The Boys Creator Shares the Series’ Core Message as Season 5 Wraps Up
Amazon Prime Video’s hit series The Boys has earned a strong reputation for its sharp satire and timely social commentary. While the show often leans into dark and cynical storytelling, its creator has emphasized that there is a clear purpose behind that tone.
In a recent interview, showrunner Eric Kripke shared his perspective on what the series ultimately represents as it approaches its final chapter. With Season 5 set to conclude the main storyline, Kripke hopes the show will be remembered as a reflection of the era in which it was created.
He explained that his goal is for audiences to see the series as a kind of “time capsule”—a snapshot of real-world events and emotions during a specific period. Ideally, he hopes future viewers won’t find it relatable, as that would mean the world has moved beyond the issues the show portrays. Instead, he wants it to stand as an honest response to its time.
Kripke also highlighted a key message at the heart of the series: change starts at a personal level. Rather than waiting for heroes to fix everything, people should focus on supporting those around them. According to him, meaningful impact comes from collective, everyday actions rather than relying on larger-than-life saviors.
Despite his hopes, Kripke acknowledged that the show may continue to resonate longer than expected. Still, he would like fans to look back and recognize it not just as an outrageous superhero drama, but as one of the most honest and bold series of its time.
Throughout its run, The Boys has sparked discussion with its unapologetically political themes and provocative storytelling. Its ability to blur the line between fiction and reality has kept it relevant far beyond typical fan conversations. By challenging viewers and embracing discomfort, the series encourages audiences to reflect on the world around them—and, perhaps, take steps toward changing it.
Laz Alonso Offers Another Major Message For Fans To Take Away From The Boys
Similar to creator Eric Kripke, The Boys actor Laz Alonso has shared his thoughts on the kind of impact he hopes the series leaves on its audience. Alonso, who portrays Mother’s Milk, expressed his desire for viewers to carry forward the character’s grounded and positive outlook in their own lives.
He encouraged fans to move away from negativity and instead focus on optimism, trust, and support within their communities. According to Alonso, believing in friends, family, and the possibility of change is essential. He also emphasized that true heroism doesn’t require superhuman abilities—ordinary people can make a difference through their actions and mindset.
Alonso further highlighted the importance of unity, noting that collective strength is key when facing injustice. He stressed that people must stand together rather than allow division to weaken them. Throughout the series, his character has consistently delivered this message, and Alonso hopes it continues to resonate with audiences long after the show concludes.
With The Boys Season 5 now streaming on Prime Video, the series is set to deliver its final chapters while reinforcing its core themes of unity, hope, and accountability.
Post Resource : CBR
The Boys
Release Date: 2019 – Present
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner: Eric Kripke
Genre: Action, Drama, Crime, Comedy
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner: Eric Kripke
Genre: Action, Drama, Crime, Comedy
Karl Urban (Billy Butcher)
Jack Quaid (Hughie Campbell)
Antony Starr (Homelander)
Erin Moriarty (Starlight)
After 7 Years, The Boys Just Had Its Most Important Scene
The Boys has had a lot of major moments throughout its five seasons, but the show's most important scene yet just occurred. Despite the series being a dark comedy full of sex jokes, The Boys levies some pretty serious social commentary, discussing politics, celebrity culture, and more. However, all of its commentary has shared a common theme, one that The Boys just highlighted in full due to a moment in its final season.
The Boys season 5, episode 3 features the return of Stan Edgar, the former head of Vought who was ousted by Homelander. Despite not being a supe, he has managed to live this long due to how smart he is and his intricate knowledge of the systems that created Vought. This is highlighted in a speech he gives in the episode, where he discusses that supes aren't the end product, but rather filling a necessary hole created by commerce and capitalism. Even if the Boys are successful in destroying supes, money still needs to be made. So, Vought will find a way to make money. Even if Vought is destroyed, shareholders still need to make money, so something else will take Vought's place. Edgar knows that there is no way to stop things like Vought from popping up as long as the system of capitalism is in place. So, the best that the Boys can do is hope that the next alternative is preferable to supes.
Stan Edgar's Speech In Season 5, Episode 3 Perfectly Sums Up What The Boys Is Really About
Stan Edgar's speech lays out what The Boys has been discussing this entire time: capitalism. Supes in The Boys are a stand-in for a lot of things, but most of the things they're being used to satirize are the results of the economic system that is in place. One of the biggest conflicts in The Boys is the supes attempting to maintain their public image. Despite them being horrible people, they must maintain a clean image in order to sell the Vought brand. Vought, like many real-world companies, cynically employs progressive politics, pretends to care about its employees, and attempts to sell consumers on things that make their lives worse in order to make a profit.
So, according to Stan Edgar, there is no way to change this unless the profit incentive is gone. The thing that the Boys are really fighting can't be killed with guns, bombs, or viruses. Instead, social change has to be made in order to collapse this system and build a new one. The Boys are facing a giant that they will never beat, and rather than telling the Boys how to beat it, Stan Edgar hopes to benefit from it. Edgar is still an enemy of the Boys because he hopes to utilize this system to benefit himself rather than help change it to benefit everyone, a decision that many real-life capitalists make every day.
We Finally Know What Stan Edgar's Endgame Is Now
Ever since Edgar was outed from Vought, we didn't really know what his plan was. Edgar has mostly been in hiding, attempting to avoid the wrath of Homelander. However, he has clearly been operating in the background. Edgar and Zoe have been running around involving themselves with the activities of the Boys, Vought, and the cast of Gen V. However, they clearly don't want to take down Vought, and they don't want to kill all supes. While this has left fans scratching their heads for years, we finally know what Edgar is up to.
During his speech, MM realizes Stan Edgar's true plan: he wants to take over Vought once all the supes are gone. While Edgar clearly has to keep his distance during Homelander's reign, he can easily step in and reclaim his position in the company once it's safe. Edgar understands Vought and the system of capitalism better than anyone else in The Boys, with this being his superpower. While he is helping the Boys due to the barrel of the gun now being turned on him, he still wants to be the one pointing the weapon in the end. So, he will probably be making moves as The Boys ends in order to get back into the seat of power.
However, there is a chance that he could be stopped. MM plainly says that he will put a bullet in Edgar's head if he attempts to take over Vought, making things between him and the Boys even more hostile. The Boys could kill Edgar by the end of the show, preventing him from being the captain of Vought once again. Edgar betrayed the Boys by leaving them to be killed by the Deep and Black Noir, and while this plan backfired, it gives the Boys reason to hunt Edgar down and get revenge.
