The Boys - Amazon superhero show

[Mr. Gerbik]

I mean goddamn that opening of episode 1 oh my god

[Barnard]

I've never seen an opening like it. 

[Mr. Gerbik]

That opening went places, that's for sure.

[Mr.Crowley]

The wettest show ever.

[DeciderVT]

Watched all three episodes back-to-back yesterday, so spoilers in the highlights below. (I never binge programmes like this, so that's a good sign. )
 

Spoiler

Hughie's arm being broken was so funny. The horrified look on his face and that sickening angle had me in stitches.
Stormfront and the off-putting dirty talk she gives Homelander during the handjob.
The Deep, generally. But his soapy daytime TV movie especially. And his wife's revenge on Timothy was horrifying.
MM trying not to swear in front of his daughter and Butcher not giving a shit.
Termite's spelunking going wrong.

Homelander is still the standout, of course.

One question for comic readers, who are up-to-date with the programme:
 

Spoiler

Is the Nicaragua flashback confirmation that Black Noir isn't a Homelander clone in the TV series?

 

[Benny]

Had to side-eye a bit at the mini Amazon product placement in the first ten minutes when Butcher used the app to make a purchase on his phone.

 

I'm already watching one of your products, Amazon, please fuck off.

 

Honestly that one tiny moment already undermines virtually any commentary the show could possibly hope to make so, expectations thus lowered, I'll strap in for the entertainment.

[Benny]

Jesus Christ.

 

Okay fine

[Lorfarius]

4 minutes ago, Benny said:

Jesus Christ.

 

Okay fine

 

Now tell me THAT moment doesn't make you want to shop Amazon 🤣

[Benny]

Spoiler

I mean basically you watch this for Homelander. There was a masterful little bit just now where he did a little skip/jog to try to get the main conference room chair before Giancarlo Esposito sat in it. I think Gus Fring wins in a competition with Evil Superman, sorry kid.

 

[Benny]

I like at the end of the first episode how

 

Spoiler

Hughie is practically crying because he knows he's going right back to Butcher's world

 

[Benny]

In the second episode

 

Spoiler

The enforced suicide was really quite uncomfortable to watch. The over the top gore splatter following it felt exploitative to be honest. We already know Homelander is a monster sure, but in this case it was something about the fact the girl was suicidal just kind of pushed it over the edge for me into slightly crass territory and was just generally upsetting.

 

[Lorfarius]

Crikey there's another 2 episodes out! I only saw 1 and thought that was it til next week.

[Benny]

Episode 3

 

Spoiler

If the show doesn't end with Starlight using the supposed Homeland killer weapon to blow his head to smithereens I'll be very disappointed.

 

Overall despite a strong start I think the episodes could use a bit of the fat trimmed. They've been an hour each and some scenes seemed a little overlong so it plodded a bit at times.

[Benny]

Something I did find i had to let slide in the narrative logic:

 

Spoiler

I'm not sure how exactly they are able to keep Homelander's son hidden. I'd imagine given his powers Homelander could find him easily with a bit of effort. Maybe that's the point.

 

[Mr. Gerbik]

On 04/06/2022 at 15:37, DeciderVT said:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Hughie's arm being broken was so funny. The horrified look on his face and that sickening angle had me in stitches.
Stormfront and the off-putting dirty talk she gives Homelander during the handjob.
The Deep, generally. But his soapy daytime TV movie especially. And his wife's revenge on Timothy was horrifying.
MM trying not to swear in front of his daughter and Butcher not giving a shit.
Termite's spelunking going wrong.

One question for comic readers, who are up-to-date with the programme:
 

  Hide contents

Is the Nicaragua flashback confirmation that Black Noir isn't a Homelander clone in the TV series?

 

Massive comic book spoilers of course, don't read:

Spoiler

I think it could be a misdirection still? Because even though we saw a different Black Noir and a possible explanation of why he's now silent and does not take off his helmet, they also had Homelander reveal he wasn't born but created in a test tube. Logic dictates if a company like Vought created one Homelander, wouldn't they try to create more? They're at least going to do something with that information but maybe it won't involve Black Noir?

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

‘Licence to Drive’ is a banger!

[Padaxes]

This is immense so far. So many amazing little details. 

 

Couldnt watch the timothy scene though.

[makkuwata]

Episode 3

 

Spoiler

Presumably we’re going to have Hughie supe up at some point unless he’s stuck in a cast the rest of the season.

That will be a lot of fun if he’s having one of his “Falling Down” days.

