Shantel VanSanten as Becca Butcher in The Boys
Trends in movies and TV shows have always reflected the times in which we live, which could partially explain the reason why the superhero genre has been a growing cultural phenomenon. With many feeling helpless in the face of mega-rich corporations and media suppression, superhero TV masterpieces have presented a cathartic story in which people with supernatural powers arrive to save the day.
This comforting image has, in turn, inspired more unlikely superhero shows that have been unexpected successes. The new genre trend presents superheroes as flawed individuals at best, and deeply sinister forces at worst. One of the best examples of this is the TV series, The Boys, which is a groundbreaking TV show that redefined the superhero genre through foreshadowing and biting satire. The Boys' Commentary On Politics, Media & Culture Has Seemed Prophetic At Times Every season of The Boys has grown increasingly pointed in its commentary on the rise of the far right, backed by major corporations and billionaires, whose behavior has gone unpunished. Art often reflects life, but many of the scenes and points raised in The Boys have felt prophetic, even for a show that is larger-than-life and involves bestiality, milk fetishes, and death-by-laser-eyes. The Boys has reflected real events like the #MeToo movement, with Starlight's harrowing storyline reflecting the experiences reported by many women working in the entertainment industry. Now, the show is both highlighting and satirizing the recent worrying confusion between racism and patriotism. Homelander, bedecked in stars and stripes, and backed by the Nazi supe Stormfront, went unchallenged for too long, leading to his takeover. The Boys season 5 begins with Homelander achieving world domination, and as he weaponizes words like"heritage" and"hero," his supporters willfully ignore his true nature, even when it is unmasked in front of them. While Homelander turns tragedy into merchandise, one of the most surprising parts of this aspect of The Boys is the backlash that this commentary has received. The backlash from The Boys season 4 has ignored the show's past five years, and the history of the superhero genre. Superman fought Nazis, The X-Men was an allegory for societal prejudice against marginalized groups, and showrunner Eric Kripke told The Hollywood Reporter,"we were telling a story about the intersection of celebrity and authoritarianism and how social media and entertainment are used to sell fascism." The Boys was always political, and the superhero genre always fought against injustice. The difference now is that the far right presents this as a bad thing, hence their anger when The Boys' message grew impossible to ignore. Still, beginning April 8th, The Boys' final season will continue satirizing Nazi ideology and highlighting key figures, with Jack Quaid telling ScreenRant"we're doing South Park with capes." As Marvel & DC Keep Growing, The Boys' Satire Becomes More Vital Marvel and DC have dominated the superhero universe for decades, and while these franchises have introduced some excellent and critically-acclaimed projects, they do not take the risks seen in The Boys. The show is an independent series and in addition to making fun of the people in power, The Boys also satirizes Marvel and DC superheroes. Among many characters parodied in The Boys, Homelander is a twisted version of both Superman and Captain America, The Deep shares parallels with Aquaman, and Queen Maeve is a Wonder Woman equivalent. The two franchises have their strong points, but do not share their original strong anti-prejudice messages as well as they could, and The Boys is not afraid to highlight this. There is a place for lighthearted superhero movies with action and explosions, but equally, when a superhero's job was always to fight injustice, it is essential that the genre provides shows and movies that do so. The Boys' satire and fearlessness are vital for this point in history, and it makes the sci-fi show one of the best and most important shows of the century. Subscribe for newsletter analysis of pop-culture politics Explore sharper context by subscribing to the newsletter for nuanced coverage and analysis of pop culture, media, and politics. Expect thoughtful takes on shows like The Boys that examine extremism, propaganda, and cultural backlash. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Source: The Hollywood Reporter 245 8.7/10 7/10 The Boys 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Action Drama Crime Comedy Release Date 2019 - 2026-00-00 Showrunner Eric Kripke Directors Erin Moriarty, Karen Fukuhara, Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Eric Kripke Writers Eric Kripke Franchise The Boys Cast See All The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
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