However, the Boys may not get an opportunity to hunt Edgar down. At the end of episode 3, he is subdued and captured by Black Noir, who is subsequently knocked out by the Deep. The Deep takes Stan Edgar to Homelander, meaning that he is now a prisoner of the Seven. There is a high chance that Edgar could be killed by Homelander or one of the other supes, meaning that his plan to take over Vought won't work out.
Is This How The Boys Season 5 Sets Up More Spinoffs?
Vought will never end, and as long as Vought is around, there will be stories for The Boys to tell. Stan Edgar's speech seems like it could be setting up more The Boys spinoffs, as he is explicitly saying that even after killing Homelander, the Boys cannot win. This may sound exciting to fans, as the world of The Boys could seemingly continue on forever based on what Edgar is saying.
However, it'll be hard for the world of The Boys to continue without supes. If supes are gone, Vought will have to switch to a different product. A The Boys TV show about characters taking down Vought cell phones that have built-in planned obselence isn't nearly as fun as Butcher and Homelander getting into superpowered fights, so it wouldn't work as a spinoff. It seems likely that either supes will live on after the events of The Boys, or that the spinoffs will be prequels, like the upcoming Vought Rising TV show.
Top 10 Highest Rated Prime Video Original TV Shows
1. The Grand Tour
The Grand Tour is a Prime Video Original TV show that has taken the world by storm, ranking high in the list of top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows. This popular motoring television series, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, is a must-watch for car enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. With its unique blend of humor, action, and stunning visuals, The Grand Tour has captivated audiences worldwide, offering a fresh and exciting take on the traditional car show format. Each episode features the trio embarking on thrilling road trips, testing exotic cars, and engaging in hilarious challenges, making for an entertaining and informative viewing experience.
As one of the highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows, The Grand Tour has received widespread critical acclaim for its high-quality production, witty banter, and authentic chemistry between the hosts. With a rating of 8.7/10 on IMDB and 4.5/5 on Amazon Prime Video, it's clear that fans and critics alike have fallen in love with the show. The Grand Tour's success can be attributed to its well-crafted format, which combines stunning cinematography, impressive car stunts, and laugh-out-loud comedy, making it a standout among other Prime Video Original TV shows. Whether you're a die-hard car enthusiast or just looking for a fun and entertaining watch, The Grand Tour is an absolute must-see, and its inclusion in the top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows is well-deserved. So, buckle up and get ready to join Jeremy, Richard, and James on their epic motoring adventures, available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a groundbreaking Prime Video original series that has captivated audiences worldwide with its epic storytelling, stunning visuals, and richly detailed world-building. As a prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel, The Lord of the Rings, this show explores the untold history of Middle-earth, delving into the forging of the Rings of Power and the events that shaped the fate of the realm. With a talented ensemble cast, including Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, and Charlie Vickers, the series brings to life the iconic characters and locations that fans of the original book and film trilogy know and love. The show's impressive production values, coupled with its faithful adaptation of Tolkien's source material, have earned it widespread critical acclaim and a loyal fan base.
As one of the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has solidified its place as a must-watch series for fans of fantasy and adventure. With an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on thousands of user reviews, the show has proven to be a massive hit with audiences, who praise its engaging storyline, memorable characters, and breathtaking cinematography. The show's success has also been recognized by critics, with many praising its ambitious scope, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to staying true to the spirit of Tolkien's work. Whether you're a longtime fan of The Lord of the Rings or just discovering the magic of Middle-earth for the first time, The Rings of Power is an unforgettable viewing experience that is sure to leave you spellbound and eager for more. With its impressive ratings and glowing reviews, it's no wonder that this series has become one of the most popular and highly acclaimed Prime Video original TV shows to date.
3. Reacher
Among the plethora of Prime Video Original TV Shows, "Reacher" stands out as a highly acclaimed series that has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. Based on the bestselling novels by Lee Child, "Reacher" follows the story of Jack Reacher, a former military policeman who navigates his way through a complex web of crime and deception. With its unique blend of action, suspense, and intrigue, the show has garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning its place among the top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV Shows. The series boasts an impressive 8.1/10 rating on IMDB, with many praising its faithful adaptation of the source material, exceptional performances, and gripping storyline.
The success of "Reacher" can be attributed to its well-crafted narrative, which expertly balances fast-paced action sequences with thought-provoking themes and memorable characters. The show's protagonist, played by Alan Ritchson, brings the iconic character to life with his charisma and nuanced performance. With its gripping plot twists and turns, "Reacher" keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, making it an absolute must-watch for fans of crime dramas and thrillers. As one of the top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV Shows, "Reacher" is a testament to the streaming platform's commitment to producing high-quality, engaging content that resonates with audiences globally. Whether you're a fan of the novels or new to the franchise, "Reacher" is an unmissable series that promises to deliver non-stop entertainment and suspense from start to finish.
4. The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time, a Prime Video Original TV show, has taken the world by storm with its captivating storyline and impeccable production quality. Based on the bestselling book series by Robert Jordan, this fantasy epic has garnered a massive following and critical acclaim. With an average rating of 8.1/10, it secures a spot among the top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows. The show's intricate world-building, complex characters, and stunning visuals have resonated with audiences, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. The Wheel of Time follows the journey of MoiraineDamodred, a powerful Aes Sedai, and her companions as they navigate an unfolding prophecy that will determine the fate of their world.
As one of the most highly-rated Prime Video Original TV shows, The Wheel of Time has been praised for its faithful adaptation of the source material, bringing the beloved characters and storylines to life in a way that both old and new fans can appreciate. The show's attention to detail, from the costumes to the setting, has been meticulously crafted to transport viewers to a richly imagined world. With a talented ensemble cast, including Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney, and Zoë Robins, the show delivers performances that are both authentic and compelling. As the series continues to unfold, fans can expect more epic battles, unexpected twists, and character developments that will keep them on the edge of their seats. If you're looking for a captivating and immersive viewing experience, The Wheel of Time is an excellent choice, and its high rating among Prime Video Original TV shows is a testament to its exceptional quality and engaging storytelling.
5. The Boys
The Boys is a dark and subversive superhero satire that has taken the world by storm, and it's no surprise that it's ranked among the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows. Developed by Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen, this critically acclaimed series is based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The show is set in a world where superheroes, known as "supes," are revered and commercialized by the powerful corporation Vought International, but beneath their glamorous facade, they are selfish, arrogant, and often depraved. The Boys follows a group of vigilantes, led by Billy Butcher, as they seek to take down the corrupt superhero team known as The Seven, and expose the dark truth behind their heroic images.
