“The Boys” is the best series in the world. I do not invite you to a discussion

Why does this scene play a formative role? Because after it, you either reach for the remote control and switch in disgust (or even go to vomit), or you accept the convention and enter this world in its entirety.

And why am I writing about this? Because on Thursday, June 13, the next, fourth season of the series debuts on Prime Video. On that day you will be able to watch the first three episodes of the fourth series. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly until the grand finale of the season on July 18 (8 episodes in total).

What is the series “The Boys” about?

Now what the series is about – I’ll summarize it for those who don’t know. Well, we have a reality in which superheroes exist. They protect ordinary people from evil and vice. They are also real celebrities, with extensive celebrity activities. And so: they have thriving social media, their own lines of products and services bearing their name, they act in films and host talk shows. As if by the way, they stroke the children’s heads and encourage them to exercise and eat healthily. But it’s all a lie. Because they are not noble supermen who will protect the innocent and defenseless with their breasts and do not want anything in return. NO. They are angry. And they are evil to varying degrees. From pettiness, meanness and selfishness to true evil. Such that even Bond villains can hide.

And against this greed-driven corporation (because these superheroes are employees of the corporation that makes a lot of money on them) superhero group stands a colorful band of losers who want to expose the truth about “sluts” to the world. And kick their asses.

This is the starting point of the plot. And what happens in the first three seasons is pure madness, a joyful display of violence, breaking conventions and taboos. I think that those who saw “The Boys” and did not turn them off after the first minutes do not need to be particularly encouraged to watch the fourth season. And for everyone else, a subjective list of what is so attractive about this series.

Homelander. A very black villain

Do you know that feeling when in a movie or series about superheroes everything seems to be fine, but the villain is so bland and expressionless? Well, “The Boys” is not that case. The main “evil” is Homelander (in the Polish version he was called “Ojczyznosław”, but I prefer to stick to the original name). He is something like Superman – invincible, can fly, has X-ray vision, a leotard and a stylish cape. The perfect role model and hero for breakfast cereal packaging. And also a psychopath, manipulator and egoist. A guy with superpowers who doesn’t care about anything or anyone, will kill anyone who doesn’t like him without hesitation, and he is strongly convinced that he is absolutely always right. What could go wrong? Well… everything.

In addition, Antony Starr, who plays Homelander, fits into the role so perfectly, has such an intense look and such an artificial, clinging smile that the viewer gets chills just by looking at it.

The Boys, fourth season Prime Video, press materials

“The Boys”. So just guys

Or actually not just the guys, but more on that in a moment. Since we have a first-class villain, we need a counterweight to keep our fingers crossed for the good guys. We enter the story with Hugh, who is completely and undeniably ordinary. No superpowers, no special abilities. Hugh is the guy who is left with his girlfriend’s hands in his hands at the beginning of the series. And his ordinariness and straightforwardness allows the viewer to breathe a sigh of relief: “phew, not everything here is crazy and on steroids. There’s also a guy like me.” The hero, played by Jack Quaid (genealogical interesting fact: he is the son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid), is a bit lost in the world of ruthless “suppies”, but at the same time brave and charming.

Butcher, or “Butcher” in our language, is not charming. And he doesn’t have superpowers – at least at the beginning – but he is as ruthless as the villains. When he appears on the screen, you know that knocked out teeth and guts will fly low. Karl Urban, who played the Butcher, gained greatest popularity playing Eomer in “The Lord of the Rings”. Here, instead of the Horseman of Rohan, he is closer to the Horseman of the Apocalypse. And I definitely prefer him in this version.

The forces of good are complemented by Cycuś Glancuś, the Frenchman and the Woman. Each of them is more or less traumatized, with complicated relationships with the world and barely hidden – or not hidden at all – problems with aggression. And this select team faces off against superheroes supported by an all-powerful corporation. Who wouldn’t keep their fingers crossed?

The Boys, fourth season Prime Video, press materials

Saints do not exist. Don’t watch “The Boys” with children

I’m serious. The creators of the series do not recognize that there are any boundaries that should not be crossed. For example, they decided that it would be a great idea to drive a speeding motorboat through the body of a very nice whale. Yes, there is a lot of blood in this scene. There are plenty of sex jokes – I’ll skip the descriptions. Even when there is a starfish in them.

The heroes also struggle with serious problems. The young superhero Starlight (Polish version: Gwiezdna) joins the elite casting “sluts” and immediately falls victim to disgusting sexual harassment – although the term “rape” is more appropriate. She’s been trying to deal with this for a long time and she’s all alone in it. Another heroine – who appears in the fourth season – is very smart, but what’s the point if no one listens to her anyway because she’s black.

We also have the mechanisms of operation of corporations, with the game of interests, the power of money and all the undesirable behaviors that result from the above two. It is the corporation that decides what is profitable for it and what is not. If he has a problem, he sweeps it under the rug. If it is no longer possible not to notice certain things, he is lying.

And it’s all happening at a crazy pace. The action is fast paced and dripping with dark humor. I understand such superhero productions. More, please.