One of the most popular new shows in recent memory has been Amazon Prime's The Boys. Based on the wild comic book series of the same name, the show is an equally outrageous look at a world where superheroes are evil and dangerous corporate entities and the colorful crew who wants to keep them in line.
With only two seasons thus far, The Boys has become a huge hit. But as fun as it is, it has its faults. While the passionate fans might overlook some of these aspects of the show, they are worth pointing out to highlight that no show is perfect, including The Boys.
Source Material
While many viewers were shocked by how far the show is willing to take the superhero genre, those who read the comic books knew how crazy this world really was. Garth Ennis' series is a crazy mix of insane violence, sex, and some really bizarre things.
But while the show does a good job of bringing this world to life, it has strayed quite heavily from the source material already. Along with ignoring some great moments, the show is already feeling a little like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead in how it gets lost when it strays too far from the source material.
Butcher's One-Note Character
One of the fan-favorite characters in the show, as well as the comics, is William Butcher, the leader of "the Boys." Actor Karl Urban does a great job bringing this character to life, but there is already a sense that the character is becoming a bit one-note.
While his arc thus far has been compelling, it feels like all of his dialogue consists of him saying something that is meant to be offensive and then throwing in a certain C-word. While it's funny the first few times, it starts to feel pretty repetitive after a while.
Trivializing Real-World Problems
The Boys feels like an alternate reality of what the real world would look like if superheroes were around. There are still the same social aspects, the same institutions, and the same real-world problems.
However, the show also takes a comic and over-the-top approach to all of these things, which can make seem trivializing. When a show attempts to satirize things like the 9/11 attacks, the Holocaust, and modern racism, it can be tough to watch. And when The Boys misses the mark, it feels pretty irresponsible.
Slow-Moving Story
The episodes are often so much fun and so action-packed that it's easy not to consider where the overall story of the series is going. However, the show has thus far been quite slow at really developing its central story.
There are often huge events that seem like they are going to change everything going forward. However, the show then finds ways to easily solve or brush them aside so things can just carry on as they did. Before long, The Boys is going to feel like it's not moving forward at all.
Pointless Characters
The Boys features a lot of great central characters, from the villains to the heroes to the people in between. It also has a few memorable supporting players. But then there are a few characters who just seem to be hanging around.
One prime example of this is the character of Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito), who was introduced at the end of the first season and seemed to be set up as the new corporate villain who would keep Homelander in his place. After one full season, the character hasn't really done anything. It's as if the show wanted to hire Esposito and thought they'd figure out his character so other time.
Gratuitous Violence
Just as with the comics, the show seems to relish the idea of what real superhero action would look like. As it turns out, that's extremely bloody. In fact, The Boys might be the goriest show on television or of all time.
While the gore is effective in some instances, it also feels like it is a crutch. There are times when it feels like The Boys is more concerned with delivering a shockingly bloody moment than moving the story forward.
Too Much Movie Stuff
Given that the superhero genre is so huge right now, The Boys has a lot of fun playing against the tropes of the genre. Not only that, but they comment on the movies themselves with the Vought superheroes starring in their own superhero movies.
This direction allows the show to poke fun at some of the biggest superhero movies right now, from cinematic universes to reshoots involving Joss Whedon. However, this often feels a bit goofy and feels like The Boys is trying too hard to prove it's "cooler" than other superhero movies.
Kimiko's Stereotypical Character
While the titular team is known as the Boys, there is a female member of the squad. Kimiko is a Japanese "supe." She teams with the Boys to take revenge on the Vought Corporation who experimented on her.
Like in the comics, Kimiko doesn't speak, which is a common and lazy trope for Asian characters in movies and television. For a show that is trying to show how subversive it is, to feed into this embarrassing stereotype seems like a big misstep.
Depiction Of Homelander
Perhaps the most famous element of the show has been its central villain, Homelander. While he might seem like the atypical hero with a mix of Superman and Captain America, Homelander is a deranged psychopath responsible for some truly evil things.
Homelander makes for an incredibly effective antagonist, but he is also a Nazi and a disgusting abuser. While it can be easy to get caught up in seeing him blow people up with lasers, the show might have too much fun with a character who represents real evil in the world.
Cheap Shock Value
As fun as the MCU and DCEU movies are, it is refreshing to see a superhero story really go for it in terms of violence and R-rated material. But while this vulgar tone suits the story in most cases, it also feels like a gimmick at other times.
The Boys has earned a reputation for its shocking content, but there is a fear that this is starting to drive the story. While it's great that the show wants to deliver the unexpected, when the main focus is how to be shocking, the whole thing starts to feel forced.