With its unique blend of action, drama, and social commentary, The Boys has resonated with audiences and critics alike, earning a spot among the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows. The show features a talented ensemble cast, including Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Antony Starr, and has received widespread critical acclaim for its writing, acting, and themes. The show's exploration of toxic masculinity, celebrity culture, and the dangers of unchecked power has struck a chord with viewers, and its high-octane action sequences and shocking plot twists have kept fans on the edge of their seats. If you're looking for a thought-provoking and entertaining Prime Video original series, The Boys is an absolute must-watch, and its ranking among the top 10 highest rated shows is a testament to its quality and appeal. With its bold storytelling and unapologetic humor, The Boys is a Prime Video original series that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
6. Invincible
When it comes to the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows, "Invincible" stands out as a powerhouse in the world of animated series. Based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, this adult animated superhero show has captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike. With a stellar voice cast, including Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, and J.K. Simmons, "Invincible" tells the story of Mark Grayson, the son of the most powerful superhero on Earth, as he develops his own powers and navigates the complexities of being a hero. The show's unique blend of action, drama, and humor has resonated with viewers, earning it a spot among the highest rated Prime Video original TV shows.
One of the key factors contributing to "Invincible"'s high rating is its well-developed characters and storylines. The show explores complex themes such as identity, family, and the consequences of power, making it more than just a typical superhero series. With its crisp animation and engaging storyline, "Invincible" has received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its originality and faithfulness to the comic book series. As a result, it has become one of the most popular and highly rated Prime Video original TV shows, with a loyal fan base eagerly anticipating new episodes. Whether you're a fan of superheroes, animation, or just great storytelling, "Invincible" is a must-watch series that is sure to leave you wanting more, and its inclusion in the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows is well-deserved.
7. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan is a highly acclaimed Prime Video Original TV series that has garnered immense popularity and critical acclaim. Based on the fictional characters created by Tom Clancy, the show follows the story of Dr. Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who finds himself in the midst of global espionage and intrigue. With its gripping storyline, impressive action sequences, and outstanding performances, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan has secured a spot among the top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows. The series features John Krasinski as the titular character, along with a talented ensemble cast, including Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish, and Ali Suliman. The show's blend of intelligence, suspense, and action has resonated with audiences, making it a must-watch for fans of the spy thriller genre.
The show's impressive ratings and reviews can be attributed to its well-crafted narrative, which explores complex themes and issues, including terrorism, geopolitics, and personal identity. With an average rating of 8.1/10 on IMDB and 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan has received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its realistic portrayal of espionage and intelligence gathering. The series has also been nominated for several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing. As one of the top 10 highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan is a testament to the platform's commitment to producing high-quality, engaging content that caters to a diverse range of audiences. Whether you're a fan of action, suspense, or drama, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan is an unmissable series that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
8. The Expanse
The Expanse is a highly acclaimed science fiction television series that has garnered a massive following worldwide. In the context of the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows, The Expanse stands out for its exceptional storytelling, engaging characters, and stunning visuals. Based on the bestselling book series by James S. A. Corey, the show is set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, and it follows a diverse group of characters as they unravel a complex conspiracy that threatens the fragile balance of power in the galaxy. With its unique blend of politics, action, and suspense, The Expanse has received widespread critical acclaim, earning an impressive 8.5/10 rating on IMDB and a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
As one of the top-rated Prime Video original TV shows, The Expanse has been praised for its realistic portrayal of a futuristic world, its well-developed characters, and its thought-provoking themes. The show's attention to detail and commitment to scientific accuracy have also been widely praised, making it a must-watch for fans of science fiction and space exploration. With its exceptional production values, talented cast, and gripping storyline, The Expanse is an excellent example of the high-quality content that Prime Video has to offer. Whether you're a fan of science fiction, action, or drama, The Expanse is a show that is sure to captivate and entertain, and its high rating is a testament to its excellence. If you're looking for a compelling and engaging TV series to watch, The Expanse is definitely worth checking out, and its availability on Prime Video makes it easily accessible to stream and enjoy.
9. Carnival Row
Carnival Row is a fantasy drama television series that has captivated audiences worldwide, securing its place among the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows. Created by Travis Beacham and René Echevarria, this critically acclaimed series is set in a Victorian-era inspired fantasy world where mythical creatures and humans coexist in a world of wonder and strife. The show boasts an ensemble cast, including Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, who deliver outstanding performances that bring depth and complexity to their characters. With its richly detailed world-building, intricate plotlines, and timely social commentary, Carnival Row has resonated with viewers and critics alike, earning a spot on the list of top-rated Prime Video original TV shows.
One of the key factors contributing to Carnival Row's high rating is its thought-provoking exploration of themes such as immigration, prejudice, and social justice. The show's use of fantasy creatures as a metaphor for real-world issues adds a layer of depth and nuance to the narrative, making it more than just a simple fantasy series. Prime Video has been praised for its bold and innovative approach to storytelling, and Carnival Row is a testament to the platform's commitment to producing high-quality, engaging content. With its stunning visuals, captivating characters, and timely themes, Carnival Row is a must-watch for fans of fantasy and science fiction, and its inclusion in the top 10 highest rated Prime Video original TV shows is well-deserved. Whether you're a fan of mythology, fantasy, or social commentary, Carnival Row is sure to captivate and inspire, making it a standout series in the world of streaming television.
10. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a highly acclaimed Prime Video Original TV show that has taken the world by storm with its unique blend of comedy, drama, and music. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show follows the life of Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a housewife-turned-comedian in the late 1950s. With its impeccable writing, impressive cast, and meticulous attention to period detail, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has garnered widespread critical acclaim and has been ranked as one of the Top 10 Highest Rated Prime Video Original TV Shows. The show's success can be attributed to its well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and hilarious comedic moments, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a light-hearted yet thought-provoking viewing experience.
With an impressive 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has solidified its position as one of the highest rated Prime Video Original TV shows. The show's talented ensemble cast, including Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, and Tony Shalhoub, deliver outstanding performances that bring the characters to life. The show's 8 Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Globe Awards are a testament to its exceptional quality and appeal. As a Prime Video Original TV show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel offers a unique and captivating viewing experience that is both entertaining and enlightening. If you're looking for a show that will leave you laughing, crying, and feeling inspired, then The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is an excellent choice, and its ranking among the Top 10 Highest Rated Prime Video Original TV Shows is well-deserved.
The Boys' Version of Iron Man Is Its Most Unique Hero (& It's Not Close)
Arguably the entire point of The Boys is to mock superheroes in the most grisly and insulting ways possible, which includes shining a light on the fact that they, too, can be terrible people, and given that they’re super, they’d be the worst kind of terrible. However, The Boys’ parody of Iron Man actually stands out in that regard, making him The Boys most unique hero (by far).
