‘Mayans M.C.’ Series Finale Ending Explained: Who Survived The War Of The MCs vs. The ‘Sons Of Anarchy’?

Mayans MC Season 5 began under a flag of war, so it’s not like anyone who’d stuck with Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo), his loyal brother Angel Reyes (Clayton Cardenas), the hard-hearted Bishop (Michael Irby), undisputed soul of the club Hank (Frankie Loyal), and the rest of the Mayans since the beginning would’ve expected anything less than the bloodletting it came down to. 

The fifth and final season of Mayans MC began under a flag of war, so it’s not like anyone who’d stuck with Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo), his loyal brother Angel Reyes (Clayton Cardenas), the hard-hearted Bishop (Michael Irby), undisputed soul of the club Hank (Frankie Loyal), and the rest of the Mayans since the beginning would’ve expected anything less than the bloodletting it came down to. 

But leave it to the final installment (Mayans MC Season 5 Episode 10, “Slow to Bleed Fair Son”), directed and co-written by Mayans co-creator Elgin James, to tidy the whole thing up with cries of “War! War! War” echoing off the grace notes of family.

So, did EZ win his war against the Sons of Anarchy? Did he survive it? Did anyone else? In other words, who’s left standing at the end of the Mayans series finale? Read on to find out.

And be aware of major, major season 5 spoilers, obviously. 

What Happened in Mayans M.C. Season 5?

Once EZ wrested control of the Santo Padre chapter from Mayans founder Marcus Alvarez (Emilio Rivera), he escalated his turf war with the Sons of Anarchy and in particular Isaac Packer (JR Bourne), president of SOA’s San Bernardino chapter and an all-around psychopath. EZ also contracted with a Mexican drug cartel affiliated with his old adversary Miguel Galindo (Danny Pino) to run drugs into California, an uneasy partnership that ended up causing him no shortage of logistical headaches. There was pushback from Angel, from Bishop, and even sometimes from Hank about the merits of EZ’s grand plan, but his MC brothers stuck with their president, even as bodies started to pile up. 

All season long, EZ had an even bigger problem to worry about: his secret status as a criminal informant for Lincoln Potter (Ray McKinnon) and the federal government. Neron “Creeper” Vargas (Joseph Raymond Lucero), Mayans road captain and the people’s champion among the club’s full-patch members, discovered EZ was a rat, a matter complicated by his incarceration after taking the fall for a host of killings committed by the MC. But because EZ knew Creeper knew, he had his own Mayans brother silenced, murdered in prison by members of a rival white supremacist biker gang. Shakespearean bloodlettings were always a Mayans thing.

Angel always wished to stand with his younger brother, to be the steady right hand of the Mayans president. But the return of Luisa “Adelita” Espina (Carla Baratta) with their toddler son Maverick awakened something within him, something that made him recognize the bonds of true family over the passions, feuds and vendettas of the club. And once Luisa was murdered by someone she believed to be an ally – all he knew is that she never returned – Angel realized he had to stay alive for Maverick’s sake. (His conversion was complete once Isaac murdered Felipe, the Reyes’ brothers’ father, played by Edward James Olmos.) Angel participated in EZ’s vengeful raid on SAMDINO that resulted in Isaac’s death and the Mayans establishing their turf dominance. But then Angel told EZ he was leaving the MC for good.

What Happened in the Mayans MC Season 5 Finale: Ending Explained?

After attending his father’s funeral alongside girlfriend Sofia (Andrea Cortés), Angel, and the rest of the Mayans, EZ gathers the MC together at the clubhouse for a bloodthirsty rally. “Today we finish the war!” he cries, his voice breaking a little, and they proceed to bust in on SAMDINO with ax handles, bats, and pistols. The Mayans overwhelm and murder numerous Sons, and EZ chases down Isaac Packer, who he shoots to death after a brief struggle. He also takes a piss on his corpse in a moment of acidic poetic justice.