[scottcr]

Episode 1 hahahaha - I can't believe what I just watched.  I described it to my wife and it was just hilariously mental.

[Professor Puzzles]

11 hours ago, Padaxes said:

This is immense so far. So many amazing little details. 

 

Couldnt watch the timothy scene though.

 

I couldn't either! I just skipped past that bit.

[MardiganX]

Still trying to find the funny side of the fact I read 'Grow up Ant-Man' to my 4 year old boy an hour or so before I watched episode 1 😩 that was crazy, brilliant and everything I've come to expect from this amazing show!

[JohnC]

27 minutes ago, MardiganX said:

Still trying to find the funny side of the fact I read 'Grow up Ant-Man' to my 4 year old boy an hour or so before I watched episode 1 😩 

They’ve actually said it was inspired by Ant-Man and people asking 

Spoiler

why they didn’t just defeat Thanos by having him go inside and grow. 

 

[schmojo]

On 04/06/2022 at 21:29, Benny said:

Episode 3

 

  Hide contents

If the show doesn't end with Starlight using the supposed Homeland killer weapon to blow his head to smithereens I'll be very disappointed.

 

Overall despite a strong start I think the episodes could use a bit of the fat trimmed. They've been an hour each and some scenes seemed a little overlong so it plodded a bit at times.

 

Re: your spoiler

 

I really enjoy this show. It goes places that no other show of this budget would dare, but it's hard to shake the feeling that the writers don't enjoy writing female characters. It comes across as if they've been forced to include female characters, but don't know what to do with them that's interesting.

[Benny]

I dunno, I think Starlight is well fleshed out and has an interesting character arc so far.

 

Spoiler

I was more annoyed about the "AOC" style character being revealed to be an evil head explody corporate lackey to be honest. If they were trying to make a point with that it was just rather weak and out of touch.

 

[schmojo]

44 minutes ago, Benny said:

I dunno, I think Starlight is well fleshed out and has an interesting character arc so far.

 

  Hide contents

I was more annoyed about the "AOC" style character being revealed to be an evil head explody corporate lackey to be honest. If they were trying to make a point with that it was just rather weak and out of touch.

 

 

Starlight has been defined by her interactions with men so far, be it Deep, Hughie, Homelander or the new addition. I know the show isn't exactly aspiring to pass the Bechdel test, but it has a long way to go. 

 

But yeah, the sub plot you're mentioning would've been better if she'd been allowed to retain some agency.

[Benny]

Just now, schmojo said:

 

Starlight has been defined by her interactions with men so far, be it Deep, Hughie, Homelander or the new addition. I know the show isn't exactly aspiring to pass the Bechdel test, but it has a long way to go. 

 

I don't think that's true: her character was and is mostly defined by her history with her mother. Her interactions with other characters and the story in general stems from that. They also

 

Spoiler

Called back to it specifically in episode 3

 

[schmojo]

Just now, Benny said:

 

I don't think that's true: her character was and is mostly defined by her history with her mother. Her interactions with other characters and the story in general stems from that. They also

 

  Hide contents

Called back to it specifically in episode 3

 

 

The backstory with her mother is pretty thin set dressing for what is now four male characters setting their sexual sights on her. There's the hint of a real point being made, but whatever they're circling feels miles away from the people who've written it thus far. It feels like men writing women, and doing it lazily.

 

It doesn't make the show without merit, but it's basic stuff for a show that understands the world has moved forward.

[Benny]

As a side note: for a show which is genuinely great from the perspective of interactions between women, check out Undone. One of the best shows on Prime.

[Benny]

10 minutes ago, schmojo said:

 

The backstory with her mother is pretty thin set dressing for what is now four male characters setting their sexual sights on her. There's the hint of a real point being made, but whatever they're circling feels miles away from the people who've written it thus far. It feels like men writing women, and doing it lazily.

 

It doesn't make the show without merit, but it's basic stuff for a show that understands the world has moved forward.

 

It is an incredibly male dominated show, I wouldn't argue with that, but I think it has been pretty good at skewering some of the gender limitations and hypocrisy in say, Marvel shows etc (the whole "girls get it done bit"). Ultimately it's an adaptation, so having not read the source material, but being familiar with Preacher, it feels to me like it has a lot of the same strengths and limitations that does and it depends how much they choose to depart from it.

[Monkeyboy]

Watched all three back to back. Great stuff. That Termite scene in episode one...

 

Spoiler

at first I thought he was going to go up his ass, and then, oh no wait, he's going in that way!!