The Boys

Season 1: An adaptation of Ennis’s excellent comic book, packed with ideas, in which superheroes are presented as psychopaths, degenerates or idiots and, at the same time, as prima donnas worshiped by the public who frequently require a rap across the knuckles. And the only one with the balls to do that is Billy Butcher and his gang. Understandably, the series is more restrained than the comic book, since otherwise nobody would have been able to handle it. This also means there is a lot of material left for more seasons. The episodes are managed excellently in terms of dramaturgy and work like a dream, with a hidden surprise for fans. The casting was spot on. Urban and Quaid are the attractions on the human side, while Starr and Moriarty are the superheroes. Most of all, Homelander is a juicy character and the ending leaves a lot of room for fantasy. Bring on season 2. (20.08.2019)

An idea-packed adaptation of Ennis’ excellent comic book where superheroes are psychopaths, perverts or idiots, but at the same time prima donas, respected by the world, who need a rap on the knuckles from time to time. The only one who has the balls to rap them like this is Billy Butcher and the Boys. Logically, this is a little less hard-boiled than the comic book, but people just wouldn’t have accepted it otherwise. And there’s time enough to catch up in further seasons. The excellently made episodes in terms of dramaturgy, with a hidden surprise for fans, tick along like clockwork. The casting is exactly right. Urban and Quaid are the powerhouses on the human side, while Starr and Moriarty do the same for the super-side. But mainly, Homelander is a nice and juicy character and the ending leaves a lot of room for fantasy. Bring on season two. (16.08.2019)

An excellent adaptation of the brutally entertaining comic book. The creators haven’t brought out the big guns yet, but what they have done his is still way above the standard. Explicit humor, violence and gallons of blood, you’ll even find the missing penises from Game of Thrones here. The storyline with Starr is handled superbly, and Erin Moriarty looks great. Urban rules as Butcher and it's good to see Simon Pegg again. (26.07.2019)

Now, this is great. The fantastic action on the plane doesn't need any great visual effects to put the viewer in the seat. There are powerful scenes that accurately portray the state of the world today. The dolphin abduction is perfect. (08.08.2019)

Rather toned down compared to the comic book but, in terms of TV shows, this is still way better than what we’re used to. Season 2 is more serious, fatal and menacing… which is fine, but at the expense of humor. In the end, only the useless Deep and his sect remain. Homelander has lots of flashbacks. Starr is excellent. If it weren’t for a few complete lapses in logic, I would give it the highest marks. (10.10.2020)

When you think about it, The Boys is the last purely comic book series to maintain its brutality while achieving mainstream success. And despite the extreme violence, it observes LGBT+Q standards, be it the homosexual Ant-Man sneezing on somebody’s dick or the heroic Maeve, fighting against the evil white man. Even so, these excesses don’t come across cheap and are wrapped in an intelligent story that makes sense and holds up a mirror and mainly it’s peppered with quality one-liners. The unexpected ace of the series is Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy. The variation on Captain America turns into an unexpectedly complex character in the end and his scenes are some of the best of the movie. The ending is slightly cheap, but doesn’t spoil the overall good impression the series gives. So far, the best show this year. (09.07.2022)