The Boys on Amazon Flips the Superhero Genre on its Head [REVIEW]

Genre: Action, Drama

Studio: Amazon studios

Actors: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Anthony Star, Erin Moriarty 

Format: 8 episode seasons, 1 hour each

Seasons: 1, 2nd season coming soon

Producers: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg

If you have been listening to the entertainment industry as of late then you know that superheroes are dominating the big and small screens with a new Marvel or dc movie coming out every few months. But what if you’re sick and tired of seeing heroes save the world and being goody two shoe boy scouts? Do you want to see the actual consequences of being a superhero and see how much violence they actually cause? Or do you just want to people get violently murdered in the most over the top bloody manner possible? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I think the Amazon Original The Boys might be the show for you.

For those unaware, The Boys is actually based on the comic of the same name which was published in 2006 and went on until 2012. The comic was well received and was originally intended to become a film until it was canceled and later picked up by Amazon to become a show. 

Quick disclaimer, if you aren’t fond of over the top violence or are easily triggered I would suggest stopping now and finding another show to watch. But if you have no problem with that then let’s continue with what is arguably one of the best shows of the year. Right off the bat, one might think this is another superhero show where we see the good guys win and the bad guys lose, bing bang boom bobs your uncle. However, that really isn’t the case and I mean REALLY isn’t the case. This show has cussing, blood, sex, basically everything you won’t find in a regular superhero movie but it is clear they still take queues from better-known heroes. For example, the “hero” Homelander is based on Superman and Captain America and Queen Maeve is a clear copy of Wonder Woman. Basically, if you’re a fan of any kind of dc or Marvel heroes you will see the similarities almost instantly. 

The show itself revolves around a world where superheroes exist and not only do they save the world but they are corporate and are involved in politics and religion. However, the heroes aren’t all that they seem as despite their good-guy image most if not all the heroes are hiding something big. The main heroes of this story, however, are the boys, a ragtag group trying to expose the supes (short for superheroes). The irony, of course, is that the heroes of the show are going after the superheroes that the world worships and are almost seen as gods. So how can a group of normal people stop the most powerful people on the planet? Well, that’s for you to find out for yourself. 

What makes this show so unique is how it twists the whole superhero genre on its head. For years we have seen good guy Captain America save people and want nothing more than to help. But here we have heroes who are literally in it for the power and the money and have their own agenda as to why they’re in the superhero business. The show has a tight storyline that is interesting and plays out like part spy thriller, part business drama. We not only have characters dealing with personal demons but also dealing with the consequences of working for a big corporation that has enough power to make or break a supe. The leader of this Corporation is Madelyn Sitwell, played by Elizabeth Shue who is the perfect antagonist for the boys as she nails the sleazy CEO who you just hate and want to see get taken down.

On the opposite, we have Billy Butcher and Hughie Cambell, played by Karl Urban and Jack Quaid. Urban plays the rough and tough Englishman to a tea and each quip and insult he throws is memorable and hilarious making for a character you just want to cheer for. Hughie, on the other hand, is the most relatable character of the show being kind of clumsy and awkward. But he has an honest heart which is rare in this show and genuinely wants to do what he can to help take down the supes. It’s refreshing to see a more down to earth character in a show full of superheroes and fouled mouth mercenaries as it helps the audience relate more to what they’re seeing. 

A very appealing part of this show is also it’s the length as it currently is only one season and has 8 episodes an hour long each. Because of this the show doesn’t require a huge amount of time and can be finished within about a week. Although this is a show where you have to pay attention or else you won’t fully experience and appreciate the show. Even if you’re not a fan of superheroes this is a must watch as it isn’t your typical superhero show and subverts all expectations and turns into something truly special.

Lastly, a lot of people are wondering if you need to read the comic first in order to understand the show. The short answer is no as the two are vastly different and have quite different tones. Genders, race, and sexuality were changed from the comic in order to fit with modern culture and many events from the comic were seen as too dark for the show which is really saying something when you see how dark the show is. But if you want to see the origin of The Boys the comic is still a good read but not a requirement if you want to enjoy the show.