The Boys

I think they're maybe laying on the "Homelander is Trump" thing a bit thickly.

Tbh I think most of the topical references (SUPE LIVES MATTER) are a bit much. I'm not opposed to shows being political, but this is like a sledgehammer to the face.

Invincible S3 will be coming too, already confirmed.

It just feels a bit shoehorned in, like they're trying to be relevant without really understanding the first thing about the topics they're talking about. I think they did a better job with that last season with Stormfront.

Anyway, I still like it! It's a bit messy, but still fun.

This is a show where a superhero drives the cultural conversation about her through generating memes. How a mega corporation covers up one of its members sexual harassment by leading a phony female empowerment marketing campaign. How superheroes can create collateral damage when on the job with no accountability and stl gain adoration just like Americas police force/military. One of the politicians is clearly meant to look like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This show hasn't been subtle when it comes to satirising real world politics.

Well the Herogasm part was toned down as expected as you just couldn't make let alone broadcast a closer version but it was still rather strong and then there's everything else, great stuff.

episodes opening disclaimer was a nice touch

I basically did this until a month ago too as I'm sick of super hero stuff, but this is like the antidote, cathartic in a way.

You will be pleased to know the quality doesn't drop.

Avoided watching them as I wanted them all to be out as I hate weekly drops. Thought I'd timed it well but argh off by a week.

Still - very good this series. For those saying it's too on the nose, I refer you to the latest series of Picard which had such lines as

"Oh wow, there's so many Mexican names on this list of illegal immigrants"

"Depression is very crippling for humans"

"The ozone layer needs to be fixed"

FWIW, I actually think it's doing a pretty good job and I see it more as a superhero South Park. Yes, Homelander is Trump but there'll be a not-insignifcant portion of viewers who will have thought "that Homelander guy is right".

So, yeah, it kinda needs to be a bit heavy handed.

It was mostly the SUPE LIVES MATTER thing that brought out the cringe. It's like when Will Smith brought out that Netflix fantasy movie (Bright?) a few years ago, and there was this whole heavy-handedness about how FAIRY LIVES MATTER or something like that. That it just absolutely needed to be "relevant", and needed to make sure the dummies in the audience understood that.

The South Park comparison is apt. There's some interesting criticism in Parker and Stone, but it's really messy and scattershot, and often unclear wtf they're trying to say.

And without wanting to be a buzzkill, actually sometimes kind of offensive too (hey remember in Team America when Kim Jong Il had a funny racist Asian voice? Remember how they changed the Screen Actors Guild to the Film Actors Guild? WHAT DOES THAT ACRONYM SPELL OUT HUH)

Subtle satire doesn’t work any more unless you want your shit co-opted by wankers.

The Blue Hawk “All Lives Matter” / black-on-black crime / fake apology? Perfect.

The Homelander persecution complex / public admissions don’t do shit / “The mainstream media are lying to you”? Spot on.

It’s weird to think that here is a show which is incredibly violent to the point of absurdity and yet the team dynamic is handled quite tenderly - like MM’s OCD and the relationship between Kimiko and Frenchie. Or the power dynamic between Hughie and Starlight. Or even Butcher’s tragic past. Even without the political stuff this would be good tv. But if we also happen to see arseholes get stomped into the ground? Good god yes more please.

Great last episode and pretty brutal at times.