The Boys (Amazon Prime)

No, and I'm kinda peaced out on superheroes, but Karl Urban using a laser-eyed baby as a weapon is the key that unlocks my heart (so maybe this weekend).

I liked it a lot. It is quite dark, gory, deeply cynical, and very unkind to its women (that is probably done on purpose, but at times it's over the top). I enjoyed the performances. Karl Urban and Anthony Starr ("Homelander") are especially brilliant.

It's a mixed bag for me. I was completely repulsed by several scenes, but the storytelling is so well done that I didn't want to stop watching.

MythMonger said:

It's a mixed bag for me. I was completely repulsed by several scenes, but the storytelling is so well done that I didn't want to stop watching.

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Yeah, this. It was really well done, but parts of it were too much for me. I'll probably watch the next season, but it'd be nice if they did something with their female characters that didn't involve being killed/thrown over/abused by some guy.

I think it's great. So many WTF moments, yet it all fits together and works. And I agree about Anthony Starr: brilliant. But then, the character of Homelander is also brilliant.

Also, The Deep...lololololololol!

This is without a doubt the best dark superhero tale since Watchmen (which of course now has a series coming to HBO).

Hmm. Remind me of Kurt Busiek's Astro City, except instead of mitigated optimism it's rather nasty. Not quite grimdark, but definitely one of those 'people are a-holes' shows. But I'm still watching and it's about to get a lot worse, isn't it?

Even a few years ago I'd've been all over it, right now I'm a little meh but down to continue. Some of the sense of wonder and zaniness that drives superhero stories for me is missing, and I'm not sure the commentary is resonating. But Legion just ended and I'm getting the superhero itch again, we shall see.

robeiae said:

...Watchmen (which of course now has a series coming to HBO).

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I keep saying I'm not interested in this but I'm kind of lying.

I loved it! The characters and story are great. I hope they do a 2nd season.

writergirl1994 said:

I loved it! The characters and story are great. I hope they do a 2nd season.

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Are you talking about Watchmen? Because The Boys did get a second season.

Introversion said:

Are you talking about Watchmen? Because The Boys did get a second season.

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Oops, sorry. I guess I meant 3rd season. I just looked on Imdb and saw they were making a 3rd season, so YAY!

writergirl1994 said:

I just looked on Imdb and saw they were making a 3rd season, so YAY!

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Season 3 teaser is out. Oh, dear…

one of my favorite shows that's still making new episodes

Introversion said:

Season 3 teaser is out. Oh, dear…

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I liked The Boys, only watched the series and never read the comics. There is a bleakness in it which speaks to me, saying that almost anyone with powers is going to be some kind of dick to the normal people. It's realistic, since it's my personal belief we don't understand ourselves as well as we do to know how we'd behave once we receive superpowers. Beware the Superman.

New season 3 trailer out.

Welp, the first episode of season 3 was as gruesome as ever!

It's still good, and I'll keep watching.

I enjoyed this interview / walkthrough of some of season 3 by the cast. Anthony Starr (Homelander) really showing us that all it really takes to disguise Superman is a pair of eyeglasses.

Binged the first two seasons recently. I was all ready to watch the first episode, disdain it for being a gross, kindergarten-edgy, nihilistic gorno, and bow out. But I got blindsided by how funny the show is around all the carnage. And also how good the main actors are. Especially Anthony Starr, who gives Homelander (who is a one-note monster in the comics FWIH) just the right amount of pathetic humanity to make him kind of horrifically watchable, rather than just repellent. Looking forward to watching this.

Albedo said:

And also how good the main actors are. Especially Anthony Starr,

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Going into the first season, I was most excited about watching Karl Urban. And Karl's a fine actor and highly enjoyable to watch in The Boys. But while I had no idea who Anthony Starr was before this, Homelander quickly became the reason I watch. He's just mesmerizing as a completely, emotionally broken and duct-taped-back-together, fucked-up, super-powered, utterly pathetic, sociopath.

I enjoyed the first two seasons and will get around to the five I have so far, in a little while. Hmm, maybe tonight.

Oof. Episode 6: “Herogasm”. That was a thing.

I did chuckle at the content warning they made before the episode started:

Some scenes may not be suitable for some, really most, let's be honest, all viewers. But rest assured that any consensual relationships depicted, be they human, animal, superhero, or other, aren't real, harmed no one, and in fact cost a hilariously large amount in visual effects.

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Apparently, rightwing portions of social media are Just Now waking up to the fact that Homelander is a Bad Guy and are all Wait, Whut!?


I’m boggling that anyone could see Homelander as anything but awful? Shrug.

Just finished the season and all I can say is the writers of this show are amazing assholes. I am in total awe.

Yep, there were some minor storyline flaws this season that may be writing errors or may be editing errors or production choices, but I don't care. The overall package of this show is subversive entertainment at it's finest. And by that I mean most chaotic evil goodness.

The Kid and I had a similar reaction after finishing S3: It didn’t give us much of a payoff? Highly entertaining, but not sure all that happened advanced the overall plot much?

Still glad I watched it, because highly entertaining.