The Boys’ version of Iron Man is named Tek Knight, who’s actually more of a cross between Batman and Iron Man, but who is easily more reminiscent of Tony Stark given his fully mechanical suit of armor (both in aesthetic and function). However, there’s one main difference between Iron Man and Tek Knight that’s a bit disturbing: Tek Knight has an uncontrollable desire to be sexually intimate with basically anyone or anything in front of him. It’s for this reason that he can’t have a sidekick, and doesn’t even work with other superheroes, because he knows how little control he has over his urges and doesn’t want to assault anyone as a result. And that, right there, is why Tek Knight is different from practically every other supe in The Boys universe: he’s actually a good guy.
Tek Knight Is One Of The Only Good Supes In The Boys
In The Boys #7-10 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, Tek Knight is introduced and his story arc is told in its entirety. The issues go into how Tek Knight doesn’t have any superpowers (like his Iron Man and Batman Marvel/DC counterparts), but still wanted to be a hero in a world where only those with powers can seemingly make a difference. However, it was during his escapades with other heroes that he learned of his debilitating disease, and essentially had to retire as a result. The idea of a superhero with a sex addiction so intense that they can’t have a sidekick or work with other superheroes for fear of assaulting them (which he regrettably did to his own butler) is undeniably gross and deviant. However, the tragic truth of the situation was that Tek Knight’s urges came from a brain tumor, meaning he had absolutely no control over himself or the urges that plagued him.
Not only did Tek Knight suffer from a brain tumor that essentially turned him into an aggressive sex addict who’s unfit to even be around other people (a brain tumor readers eventually learn is terminal), but he actively fought to keep others around him safe from himself. When it became apparent that he couldn’t control himself, Tek Knight immediately separated himself from those around him, and went into isolation for their sake. Any other supe in The Boys would not have been that accommodating, as most other supes are regularly shown engaging in violent sex acts throughout the series with no remorse for the damage they cause as a result. Tek Knight physically can’t help his condition, but even still, he took full responsibility for it and implemented measures to keep those around him safe, proving that he’s actually a good person in a world filled with superheroes who are decidedly not.
It seems as though Tek Knight may be adapted in The Boys live-action series, and if that’s actually the case, then the truest depiction of his nature needs to be translated from the comics to the show, which is something that separates this Iron Man parody from practically every other supe in The Boys: Tek Knight is actually a good person.
The Boys Season 4's New The Seven Team Teased By Vought Ahead Of SDCC Panel: "The Seven Has NEVER Been Stronger"
Ahead of their scheduled panel at 2023’s San Diego Comic-Con, The Boys season 4 has teased a new line-up for their Vought superhero team known as The Seven. Throughout the events of The Boys season 3, Vought’s premiere superhero team led by Antony Starr’s Homelander saw its ranks significantly diminished. In addition to Starlight’s defection from Vought’s ranks, season 3 also saw Dominique McElligott’s Maeve fake her own death and Homelander kill Black Noir in a fit of rage.
With a few months now gone since production wrapped, the official Twitter account of the fictional corporation Vought International is hinting at revamped team line-up for The Boys season 4.
This 7/7, we salute the greatest Super team ever assembled. Even with heroic sacrifices and unfortunate betrayals, The Seven has NEVER been stronger. Sole captain Homelander continues his search for new heroes to replenish the team’s ranks as we speak! pic.twitter.com/VSfFjXpBbB
— Vought International (@VoughtIntl) July 7, 2023
Featuring an image of the three remaining members of The Seven, Homelander, A-Train, and The Deep, the edited season 2 image also includes a returning Black Noir, whose death is set to be covered up by having a new Supe take his place. The post also promises that Homelander is busy searching for more Supes to join his team’s ranks.
Who Will Join The Seven In The Boys Season 4?
With The Seven now looking for three new members to bring the team back to its full strength, audiences are keen to know who will be joining the show’s roster of corrupt superheroes. Two of those three vacant slots are most likely going to be taken by a pair of new characters that were first announced in October last year. Orange is the New Black’s Susan Heyward and The Lost Symbol’s Valorie Curry have previously been announced as two new Supes, known respectively as Sister Sage and Firecracker.
At the moment, little is known about Heyward and Curry’s characters, both of which are original characters with no direct correlation in the original comics. The bigger mystery will be who is destined to fill the seventh and remaining slot on the team. While it seems unlikely that Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy would be in the running to round out the team, another option may be the mysterious unnamed character played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. With many fan theories postulating his potential casting as the Supe Tek Knight, he could be a good contender.
Another option may stem from the upcoming spinoff series Gen V, which will introduce a younger generation of Supes training at Godolkin University School of Crimefighting. With the spinoff set to arrive before The Boys season 4, it is possible that this new series may even introduce an up-and-coming Supe graduate who moves across to the flagship show. Either way, audiences may learn more when The Boys make their appearance later this month at the SDCC.
Source: @VoughtIntl/Twitter
The Boys Stars Recount the Chaos of Shooting Herogasm
The Boys stars Erin Moriarty and Jensen Ackles explained how shooting the superhero series' infamous "Herogasm" episode took its toll on both the cast and crew.
Per Variety, during a Prime Video FYC panel, the two stars discussed their experiences filming "Herogasm for The Boys Season 3. "It was like walking into an orgy house," Moriarty said. She further described how the set was plagued by a variety of adult toys then. "There were things and shapes that I thought, 'These would pierce an organ, most people wouldn't survive them.' But of course, they exist," the actor continued. "I don't understand, but I learned a lot." Ackles later claimed that Moriarty "looked like [she] had just come out of war" while filming "Herogasm."
What Jensen Ackles Recalls From Herogasm
As for Ackles himself, the Soldier Boy actor explained how crew members behind the cameras were not spared from the grueling experience either. "When I saw our camera operator outside, he was just staring at the ground," Ackles recounted. "I went up and said, 'Hey Liam, what's up, how's it going up there?' And he said, 'I've seen some shit man.' He was traumatized, and they did not prep me either." Ackles said the set began to "smell like old sex after a while," and admitted that nothing could have prepared him for the shoot. He continued, "There's some shit that I shot that didn't even make the final cut and I'm like, 'Really, you made me do that, you knew you weren't gonna use it, but you made me do that anyway?'"
Inspired by the titular tie-in miniseries for the original The Boys comics created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Darick Robertson, "Herogasm" remains one of the most infamous episodes of Prime Video's television adaptation. As its name implies, the episode involves a superhero orgy and features some of the most graphic scenes of the entire show. However, unlike the Herogasm comic miniseries, the episode also shows fans a major, choreographed standoff between Ackles' Soldier Boy, Homelander (Antony Starr), Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid).
The Boys Showrunner on Why Herogasm Needed to Be an Event
The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke previously discussed how he envisioned "Herogasm," stating that the notorious episode needed to be a major event for The Boys Season 3. He explained how he wanted Herogasm to leave a strong impression on fans without relying solely on its graphic content. "It's every bit as shocking as [fans] are expecting it to be, but not at all in the way they think it's going to be," Kripke said in May 2023. "And that was really intentional; I enjoyed having something that had that much event in it."
