her own ex-boyfriend and Jax kills him. Thus begins Jax’s life of death and destruction, despite his goal to get the club back into legal and safe dealings. Tara, Jax and his son, Abel, become a happy family immersed in the life of the club, and eventually have another son together named Thomas (after Jax’s dead brother).
Really, the series boils down to an unseen, yet influential father provides his people with his own son, and his written word to guide them to a better life and the trials they face along the way.
Throughout the seasons the club deals with conflicting Motorcycle Clubs and white supremacists, Jax becomes president, and Clay Morrow; a corrupted leader, is killed. Many of the club's original members die, Jax tries to leave the club with Tara to save his sons from a crime-filled life but is unsuccessful. Opie (Jax’s best friend since childhood and fellow club member) sacrifices his life to keep the club safe . There is a catholic school shooting by a child carrying the club’s guns, the ATF and various other police forces try to incarcerate the whole club, and at one point they succeed in imprisoning most of it’s members. The club goes to Ireland to track down a kidnapped Abel (Jax’s son and Tara’s step son), and takes down some of the IRA’s most influential members. After being arrested and imprisoned herself, Tara gets killed by Jax’s own mother, Gemma, and Jax himself dies as a last ditch effort to save his sons from a life of killing, crime, and pain. He sends them off with Nero, Gemma’s boyfriend, and Wendy, Abel’s biological mother. As his final act for the club, Jax cuts off their criminal ties by killing off the leaders of the most dangerous crime organizations and sacrificing himself, taking all the clubs recent crimes down with him in a collision with a semi-trailer truck.