Federal investigator Patricia Devlin (Dana Delaney) believes she finally has the corrupt Lincoln Potter in her prosecutorial sights. Cartel higher-up Miguel Galindo has agreed to flip on Potter in return for leniency, and is sure to give Devlin information on all of the criminal dealings that have been ongoing, from Potter’s schemes all the way to the Mayans’ dirty dealings. But the night before he’s set to turn himself in to Devlin, Miguel and his bodyguard are murdered by his wife Emily (Sarah Bolger), who arranged it to make the violence look like a murder-suicide. Emily is finally free of Miguel’s clutches. After all, when she tried to escape with their young son, he tracked her down, took her back against her will, and had her sister killed for helping her.

As EZ and Angel take a joyride on their bikes, for once free as brothers to just enjoy each other’s company without all of the bloodshed and crime, Bishop receives a visitor at his home. It’s Katie (Stella Maeve), Creeper’s girlfriend and a disgraced federal agent, who delivers her fallen lover’s final message – that EZ is a rat – to the Mayans vice president. When the club gathers in templo, EZ is set to announce Angel’s departure, but Hank interrupts him for some important business. It’s time to vote Nestor (Gino Vento) from prospect to full patch membership, which happens to a lot of hugs and backslapping. 

And then, suddenly, it’s time for the most important business. EZ is restrained by Gilly (Vincent Vargas), and Angel’s grabbed by Hank and Guero (Andrew Jacobs). “You’re a fucking rat,” Bishop seethes with his pistol at EZ’s neck. “That’s why you made the deal. Creeper was onto you and you had those fuckers Iron War and Storm 88 take out our fucking brother to keep your secret?” The remaining Mayans then tell Angel that he must kill his brother to prove his loyalty to the club, and EZ reassures him. “It’s OK, Angel. I’m ready.” A tearful Angel delivers his knife deep into EZ’s gut, and each of the Mayans continue to stab their former president in a kind of ritualistic killing. (Bishop to EZ: “You’re not the only one who read Shakespeare, motherfucker.”) 

The EZ death blow is an incredible moment, unreal at first, because he’s always been the most instrumental character to Mayans. But then it becomes clear. EZ always knew that his secret would come out somehow someway, and that he would die by the club’s hand. His war put them on top, but there were always going to be personal consequences. (Indeed, the club even sent a prospect to murder his girlfriend Sofia, though their dog Sally survived.) With EZ and their father gone, Angel Reyes will have the chance to escape the criminal life with his son Maverick, end the cycle of violence, and uphold the family name.

“Alright, back to business.” Bishop, in the president’s chair, pounds the gavel on the EZ Reyes era, whose blood still slicks the templo floor. But he’s very wrong. Outside, an ATF tactical team commanded by Lincoln Potter is advancing on the clubhouse. “Search warrant! Federal agents!” And the camera backs up before we hear numerous shots fired inside. Bishop, Hank, Gilly, Nestor, and Guero were all in there, and we’re left to assume that they died in the raid. With the Mayans MC silenced, Potter turns to Katie. “The levy will hold for now.”

And somewhere, Angel stands on a beach, Maverick in his arms. He emerged from the chaos unscathed.  

What’s next for Mayans, Sons of Anarchy, and the California MC Universe?

Sons of Anarchy passed the torch to Mayans, and indeed the bad blood between the two clubs continued unabated right up to the end, the finality of which co-creator Elgin James had already conceived. So there’s nothing official from either James or Kurt Sutter about continuing in this violent motorcycle club world. Still, if they did, if there remained some gas in the tank, it would be super cool if a spinoff emerged around The Broken Saints, the all-female MC based out in the Salton Sea and introduced in season 5, who formed a tense alliance with the Mayans. Caitlin Stasey was terrific as the Saints’ president, the cerebral Johnny Panic, and when we last saw her crew, they were holding their guns on Leticia “Letty” Cruz (Emily Tosta), who’d just returned to their ranks. If James and Sutter wanted to further explore their motorcycle gang universe, the Broken Saints would definitely have some stories to tell.

And while it was less than satisfying to see scheming, murdering US attorney Lincoln Potter once again slither his way to the top, as he outmaneuvered Patricia Devlin (Dana Delaney) and sicced his ATF shock troops on the surviving members of the Mayans MC, Potter did create connectivity as a recurring character across the scope of Mayans and Sons of Anarchy. Maybe he could receive his deserved comeuppance at the hands of Johnny Panic and the Broken Saints in some future MC series. That would be our choice, at least.

Johnny Loftus is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift. Follow him on Twitter: @glennganges