Opie’s Death Shows Why He’s Sons of Anarchy’s Most Important Character

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I was completely hooked on Sons of Anarchy, and while Charlie Hunnam’s Jax Teller seemed like the main guy, there’s this one scene that really made me realize the show wasn’t about him. The series takes place in this town called Charming, California, and it centers around this motorcycle club. At first, Clay Morrow, the club president played by Ron Perlman, seemed like the leader, with Jax as his right-hand man, the VP.

As a huge fan of Sons of Anarchy, I’ve always been captivated by the rollercoaster the club went on over those seven seasons – the fights with rivals, and honestly, the drama within the club itself. Jax definitely went through a lot, and the show didn’t shy away from tragedy, often taking things to really dark places. But looking back, one particular tragedy really highlighted how crucial a different SAMCRO member was to the story, making me realize Jax wasn’t actually the heart of the show.

Opie’s Death Was The Beginning Of Jax’s Downfall In Sons of Anarchy

As a critic, one of the characters who really stuck with me in Sons of Anarchy was Opie Winston, played by Ryan Hurst. He was Jax’s closest friend, and their connection ran deep because of their families. Opie’s father, Piney, was a founding member of SAMCRO alongside Jax’s dad, JT Teller, making both Opie and Jax essentially ‘legacy’ members. They were raised within the club’s world, and you really felt that history. Opie was fiercely loyal to SAMCRO, sometimes to his own detriment – and even caused friction in his marriage to Donna. He was a compelling character, and his devotion to the club was a core part of his story.

Opie tragically died in Sons of Anarchy while trying to protect his motorcycle club, SAMCRO. His death occurred in season 5 as revenge orchestrated by Damon Pope, whose daughter had been killed. Although Tig Triger didn’t mean to kill Pope’s daughter, Pope didn’t care about the circumstances and sought retribution.

Jax, Opie, Tig, and Chibs were imprisoned, and Pope, their captor, insisted one of them die in exchange for the others’ freedom. Jax wouldn’t choose a victim and even volunteered himself, but Opie intervened, attacking a guard. This act of defiance made Opie the one Pope sacrificed, and he was killed before Jax, Tig, and Chibs.

Opie’s death deeply affected Jax, who blamed himself, and it started a downward spiral for him. Opie had always been Jax’s guiding force, helping him stay reasonable and avoid reckless choices. Without Opie, Jax felt lost and adrift.

Sons of Anarchy Constantly Failed Opie

Opie was incredibly loyal to SAMCRO, returning to the club even after they left him in a difficult situation and despite his wife wanting him to leave that life behind. Like Jax, Opie was raised within the SAMCRO world and it was all he’d ever known.

SAMCRO didn’t consistently protect Opie, and often let him down. After Opie was released from prison – a prison sentence he received because of his involvement with the club – SAMCRO abandoned him. He was forced to find work as a lumberjack to provide for his family.

Opie returned to the motorcycle club because he was in financial trouble, but SAMCRO quickly turned on him again when the ATF tricked Clay into thinking Opie was an informant. Clay, distrusting Opie, ordered his murder, though Tig mistakenly killed Donna instead. Later, in season four, Clay killed Piney because Piney had discovered Clay’s involvement in JT’s death.

Opie was prepared to kill Clay, but Jax intervened. While Clay’s meeting with Mr. Mayhem stemmed from Piney’s death, Opie would have faced serious consequences from the club if he’d gone through with it. Despite everything, Opie remained fiercely loyal to the club, ultimately sacrificing his life for them.

How Opie’s Survival Could Have Changed The Rest Of Sons of Anarchy

Opie’s death was the start of a tragic chain of events for Jax, leading to losses like Tara’s murder and his own ultimate sacrifice. If Opie had lived, things might have turned out differently for Jax. Opie’s steady influence could have been exactly what Tara and Jax needed when Tara considered leaving, potentially saving her life.

If Tara hadn’t died, Jax wouldn’t have needed to die at the end of Sons of Anarchy. Gemma lied about how Tara died, and those lies caused Jax to make the choices that ultimately led to his own death. Even if Tara had still died, Opie might have been able to stop Jax from making the rash decisions he made during the seventh season.

Opie’s role in Sons of Anarchy was more significant than many viewers realize, and the major consequences of his death demonstrate just how important he was to the story.

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2025-11-07 17:19