Sons of Anarchyhas many interesting characters, both SAMCRO allies and enemies, but the show’s best character was almost very different thanks to the actor’s first impression of him.Sons of Anarchyarrived in 2008 to take the audience to the town of Charming, in California, where the title motorcycle club was respected, feared, and also disliked by the town’s residents. Despite following the many conflicts and stories within the club and with other organizations,Sons of Anarchy’s main focus was the VP and later President, Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam).
It was through Jax that the audience got to meet the rest of SAMCRO’s members, their loved ones, allies of the club, and enemies, as well. Jax and the club went through a lot over seven seasons, and he and many other characters weren’t the same in the first season and the last. The character with the best and most impressive development in the entire series was Tig Trager (Kim Coates), who is also one of the fewSAMCRO members who survivedSons of Anarchy, but he was almost very different.
Tig Is Sons Of Anarchy’s Best Character, But That’s Thanks To Kim Coates' Performance
Tig Wouldn’t Have Been The Same Without Kim Coates
At the beginning ofSons of Anarchy, Tig Trager was SAMCRO’s Sgt-at-Arms, meaning that he was Clay’s (Ron Perlman) right hand and the last line of defense between the threat and the President. As such,Tig was very loyal to Clay and the club, but he was also very impulsive and aggressive. Tig’s recklessness made him responsible fortwo huge tragedies inSons of Anarchy, and he often got himself and the club in trouble because of this. However, Tig went through gradual but necessary character development, and he was very different by the end of the show.
Tig was a layered character, and throughout its seven seasons,Sons of Anarchymade sure to go deep into who Tig really was.
Tig looked tough on the outside, but asSons of Anarchydeveloped, as well as his character, Tig showed his true self.Tig was actually very sensitive, which directly connected to his strong loyalty, and he was a loving father despite the relationship with his daughters not being the best. Tig was a layered character, and throughout its seven seasons,Sons of Anarchymade sure to go deep into who Tig really was. Of course, all this wouldn’t have been possible without Kim Coates’ excellent performance.
There was a lot to unpack when it came to Tig, but the reasons behind his views, attitude, and actions were eventually revealed, showing a deeply broken and wounded man.
Kim Coates understood the many layers of Tig and knew how and when to show each side of the character. In the firstseasons ofSons of Anarchy, Tig wasn’t exactly the most likable character and could even be considered antagonistic, but by the end of the show, he was the best remaining member of SAMCRO thanks to the much-needed development he went through, and it was a gradual and smooth process. There was a lot to unpack when it came to Tig, but the reasons behind his views, attitude, and actions were eventually revealed, showing a deeply broken and wounded man.
Coates knew when he had to be subtle with Tig and when to go all for it, which helped with the character’s unpredictability.Coates nailed that duality of Tig of being a tough and aggressive man, and his most sensitive, vulnerable, and wounded side, which were key to Tig’s development and status asSons of Anarchy’s best character.
Kim Coates Almost Didn’t Play Tig Trager In Sons Of Anarchy
Tig Trager Could Have Been Completely Different
Kim Coates made Tig into the unforgettable character that he now is, but Tig was almost very different, asCoates had to be convinced to take the role. Speaking to Michael Rosenbaum in his podcastInside of You, Coates was asked about his experience playing a character as intense asSons of Anarchy’s Tig. Coates described it as “mental” and revealedhe turned down the role because he found Tig to be “too psychotic.”
Sons of Anarchy’s creator, Kurt Sutter, had to convince Coates, assuring him that Tig had a heart of gold, was funny, was a moral compass for the club (though that can be debated), and noting the fun of riding a motorcycle. Coates was ultimately convinced by the many layers of Tig and the overall experience of a project likeSons of Anarchy, and expressed how glad he was that he joined the show.
The Sons Of Anarchy Star Took His Character Far Beyond His Initial Impression Of Him
Kim Coates Truly Made Tig Into What He Now Is
Kurt Sutter was right in how he described Tig to Kim Coates when convincing him to joinSons of Anarchy, though one wouldn’t really consider Tig the “moral compass” of the club.Tig truly had a heart of gold, buried underneath a lot of trauma from his childhood and in his personal life, such as the loss of the love of his life in an accident, later learning that she was pregnant. Tig’s sensitivity shone through at sporadic yet important moments throughoutSons of Anarchy, such as when rescuing an injured dog and in his relationship with Venus (Walton Goggins).
Coates understood there was a lot behind Tig’s tough appearance and recklessness, and added depth to the character.
Tig was also funny, in his own dark way, and he was one of the most loyal members of the club, and he was not only loyal to SAMCRO and Clay, but also to Gemma (Katey Sagal), whom he always protected. Coates understood there was a lot behind Tig’s tough appearance and recklessness, and added depth to the character that would have been hard to get had Tig been played by another actor. Tig was definitely psychotic at times, yes, but he was also deeply broken and eventually changed for the better.
Kim Coates' Background Made Him The Best Choice To Play Clay’s Right-Hand Man
Tig Trager Was One Of Sons Of Anarchy’s Most Complex Characters
Although Kim Coates is now best known for his performance as Tig inSons of Anarchy, he already had experience with complex characters like Tig. On TV, before riding the streets of Charming with his SAMCRO brothers, Coates had small roles in shows likeWar of the Worlds,RoboCop,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, andCold Case. In 2006, he joinedPrison Breakas Richard Sullins, an FBI special agent and the head of Internal Affairs within the FBI. On the big screen, Coates’ most notable roles were Lt. Richards inPearl Harborand MSG Chris Wex inBlack Hawk Down.
In 2007,Coates starred in the TV filmKing of Sorrow, where he played Steve Serrano, a homicidal policeman with substance-use disorder with a traumatic past of abuse, who begins a relationship with a suicidal psychiatrist. On top of all this,Coates had a theater background, which shone through in his performance as Tig, helping him stand out from the rest of the cast. Kim Coates madeSons of Anarchy’s Tig into what he is, including being the best character in the show.