All three seasons of The Boys are available to stream on Prime Video. Filming on The Boys Season 4 has wrapped, but when it will release is unknown as of writing. Before then though, The Boys college-themed spinoff, Gen V, is expected to premiere on Prime Video in Fall 2023.
Source: Variety
The Boys Season 4 Will Change How You Feel About Certain Villains, Star Teases
Starlight actor Erin Moriarty teased that The Boys season 4 will explore various character developments. Based on the comic book created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, Prime Video's television adaptation recently wrapped filming on season 4 in April 2023. Picking up after the season 3 finale, season 4 will see Vought’s flagship superhero team introduce several new faces following Maeve's staged death and Starlight’s defection from The Seven. Meanwhile, Black Noir actor Nathan Mitchell is also set to play a new version of his character after Homelander brutally killed the original masked Supe for withholding information about his father.
Speaking with Collider, Moriarty revealed that The Boys season 4 would continue to provide background information about the show’s unique roster of characters. By giving a deeper understanding as to how certain characters’ personalities came to be, the Starlight actor suggests viewers will reconsider the reasoning behind certain villainous actions. Check out her comments below:
"Every season, we go a little bit deeper with each character. The characters… that you thought would be villains, you start to learn a little bit more about them that perhaps makes you feel, not that they’re good guys, but that there are always gonna be details that you can never anticipate, that prevent you from putting that character in a box."
How The Boys’ Moral Ambiguity Has Helped Redefine The Superhero Genre
Over the past 15 years, the superhero genre has arisen as one of the most influential and profitable forms of popular entertainment in the modern age. Among this evolving cultural phenomenon, The Boys and its special brand of satire boast a unique place of honor in a marketplace already saturated with attempts to capitalize on the superhero craze.
Inspired by some of the world’s best-known superheroes and rampant consumerism, The Boys offers a glimpse at a superpowered world far removed from the kind of clear-cut morality tales on which the genre was first built. Not content to merely upend the view of superheroes as virtuous beings who fight for justice, the show has also provided many of its supes with sympathetic, and often tragic, backstories that give context to their less-than-heroic actions. As Moriarty suggests, the show’s most despicable characters are often presented in a light that prevents viewers from simply putting them “in a box.”
The characters featured in The Boys, superpowered or not, have continued to shock and surprise audiences for three seasons, and based on Moriarty’s comments, season 4 looks set to continue the trend. While other shows and movies have often tried to replicate The Boys' unique blend of humor and social commentary, few have achieved the broad impact and appeal of Prime Video’s hit series. With filming on The Boys season 4 already completed, it will not be much longer until new episodes drop and uncover new revelations about the characters.
The Boys Season 4 Can’t Outdo Season 3’s Shocking Opening Scene - But Shouldn't Try To
While The Boys season 4 will likely feature some seriously gross moments, the comic adaptation shouldn’t front load these the way the show did in season 3's infamous opening scene. The Boys has always been a gross show. An adaptation of Garth Ennis’s comic book series of the same name, The Boys satirizes superhero tropes with a healthy helping of disgusting humor. The goriest deaths in the series are usually played for dark laughs, whether it is Kimiko beating multiple men to death with dildos or Homelander blowing a civilian’s head to shreds in public before a baying crowd. However, this isn’t always a good thing.
One thing that makes The Boys better than its comic inspiration is the fact that the series is not as gratuitous as its source material. The Boys tended to go too far from time to time in its original comic incarnation, and some of the comic’s grossest shocks wouldn’t have translated to television. Anyone who has read the deeply upsetting scene where Butcher (the ostensible hero of the series) beats a super-powered baby to death will know that The Boys comic sometimes leaned into shock value for its own sake. To its credit, The Boys television show indulges this creative impulse less often. However, it is still an issue for the show.
The Boys Season 3’s Opening Set The Bar Too High For Graphic Scenes
While relatively quick, Termite’s accidental killing is still extremely cringe-worthy. It is a gory moment on par with Glenn’s death in The Walking Dead or The Mountain Vs The Viper sequence from Game of Thrones, and will likely go down in infamy as a similarly shocking moment in television history. However, the fact that season 3 featured this as its opening scene left The Boys with nowhere to go later in the outing. While The Boys season 3, episode 6, “Herogasm.” was a fun outing, the episode was nowhere near as shocking as viewers anticipated. The season wouldn’t have felt so tame if the opening scene of The Boys season 3 hadn’t set such a high bar.
The Boys Season 4 Shouldn’t Try To Match S3's Horrifying Opening
While The Boys’ "evil Superman" Homelander could instantly one-up Termite’s gruesome misdeed in season 4’s opening scene, this is not the approach the adaptation should take. It is easy for viewers to become inured to shocking violence and this can lead to showrunners and writers constantly trying to up the ante. This doomed attempt at beating last season’s viral shock can result in scenes that feel more tasteless and tactless than necessary, as evidenced when Game of Thrones mishandled Sansa’s rape one season after the Viper’s demise. While The Boys generally handles triggering content better than earlier television shows, the adaptation isn’t immune to this risk.
The Boys Season 4 Must Start Slow (Before It Gets Gross Again)
The best way for The Boys season 4 to shock audiences would be for the show to start slower this time and hold off on gory shocks until at least the end of the premiere. This would effectively lull viewers into a false sense of security, leaving them feeling like season 4 may simply be less intense than its predecessor. The Boys has previously thrived on including scenes that audiences would never expect or think would be allowed on screen while remaining engaging. Thus, by holding off a little at the start, The Boys can restore that balance.
As things stand, viewers will enter The Boys season 4 expecting the grossest, most disgusting visuals possible. As a result, even the most appalling imagery won't have much impact on viewers expecting more gore, more shocking images, and more boundary-pushing content. Paradoxically, extreme gross-out moments will likely put new viewers off the show, meaning The Boys season 4 could alienate potential audience members while failing to shock longtime fans. As such, the best thing for The Boys season 4 to do is to start slowly before shocking viewers all over again with more gross delights once their defenses are down.
The Boys Season 3 Gave Away Its Big Ending Twist Too Early
The Boys season 3 continued the series’ established ability to shock audiences with both its unflinching depictions of brutal violence and its twists, but it revealed its ending turn a bit too early. A vital part of the pleasure associated with this cynical look at the superhero phenomenon has always been the revelation of some key piece of information, a big twist that changes everything viewers thought they knew about the series. In fact, it’s the anticipation of just what revelation will emerge that remains crucial to the appeal of The Boys.
