Shows like motorcycle drama Mayans M.C. take viewers on a wild ride where the main protagonists are criminals but often have a good reason for their standing in life. Mayans M.C. is the sequel to the popular FX series Sons of Anarchy. It starts up a couple of years after Jax died and centers on the titular motorcycle club, who are enemies turned allies of SAMCRO. They live in the fictional California border town Santo Padre, and the main character is Ezekiel Reyes (aka EZ), a Mayan who takes over as the leader and seeks revenge for the death of his family when he was young.
Mayans M.C. ran for five seasons before FX announced it was coming to an end in 2023, and many fans will be looking for something to watch to fill the gap left by the show's departure. This is a show about a man who is noble and has a sense of self-worth, but someone whose life has never been his own and who rides his bike every day looking to hurt the people who took what he loves away from him. At the same time, Mayans M.C. is about a club that remains fiercely loyal to each other but is always looking over their shoulders, knowing an enemy could come from anywhere — even from within.
Narcos (2015-2017)
- Stream on Netflix
Mayans M.C. is a crime drama that focuses on the drug trade, as did its parent series Sons of Anarchy. For a similar show that is all about the drug trade, look no further than the Netflix true-life series Narcos. This tells the story of the rise of Pablo Escobar in the 1970s and 1980s when he became the wealthiest and most successful drug kingpin in the world. While Mayans M.C. in no way features successful or wealthy criminals, the two shows still share a lot in common, as both are about the risks these men take to build their underworld empires.
The Wire (2002-2008)
- Stream on Max
There haven't been many shows that match the critical acclaim of HBO's The Wire. Similar to shows like Mayans M.C., this series focused on street crime, the effects it has on the people involved in these communities, and those that it hurts. Created by David Simon, The Wire took place in Baltimore, and each season of the series focused on different institutions. For fans of Mayans M.C., the first season dealt with the police and organized crime syndicates, while the second went more into the lives of the blue-collar workers, but all five seasons are worth watching.
Banshee (2013-2016)
- Stream on Max
While Banshee is a show like Mayans M.C., it may also appeal to fans of The Boys, who will get to see Homelander actor Antony Starr in a very different role. Starr plays Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who takes on the identity of a sheriff in Banshee, Pennsylvania to hide from his past and a powerful crime boss who wants him dead, while never taking his eyes off his criminal ways. The series ran for four seasons and won a Primetime Emmy for its special visual effects.
Justified (2010-2015)
- Stream on Hulu
Over six seasons, FX told the story of Elmore Leonard's tough-as-nails deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in the series Justified. Raylan was a man who fought for the side of good, and he did it by any means necessary. However, for fans of shows like Mayans M.C., Justified also introduced one of the most complex and brilliantly executed villains on TV in Walton Goggins' Boyd Crowder. Boydled the crime syndicate in the small town of Harlan while also having a complicated past with Raylan. Boyd's character evolution from the first season to the end is a masterclass in crime drama storytelling.
Peaky Blinders (2012-2022)
- Stream on Netflix
Peaky Blinders is based on a true story of a real-life crime family who rose to power following World War I in England. The six-season series follows the family's rise in power starting in 1919 and going through to 1933, the rise of fascism in Europe, and the ending of Prohibition in the United States. Much like shows like Mayans M.C., this is a story about a gang who has to survive on trust, although there is always someone looking to get ahead in the end. With a stellar cast consisting of Cillian Murphy, Paddy Considine, Adrian Brody, Tom Hardy, and more, the show won several awards throughout its run.
The Punisher (2017–2019)
- Stream on Disney+
Based on the Marvel Comics character, this Netflix action-thriller is centered around Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, a troubled war veteran who turns to vigilante justice after he loses his family to organized crime. Parallels can be drawn between Castle and Mayans M.C. protagonist Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes, as both are men plagued by their own traumatic pasts. And even though they try to stray away from violence, their circumstances pull them back into a dark life. The Punisher doesn’t promote vigilantism; rather, it touches upon the mental effects it can have on such a person.
Animal Kingdom (2016–2022)
- Stream Prime Video
Based on the Australian movie of the same name, Animal Kingdom starts off with an everyday man who turns to a life of crime after the death of his mother. This personal tragedy results in him unearthing new secrets about his family upon knowing that he can’t help but be a part of the “animal kingdom.” The themes centric to the show’s narrative are loyalty and betrayal. Despite their personal rivalries with each other and the attempts to overpower the matriarch of the family, the characters of Animal Kingdom stick with the “clan”. Such camaraderie is evoked in shows like Mayans M.C.
Queen Of The South (2016–2021)
- Stream on Netflix
After her drug-peddler boyfriend is murdered by a cartel boss, Teresa Mendoza starts a new life in America. As she herself turns into a menacing drug kingpin, she sets out to seek revenge on those who wronged her lover. The rise in power that Mendoza witnesses in the criminal underworld is reminiscent of EZ's journey within the Mayans M.C. As he's fresh out of prison, EZ wishes to stay away from the chaos but vengeance remains on his mind. Much like the titular "Queen of the South," EZ carves his own path while punishing the ones who betrayed him.
The Shield (2002–2008)
- Stream on Hulu
Inspired by the infamous Rampart Division police scandal within the LAPD, The Shield deals with a fictional police division in Los Angeles that has a high success rate but relies on dubious methods. The show highlights the corruption within the police and the disastrous effects it can have on justice in general. While shows like Mayans M.C. deal with a gang that is ready to take the law into its own hands, it also focuses on the mutual respect and honor within the collective. The Shield flips the tables as it focuses on dirty cops and sheds light on the discord between them. Mayans M.C. and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter served as a producer, director, and writer on The Shield.
Power (2014–2020)
- Stream on Hulu
Power revolves around James St. Patrick, aka Ghost, a wealthy nightclub owner who is also secretly a drug kingpin. The double life he leads turns him into a complex character with morally grey areas. As Ghost’s circumstances are explored, audiences get an insight into the reasons why he chose such a turbulent life. Much like EZ on Mayans M.C., Power’s lead character naturally evolves over the course of multiple seasons. There are moments when either man can be judged by their morals and then there are times when the viewer can’t help but empathize with their struggles to lead a normal life.
