FX's hit biker-gang drama, "Sons of Anarchy," will be back for a 13-episode fifth season, the network announced Monday.
The return of Kurt Sutter's series, the top-rated drama in basic cable and the highest-rated series ever on FX, was no surprise. (Though "The Walking Dead" looks poised to take its basic cable crown.)
On a first-run basis, season four episodes are averaging 5.8 million total viewers and 3.9 million in the prized 18-49 demographic. Those numbers are up 30 percent and 26 percent, respectively, from the third season averages for each episode.
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"Everyone at FX is very grateful to Kurt Sutter, his many writing, directing and producing collaborators and his masterful cast for making such a compelling and beautifully crafted show," said FX Networks president John Landgraf.
"Everyone at FX is very grateful to Kurt Sutter, his many writing, directing and producing collaborators and his masterful cast for making such a compelling and beautifully crafted show," said Landgraf. "It is no small challenge to bring the themes of a great, ancient play like 'Hamlet' into a wholly original television setting and to tell this complex story in a way that is both riveting and accessible to a broad audience. The fans know how beautifully SOA meets this challenge, and we thank them for their loyal and passionate viewership."
Seven episodes remain in the current season. The show airs Tuesdays at 10/9c.