The Boys Review: Superheroes Gone Rotten
8.5/10 — The Boys (2019)
Pros
- Antony Starr's Homelander
- Sharp satire
- Tense plotting
Cons
- Excessive shock value
- Later seasons stretch
A group of vigilantes led by Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, set out to expose the corrupt superheroes of the Vought corporation, led by the terrifying Homelander. It is based on the comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
What works
Antony Starr is superb as Homelander, a villain who’s both funny and chilling, and the satire of corporate culture and celebrity is pointed. The series is tightly plotted and darkly comic.
Where it falters
The shock-value violence and sex can feel excessive, and later seasons stretch the satire.
Verdict
A savage, clever take on the superhero genre.
