Homelander is humanity's most accurate superhero
Amazon's hard-hitting, irreverent take on superheroes is a painfully accurate takedown of humanity
If you haven't yet seen Amazon Studios' hard-hitting, irreverent take on superheroes, proceed at your own risk. But if you haven't seen The Boys yet, why not? It's not-so-quietly the best television show of 2019 and its painfully accurate depiction of what superheroes would really be like in our world is gloriously funny and poignant. You best get on it.
With that said, The Boys IS 2019's best television show, and while it may not be the most easily digestible show (if you prefer your superhero television to be Supergirl type corny, you're probably in for a bit of a shock), those who venture through its visceral 8-episode first season will no doubt be left in awe. Based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name, The Boys tells the story of a group of nogoodniks led by Karl Urban's brute Billy Butcher, who takes the seemingly hapless Hughie (played by Jack Quaid) on a vigilante mission to avenge the death of his girlfriend. Along the way "The Boys" set out to expose the fake news facade of the superheroes in the series' world. These so-called heroes, backed by mega-corporation Vought International, are Earth's premier team of superheroes. On the surface, they act like the Marvel Avengers / DC Justice League team, but in reality, are just a colossal mess of frail egos and giant assholes whose appearances are kept up to keep the money-making wheels spinning.
The story unfolds in glorious violence, capped by slow-mo gory deaths, shattered limbs, and enough sex and psychotherapy to make old "Skinemax" television blush. But what's most telling about the series is the accurate characterisation of what it means to be a hero in the real world. "The Seven" (Vought's Avengers) are led by the very Captain America/Superman-esque Homelander; a stoic, blond, barrel-chested hero for America that waves and kisses babies on camera, but away from it, is a fragile, colossal asshole egomaniac with severe Freudian issues. The latter become one of the focal points of the series' narrative arc and are a small but telling dimension of the layers you find within this show. He's surrounded by likeminded assholes; sexual deviant The Deep (if one of the characters from Gossip Girl ended up becoming Aquaman), sexual deviant Translucent (if Invisible Man was a chronic sex-pest) and murdering drug-addict A-Train (if The Flash was... well, a murdering drug addict). The only one who presents with any form of likeability are Queen Maeve and newcomer Starlight. The latter, integral to the story, is a good girl Christian superhero who discovers like most of us, The Seven aren't who they make out to be.
Over the eight episodes of the first season, we come to the sad and painful realization that if superheroes were to exist in our reality, that this would be it. Intentionally or not, this commentary is one of the most compelling parts of this series. It's beautifully cynical, but at the same, cuts right to the heart of the truth of our society. The Marvel Universe has spoiled us with dreams of heroic saviors, but in reality, we would get and deserve much less.
Superheroes in the Marvel and DC Universes are often too good to be true; cavorting around like false prophets. In times when humanity turns against them (Batman vs. Superman, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Far From Home), they react with some level of empathy for the reactions of the general public. Superman exiles himself in Batman vs Superman while The Avengers attempt to self-police in Civil War; all are actions of self-sacrificing their worth for the greater good. Their hope is that public opinion will turn once people realize the truth. Homelander is nothing like that, and often in The Boys, his good public persona will reveal his true self the moment he faces situations that harm his likeness, value, and/or monetary worth. It's how most people would react no matter how much they tell you they wouldn't. In all of Homelander's inhuman superpowers, his most telling characteristic are his most human ones; selfish, egotistical, greedy, self-absorbed. They are not positive qualities, but they are very real.
You may be thinking that this is an overly cynical view on humanity, but the old adage of the truth hurting is ever present through the series. The Boys' socio-political commentary isn't even about specific politics or people- even though you can equate it to them. It's broader, more sweeping in its assessment that no matter your political views, no matter your race or creed, you are nowhere near as heroic or "good" as you think you are. "The Boys" themselves, of course, are a band of anti-hero criminals and outcasts that help confirm that even the people "doing good" aren't all that good themselves. As the series points out, we are all just different sides of the same coin.
It's all just a helpful reminder that in a world filled with liars, charlatans, hacks, and grifters, there are no real heroes and those looking to become one just end up getting burned. The Boys is a compelling look into the mirror of society; refreshing, invigorating, and painfully true. It is the truth we are all afraid to face wrapped in relatable costumes and transient power. I suppose we could keep telling ourselves that we're nothing like the people and "heroes" in The Boys, but then we'd just be lying to ourselves. It's in part, what makes Homelander humanity's most accurate superhero. If that's not enough for you, then watch it for Karl Urban calling everyone a "c*nt" for eight episodes.
The Boys is streaming now on Amazon Prime.