The Boys is the kind of series that likes to keep something back, often waiting until the finale to unleash a shocking moment, increasing the stakes of the action and the next season. Such twists often involve a brutal death that shakes up existing power relations within the series, like Homelander’s lasering of Madelyn Stillwell in The Boys season 1. Each twist also increases the stakes, leading the viewer to wonder just how much further the series and its characters-both Supes and Boys alike-can take their ever-escalating conflict. That said, season 3 gave away its twist far too early.
The Boys S3 Trailer Gave Away Homelander's Final Twist
The trailer for The Boys season 3 contains two key pieces of information that reveal the final twist of the season. In showing Homelander grinning in front of an adoring crowd with the line, “I showed people the real me... I mean they f**king love me,” the trailer makes it clear that the villainous Supes' true nature would eventually become public knowledge. Rather than causing his fans to turn against him, however, the trailer reveals The Boys season 3's dark ending for Homelander, i.e. that his brutal murder of a protester merely increases his popularity.
Obviously, there were numerous clues in The Boys seasons 2 and 3 that this moment has been coming. The actions of the various Supes, particularly Homelander, have become increasingly unhinged and publicly visible, leading to a bit of a crisis for Vought. It is, after all, the company responsible for them, and the public associates with some measure of accountability. In revealing so much of this particular plot point, the trailer robs the revelation of its true emotional impact, to the detriment of both the finale and The Boys season 3 as a whole, since neither has the element of surprise of their predecessors.
How Homelander's True Nature Sets Up The Boys Season 4
The ending of The Boys season 3 finally sees Homelander revealed as the homicidal monster he has been from the very beginning. As a result, the public now realizes that he is capable of destroying anyone who stands in his path, not just “bad guys.” Season 4 will no doubt explore the fallout from Homelander’s killing of a civilian because even though the gathered crowds celebrate this violent act, it’s already been established that many others aren’t so willing to go along with whatever depraved and murderous acts Supes like Homelander may commit.
In some ways, the revelation of the truth about Homelander’s true nature will seemingly make Billy Butcher’s efforts to bring him down easier to accomplish. Season 3 sets up the heightened stakes of their ongoing conflict, particularly since Billy has his own attachment to Homelander’s son, Ryan. Given that neither one of these men knows how to admit defeat, it’s highly likely that The Boys season 4 will show them competing for Ryan’s allegiance, with each trying to sway the public to their way of thinking. The stakes couldn’t be higher for each of them, and their actions will reflect this dynamic.
The Boys' Most Explosive Massacre Was Originally Much Deadlier
Few moments were more violent and darker in The Boys television series than when Victoria Neuman used her powers to violently explode people's heads during a congressional hearing exposing Vought-American, but in the comics, Billy Butcher's version of the scene was even deadlier. In The Boys #14, Butcher activates a frequency that kills hundreds of Supes at once in his biggest massacre of the series.
Billy Butcher's kill count in The Boys comic book is incredibly high, as he kills many Supes throughout the series. From Butcher making his name literal while killing Soldier Boy to finishing off Black Noir with a crowbar, the leader of The Boys got great satisfaction in taking Supes off the board in his effort to get revenge for the loss of his wife. However, one of Butcher's deadliest moments was changed in a significant way during The Boys television series, as Victoria Neuman using her powers to explode heads during a congressional hearing actually happened much differently in the comics.
In The Boys #14 by Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Peter Snejbjerg, Simon Bowland, and Tony Avina from Dynamite Comics, the Supe-hunting team goes to Russia, where they learn that the Little Nina, who recently appeared in The Boys TV series, has been hiding 150 Supes for Vought-American. Billy Butcher confronts the Supes in a warehouse, showing little fear against the superpowered army. After calling them an expletive, Butcher pulls out a switch, and when he presses it, it explodes the heads of all the Supes in the room with a special frequency, in one of his most violent moments in the series.
Butcher's deadliest Supe moment would get adapted in The Boys television series but under much different circumstances. In the TV show, it's Victoria Neuman who ends up exploding the heads of anyone who stands in her way, with her attack on Congress being one of the darkest moments of the live-action series. Instead of channeling a frequency, Neuman's powers are responsible for the massacre at Congress.
The change in The Boys TV series added an extra layer of intrigue to the original mystery of the exploding heads at Congress and set up Victoria Neuman as a deadly secret Supe who would cause major problems going forwards. However, in the comics, Billy Butcher's attack killing 150 Supes at once by popping their heads like balloons remains one of his deadliest single actions, as it's his biggest single takedown of Supes in The Boys. The two scenes might have played out quite differently, but the explosive moment was much darker in the comics.
The Boys Turns Compound V Into A Real Life Energy Drink
Compound V from the popular Prime Video series The Boys is finally available to purchase - as an energy drink! The dark TV show, based on comics created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, acts as an antithesis of the glorification of superheroes saturating media nowadays with the success of the MCU and certain DC films. In The Boys, super-powered individuals are not the heroes of the story, but often dangerous antagonists that must be taken down. The Karl Urban and Jack Quaid-led series tackles corporate corruption, the privatization of military assets, and the individual thirst for power. The Boys recently wrapped up its third season.
In The Boys, a major plot point deals with the revelation that heroes are created, not born, with the help of a substance called Compound V. Shown as a blue serum, Compound V can also be taken by those already imbued with powers as a heavy-duty stimulant. In season 3, some members of Supe-fighting team the Boys start taking a version of Compound V, Temp V, which offers powerless individuals a temporary dose of superpowers. That serum is coded as green and quickly revealed to be fatal. Now, fans of The Boys can get in on the action by taking Compound V in the form of a new energy drink created by GFuel, a company that creates energy drinks primarily for ESports and gaming.
Sony posted the news via Twitter, along with an image of the new GFuel flavor as both an energy drink and powder. The images feature Homelander and Starlight prominently as the poster children for the real-life Compound V. See the post below:
Now it’s your turn to try “Compound V.”@GFuelEnergy's latest is available now. Courtesy of our friends over at @VoughtIntl. @SPTV | @TheBoysTV pic.twitter.com/FtYIieo1y6
— Sony (@Sony) August 29, 2022
The marketing of the drink is extremely clever, with plenty of elements in the photos attributing the drink to Vought International. Those details are fitting, since the Supe-owning corporation Vought are the ones in the series that dosed children with Compound V in order to create heroes in the first place. If Vought hadn't had bigger fish to fry, the company would almost certainly have chosen to somehow profit off of their PR disaster following the reveal of Compound V. While they would never offer Compound V on a wide scale since it would render their assets useless, the corporation would definitely find a way to make money off the Supe-creating drug. In fact, The Boys season 3 saw Vought hero A-Train shooting a commercial for his own energy drink, called Turbo Rush, which shows how fitting the partnership between GFuel and The Boys truly is.
