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In the past decade, the superhero genre has grown to be one of the most dominant subjects in media, whether it be comic books, movies, television, or billions in merchandising. In a society so oversaturated with superheroes, consumers are tired of not much unique content being brought to the table, which is where Amazon Prime’s new hit original series, The Boys, comes in.
An adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic of the same name, The Boys depicts a world where superheroes are real, and worshipped by everyday citizens. While viewed as gods, behind the scenes these ‘supes’ are not as heroic as they may seem.
This is where we meet The Boys of The Boys, a group whose goal is to expose The Seven, an elite squad of superheroes controlled by the corporation Vaught, for the corrupt, vile, and sociopathic criminals that they truly are. The Boys are lead by Billy Butcher, wonderfully performed by Karl Urban, a mysterious and snarky ex-government agent with violent tendencies. He recruits Hughie, played by Jack Quaid, an electronics store worker still grieving over the recent death of his girlfriend at the hands of one of The Seven.
In an ironic twist of perspective, it is the superheroes that are portrayed as the villains on this show. Lead by the deranged Homelander, The Seven are joined by newcomer Starlight, who quickly learns that being a member of The Seven isn’t the dream she had hoped it to be.
Unlike many other superhero properties, The Boys avoids the pitfall of many darker stories in that it doesn’t become dragged down or become dull. Every episode presents a new twist and advancement in the story that drives viewers to keep watching.
The Boys isn’t afraid of exposing viewers to gratuitous amounts of disturbing concepts and imagery, which may divert some audiences. However, this show manages to deliver not only a compelling message about society’s obsession with superheroes, but also of the real-life struggles of stardom and celebrities.
Throughout the series, audiences remain hooked until the finale, with plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep viewers guessing what will happen next.
The Boys stands out as a reminder that good and evil are intertwined together and that not everything is as it seems.
9/10