Mayans M.C.

Did You Know?

• The series takes place two-and-a-half years after the events of Sons of Anarchy.
• The show is set in the fictional California border town of Santo Padre, hundreds of miles away from Sons of Anarchy's Charming.
• Edward James Olmos's character Felipe Reyes is revealed as the biological father of Miguel Galindo through his former lover Dita.
• David Labrava reprises his Sons of Anarchy role as Happy Lowman, who is later revealed to have killed Marisol Reyes as part of a murder-for-hire contract.

Cast and characters

J. D. Pardo portrays Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes, who begins as a prospect and later becomes Vice Presidente and then Presidente of the Mayans M.C. Santo Padre Charter after his release from prison. He is the younger brother of Angel Reyes, played by Clayton Cardenas, who serves as El Secretario of the same charter. Sarah Bolger plays Emily Galindo, EZ's former childhood sweetheart now married to Miguel Galindo and mother of their son Cristóbal. Michael Irby appears as Obispo "Bishop" Losa, former Presidente and Vice Presidente of the charter, cousin of founder Marcus Alvarez, and haunted by his son Aidan's death. Carla Baratta portrays Luisa "Adelita" Espina, former leader of Los Olvidados rebels fighting the Galindo Cartel. Richard Cabral plays Johnny "El Coco" Cruz, a former Marine sniper and full patch member. Raoul Max Trujillo appears as Che "Taza" Romero, former Vice Presidente who left the Vatos Malditos M.C. after its president killed his brother David. Antonio Jaramillo plays Michael "Riz" Ariza, Él Secretario of the charter. Danny Pino portrays Miguel Galindo, former leader of the Galindo Cartel, husband of Emily, and biological son of Felipe Reyes.

Production

James wrote the pilot script, and both served as executive producers, with Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions involved. FX ordered a ten-episode first season on January 5, 2018, and the series premiered on September 4, 2018. On January 12, 2023, FX announced the fifth season would be the last; it premiered on May 24, 2023.

Release

The first public look at Mayans M.C. happened on June 8, 2018, at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas. Co-creators Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, executive producer Norberto Barba, and cast members joined a motorcycle rally, followed by a clip screening and Q&A at the Paramount Theatre. On July 22, 2018, a San Diego Comic-Con panel featured Sutter, James, and actor J.D. Pardo, showing the first thirteen minutes of the pilot. The official premiere was held on August 28, 2018, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, with the cast and creators in attendance. By 2018, the series aired on FoxPremium in South America, FXNow in Canada, Fox Showcase in Australia, Canal+ in France, Neon in New Zealand, and HBO in several European countries.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 72% approval rating with an average rating of 6.43 out of 10 based on 36 reviews, with the critical consensus noting it as a thrilling drama with compelling characters that struggles to find its pace.