Known for its collaborations with pop culture staples such as Naruto and Sonic, it's no surprise that GFuel wanted to get in on the hype for The Boys following a very well-received season 3. The collab between the two properties is satisfying to any fan of the series and will allow viewers to have a taste of either Temp V or Compound V. At the very least, the energy drinks will definitely give fans a boost (though hopefully not as big as A-Train's in the series pilot). As The Boys gears up for a promising season 4, the thrilling announcement that Jeffrey Dean Morgan will feature in the new season has fans even more hyped for the next chapter of the diabolical series.
The Boys Season 4's Seven Problem May Have 1 Obvious Solution
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 4!!
The Boys season 4 has a big issue with the Seven that was caused by the events of season 3 - but there's already an obvious solution. Throughout the series, a consistent plot point has been the constantly shifting roster of the Seven, with the team's various supes constantly joining the team, leaving the team, or dying. The Boys season 3 left The Seven in a bad spot, with both Black Noir and Supersonic dying, and the series is running out of big-name supes to take their place. However, there is another obvious show The Boys can recruit from.
The Boys is a gritty satirical take on politics and media based on the popular superhero comic of the same name. The series follows the titular group of powerless humans as they attempt to take down The Seven, a superhero team that acts as a dark parody of the Justice League. Supes are constantly joining the Seven, as the violent and mature world of The Boys makes sure that many of the team's members aren't around for long. Thus, the membership count of the Seven is, ironically, rarely seven. While the goal of The Boys' protagonists is to wipe out the various supes created by Vought International, each season promotes new heroes to The Seven, giving the various episodes a unique feel and story.
Most of the main supes in The Boys are either on the team, have been on the team, or they're dead. The Seven is only sitting at five members at the conclusion of The Boys season 3, highlighting the show's big problem: it's running out of supes. Yes, there are technically a ton of superpowered people running around the show, but hardly any of them are powerful enough or beloved by audiences enough to join the team. With The Boys' complex story and various human characters, it's hard to spend time developing new supes that will inevitably be killed off at the end of the season. Luckily, there is another place that The Boys can get new Seven members from: Gen V.
How Gen V Can Perfectly Connect To The Boys Season 4
A The Boys spin-off titled Gen V is coming soon, and it can perfectly fix the show's issue in The Boys season 4. Gen V will follow a young group of supes attending the Vought-run Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, with the students competing in different events and challenges in order to be recruited onto The Boys' various superhero teams. The Boys season 3 already showed Homelander and Starlight's attempts to recruit young supes with the "American Hero" reality show, although its winner, Supersonic, didn't last very long on the Seven. American Hero's failure makes Vought unlikely to try it again, meaning that The Boys season 4 could have Vought pulling heroes from their school of crimefighting. Gen V fixes The Boys' supe problem, as the spin-off series will devote its entire run to developing its collegiate supes. It is already known that Gen V and The Boys will tie into each other, and Gen V setting up supes that can be put into the Seven without The Boys devoting major time to them is the perfect way to do it.
While The Boys may be running out of big-name supes, Gen V will have an all-new batch of characters that would fit in perfectly with The Boys season 4. Goldkin University's champion being included in The Boys would also give viewers a reason to watch the spin-off, since the two shows would be heavily tied together. The Boys season 4 has a big problem, and Gen V is the way to fix it.
The Boys' Homelander Death Is Perfect Because It Refuses to Respect Him
While Homelander is set up throughout The Boys as the series' big bad, his eventual death perfectly flips this concept by robbing him of his dignity and relevance. An incredibly powerful parody of DC's Superman, Homelander is a brutal bully who ultimately decides to stage a coup on the United States, murdering the president and countless people in a short-sighted grab for power.
Ultimately, Homelander is killed by Black Noir, who is revealed to be a clone of the powerful Supe, tasked with assassinating him should he ever decide to break from the Vought-America corporation's interests. It's Black Noir who ends up being the series' biggest superhuman threat, and Homelander is killed off-panel in a way that not only acts as a thrilling twist, but perfectly undermines the way the character presents himself throughout the story.
In The Boys #65 (from Garth Ennis, Russ Brain, John McCrea, and Keith Burns), Homelander learns the truth. Not only has his 'friend' always wanted to kill him, but Black Noir actually dressed as Homelander in order to frame him for brutal crimes and force Vought to call for his execution. Homelander's own crimes only happened because he believed he'd already done such terrible things, prompting Butcher to hit him with the definitive put-down, "It means you turned into a ****** psychopath by mistake." Homelander begins the issue sitting in the Oval Office, feeling unbeatable, and ends with a profanity-laden tantrum, squaring off against an enemy who brutally destroys him. It's a genius move because it takes a character who'd love to be thought of as a supreme evil and kills him off-panel in a fight against a bigger threat, moments after definitively proving he's never understood what's actually going on behind the scenes.
For most of The Boys, Homelander is held up as an unkillable terror - someone who can't be brought down by normal means, and who plunges the country into chaos on a whim. It's exactly how he presents himself, and yet ultimately it's the lie of someone who has the maturity - as his creator described him to Newsarama - "of a fourteen year old." Homelander's coup is deeply unsuccessful, lasting less than a day and ending with him murdered by Vought's secret weapon and his superhero 'army' mowed down by the military. Homelander isn't actually an unfeeling killer, but rather someone playing the part who is constantly questioning his own actions.
Ultimately, Homelander isn't even in the top three of The Boys' villains, ranking below Black Noir, Vought executive James Stillwell, and Billy Butcher himself. While he sets himself up as a terrifying threat, his death in The Boys pulls the rug from under his and readers' feet by showing he's anything but. Often in pop culture, even the most repulsive villains are given cool or iconic deaths that only serve to validate their importance. The Boys doesn't give Homelander that kind of ending, revealing he's been playing someone else's game all along, and killing him off in a fight that only serves to establish his killer as a far more disturbing and significant villain.
The Boys Star Shares Throwback Seven Photo To Celebrate Season 4 Filming
Antony Starr confirms that production on The Boys season 4 has begun with a throwback image of the Seven. Concluding season 3 last month, Prime Video announced the show’s renewal within a week of its premiere. Based on a comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the series centers on the vigilantism of a titular group of misfits determined to expose the dark underbelly of superheroes.
Developed by Eric Kripke, The Boys season 3 saw the introduction of Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, the world’s first superhuman and the only adversary of comparable power to Homelander (Starr). Ending with a fittingly shocking finale, it was announced earlier this month that Cameron Crovetti, the teenage star behind Homelander’s son Ryan, would become a series regular in season 4, with new heroes depicted by Valorie Curry and Susan Heyward also set to be introduced. After hinting at a battle for Ryan’s soul between Homelander and Billy Butcher, the casting announcement seemed to confirm Kripke’s story plans for season 4.
