By Blake Kim and Sadie York
[Content Warning]
The Boys is a highly explicit show which most notably contains extreme gore. If blood or graphic violence isn’t for you, DO NOT watch this show. It is very realistic and very gory!
Looking for a show to binge-watch for the next few weeks? The Boys is certainly one of the most entertaining and peculiar series we’ve seen, one which is one hundred percent worth a shot. The show takes place in modern-day New York but with one very contrasting element: “Supes.” In The Boys, a select bunch of humans have super abilities and are considered superior to ordinary people. While it’s assumed these Supes have been chosen by God, it is later figured out that [spoiler] a liquid called Compound V is pumped into most of the Supes when still human, and given special, varying abilities. In this world, there are seven Supes who are idolized more than the average Supe. These superheroes, AKA “The Seven,” are strategically placed into the mainstream media, and over time have developed into celebrity status. “The Seven” are selected and advertised by the corporation Vought, which creates and administers Compound V. Essentially, [spoiler] Vought is the mastermind behind Supes. At the start of season one, “The Seven” consists of Homelander, Queen Maeve, The Deep, Black Noir, Translucent, A-Train, and new recruit Starlight. Think of The Avengers, if they were all mentally ill, corporate trained, and completely fake.
The plot of the show revolves around The Boys, and their driven desire to kill all Supes. In the Pilot episode, we meet Hughie, a timid, scared, average guy whose girlfriend [spoiler] gets killed by A-Train. This eventually causes Hughie to get involved with The Boys, led by Billy Butcher, and his hatred for all Supes, specifically Homelander, AKA America’s pride and joy. To summarize, The Boys follows a group of old friends who have been dead-set on removing Supes from planet Earth.
One of, if not the best qualities of this show is the character building. These characters are extremely well-written. They’re all very complex and have backstories that we, the audience, get pieces of over to elaborate on. One character, in particular, who provides a stellar example of complexity is Homelander. Homelander, portrayed brilliantly by Anthony Starr, is presented as the most powerful Supe in The Boys universe. He’s particularly special because he had been created much differently from other Supes, as a lab experiment, but consequently emotionally developed very poorly. Homeandler is extremely corrupt, not just because of his abilities, but due to his immense power and symbolism of American people’s love is what feeds into Homelander’s self-worth, and Vought has constructed him to be the face of all Supes, in which he is constantly putting on a mask. The unraveling of Homelander’s sanity is genuinely so compelling to watch, and the performance Starr gives is phenomenal. Sometimes throughout the show, I’ve found myself feeling bad for Homelander, and it makes you realize how well he’s being portrayed.
Throughout the incredible show, the directors and writers of The Boys constantly intertwine spectacular plot twists, shocking all who dare to watch. Despite these plot twists, our favorite utilizes dramatic irony to leave season four on a cliffhanger. Butcher, the gruff man, transforms into a Supe, violently eliminating Victoria Neuman, and traumatizing her daughter and Hughie Campell. Not only does this extraordinary show employ plot twists, but it also enlightens watchers by teaching a good lesson: the evil in ‘good people.’ The show demonstrates that all people, no matter how good they seem, partake in nefarious activities and have evil qualities. For example, it demonstrates how Homelander, who seems perfect and powerful in the public eye, is a victim of his own trauma, as he kills many without remorse. Evidently, The Boys is an incredible show that demonstrates a good lesson and utilizes many plot twists to change it for the better.
We have many hopes and aspirations for season five: for example, we hope for Starlight to be less annoying. Although her character has changed, she still seems to put herself before others with her loud and bothersome personality. Similarly, she seems to live in a fantastical world, where the only acceptable method to stop a tyrant is through moral actions, without compromise. While her ideas are ethical, they are not realistic by any standards. She constantly whines but never has any effective plans to offer. Similarly, we would also love for Homelander to crash out and wreak havoc on the world. There has been tension regarding Homelander and his anger toward Hughie and his past, and we cannot wait to see what he does next. Undoubtedly, we have many expectations for Season 5, but after reviewing the past seasons, we know it will surpass our hopes and dreams.