Season 1
Creator – Eric Kripke (Supernatural: The Animation, Boogeyman)
Starring – Karl Urban (Dredd, Priest), Jack Quaid (The Hunger Games, Workaholics), and Antony Starr (Xena: Warrior Princess, American Gothic)
Release Date – 2019
Rating – 4/5
A couple years ago a meme featuring Karl Urban made its rounds on the internet. It mentioned something about an invisible cunt and would often be used on FB by people proclaiming someone had blocked them. It was pretty funny but I had no idea what it was until last year when I pieced it together that it was from the television adaptation of The Boys.
Since then I was very interested in the show especially after I heard that Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles had joined the cast. A few weeks back I received the press release that the first two seasons of The Boys would be making their blu debut. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to hook me up with a review copy. I didn’t sit on this one long and as soon as I could I tossed this mother fucker in.
**Spoiler Alert** The show follows Hughie (Quaid) who finds himself heartbroken when a superhero accidentally kills his fiance. He becomes obsessed with getting revenge and that is when he becomes acquitted with Billy Butcher (Urban) and his group collectively known as The Boys. Butcher has spent the last eight years trying to stop the superhero group The Seven which is a product of a pharmaceutical company when his wife went missing. **Spoiler Alert**
The first season of The Boys was not what I was expecting and I fucking loved it. It has a story line that really works especially in a time where superhero movies are dominating the box office. The satirical approach gives viewers something a little different to enjoy. It’s violent, funny, and a bold approach to what Marvel and DC has made popular.
The acting in this one is unforgettable. So many amazing performances from Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher to Quaid and Homelander himself from Antony Starr. There is no weak links in this series and the entire cast kicks ass.
The story for this one gives us a much more amusing take on superheroes. In a world where those built different are tasked with saving the human race you find a large amount of collateral damage in which the supes accidentally kill those they are sworn to protect. It’s a fun spin on the classic tropes while giving viewers characters that they will love to hate. It’s amazing writing and the show makes sure to milk every moment.
Finally, the series is pretty fucking bloody. We get some great practical and visual effects that blend together perfectly. Fans of horror will truly appreciate the level of gore this show gives us. Overall, The Boys Season 1 is a must watch for fans of superhero movies and shows along with those of you with a taste for blood. I highly recommend it.
Season 2
Creator – Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Haunted)
Starring – Karl Urban (Ghost Ship, Doom), Jack Quaid (Rampage, Smallfoot), and Antony Starr (Banshee, Terror Peak)
Release Date – 2020
Rating – 4/5
I knew that The Boys would be a show that I instantly fell in love with but I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. I’m a huge fan of super hero flicks but having a grounded and corrupt super hero show following conspiracies, deaths, and capitalism really makes The Boys stand out from other films and shows like it. Sure, The Watchmen mini-series does give the viewer a gritty and brutal spin on caped-crusaders but The Boys dials it up to 11. As soon as I finished the first season I immediately tossed in the second season. It did not disappoint.
**spoiler Alert** This season follows Butcher who discovered that his wife is alive and gave birth to Homelander’s super son. Caught in the middle is the remaining members of the 7 and The Boys who are still attempting to bring notice to the destruction the supes are causing and how they were all created by Vought when they were injected as babies. **Spoiler Alert**
Season 2 of the boys is a fantastic follow up to the first season. It not only builds upon the first season but still gives fans what they were wanting from the existing cast. It’s a lot of fun and for those of you that like to binge shows like I do you will find yourself having one hell of a time.
The acting in this one is fucking amazing. The cast is phenomenal and every character is enjoyable. Even the smaller roles are still a fun watch. I know that season 3 is in full swing and I sincerely hope that we have many more to come. The story for this one does a fantastic job building upon the first season. We have even more character development and answers to questions that were asked in the first season. However, the introduction of new questions leaves the viewer waiting for season 3. I enjoyed every episode and how far the series goes.
Finally, this is just as bloody and violent as the first season. We get so many fantastic gore shots that utilize practical and visual effects to create something that will stick with you for weeks after watching. Overall, The Boys season two was just as good, if not better, than the first season. I seriously beg anyone that hasn’t seen this one yet to check it out. It’s one of the wildest shows in television history.