Now, Starr appears to have confirmed that production on The Boys season 4 has officially begun, sharing a throwback photo from season 1. "Season one. So long ago," he writes alongside an image of himself in full Homelander costume with the original cast of the Seven, featuring Erin Moriarty as Starlight, Dominique McElligott as Queen Maeve, Nathan Mitchell as Black Noir, Chance Crawford as The Deep, Jessie T. Usher as A-Train, and Alex Hassell as Translucent. Marking the commencement of season 4, Starr playfully adds: “Season four, now we begin ;)” Check out the post below:
Season one. So long ago. Season four, now we begin ;) pic.twitter.com/NFKfp6wYgZ
— Antony Starr (@antonystarr) August 22, 2022
Re-tweeted on the official Twitter page of The Boys, Starr’s update seems to align with a statement from his on-screen nemesis, Karl Urban, who previously indicated that production was scheduled to begin on August 22. The filming of season 4 has been repeatedly teased this month, as castmembers including Starr, Crawford, Jack Quaid, and Karen Fukuhara posted pictures en route to the show’s filming grounds in Toronto, Canada. In addition to the core cast, Ackles also appeared to hint at the possible return of Soldier Boy next season, commenting that he was “on [his] way” in a recent post by Urban.
With Kripke and the season 3 finale hinting at some of the show’s most exciting plot lines to date, fans will be thrilled to hear that production on season 4 is officially underway. Though it could be the start of a protracted wait, with new episodes of The Boys not expected to arrive until late 2023, fans can at least expect some ample updates and entertainment from the show’s highly interactive social media accounts. Additionally, it could be that the upcoming Gen V spinoff series will be able to cater to fan appetites as the wait for season 4 begins.
The Boys Mocks Warner Bros. for Canceling Batgirl, Removing HBO Max Content
Prime Video's superhero satire The Boys is no stranger to mocking the antics of corporations, and its most recent target is Warner Bros. following the studio's Batgirl cancellation.
After merging with Discovery, Warner Bros. made headlines with a series of cancellations, downsizing and pulling content from HBO Max entirely as it prepares to merge with Discovery+. Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt were shelved despite being far enough in production to be conducting test screenings. HBO Max is firing 70% of scripted production staff, and six original movies were removed from the platform entirely, including Seth Rogen's An American Pickle. Rogen is an executive producer on The Boys and made a cameo last season, so the show's social media used its trademark sarcasm to defend him.
Those bellends also pulled all their Starlight, Soldier Boy, and Seth Rogen content. Unsubscribe. https://t.co/gAHAvouEg4
— THE BOYS (@TheBoysTV) August 5, 2022
Right on Brand for The Boys
The Boys has two Twitter accounts that regularly collaborate for both promotions and punchlines. @VoughtIntl is an in-universe account representing Vought International, the mega-conglomerate antagonist of the series. It posts content highlighting the various superheroes Vought owns as well as spoofing Disney and other media companies. @TheBoysTV is a more traditional promotional account for the series, although it's known for being vulgar and crass much like the show it promotes.
The Vought tweet mocks the HBO Max and Discovery+ merger, advertising a new monthly subscription fee at an outrageous additional $29.99 per month. It also takes jabs at the regressive demographics used in the company's recent Q2 analysis that suggested superhero content is for men and reality TV is for women. The response from The Boys' official Twitter is delivered in classic Billy Butcher slang while referencing the events of the show's third season: The finale of The Boys season 3 culminates in Vought denouncing both Starlight and Soldier Boy following their attacks on Homelander, so the mega-corporation pulling their content makes canonical sense. Rogen is a notable outlier listed alongside the fictional superheroes.
While Warner Bros. is axing its own superhero content and attempting to rework The Flash and Black Adam to fit with its new plan, The Boys was officially renewed for a fourth season shortly after the premiere of its third as it continues to grow in viewership. The show's lasting popularity may be due in no small part to its inventive and immersive social media promotion tactics.
The Boys is streaming on Prime Video.
The Boys: Black Noir Can Return From The Dead (At A Serious Cost)
Black Noir can return from the dead and The Boys comic book shows how. Lamplighter's shocking status in the popular Dynamite Comics series reveals The Seven and Vought-American have a method to bring back heroes from the dead. But, unlike other ways to bring heroes back to life from Marvel Comics, such as the mutants resurrection protocol, bringing a Supe back comes with some serious complications.
One of the most shocking deaths in The Boys television series came when Homelander killed Black Noir for hiding the secret of his father, Soldier Boy, from him. Black Noir's death played out quite differently in live-action than in the comics, as unlike the story it would later inspire, the Supe wasn't a former member of Payback who suffered a grave injury impacting his mental capacity, but instead ended up being a Homelander clone killed in his final stand. While Black Noir's death seems permanent, The Boys comic book series showed a way to bring him back to life.
Darick Robertson, Matt Jacobs, Simon Bowland, and Tony Avina, The Legend shares that when The Seven re-emerged after a break following an incident that nearly destroyed their public image, the team returned with a different version of the Supe Lamplighter. Furthermore, the Legend reveals the new Lamplighter was the first ever Supe to undergo Vought-American's resurrection process, as he secretly returned from the dead but at the cost of losing almost his entire cognitive functions. If Vought-American has a similar resurrection protocol in The Boys television series, Black Noir can be brought back to life.
The caveat with the resurrection of Lamplighter is that he's barely alive, as his brain doesn't seem to work well, as he was changed into a shell of his former self. However, if The Boys television series decides to implement its own resurrection protocol, it's possible Black Noir can come back with or without the same limitations, assuming Vought-American can use Compound V to revive him. It would be a lot of fun to see them bring the Supe back in a Lazarus Pit-style way, as Black Noir could be unleashed against Homelander instead of being braindead like Lamplighter was upon his own resurrection.
Black Noir is too important of a character in the comics and television series to stay dead. So, if The Boys decide to resurrect the hero, they already have a built-in way of doing so. Although, Black Noir's potential resurrection would hopefully go quite differently than Lamplighter's, as the Supe in The Boys has already suffered enough trauma to come back even lesser than before like his fellow member of The Seven.
'The Boys' Season 4 Adds Two New Faces & Promotes Cameron Crovetti to Series Regular
After we all got a load of The Boys’ explosive Season 3 run, it’s time to start gearing up for the next season of the Prime Video superhero series as new cast members are added to the bulging slate of actors. Today, the streaming platform announced that Valorie Curry and Susan Heyward are joining the cast, and that Cameron Crovetti is being upped to series regular for Season 4. The series will continue to chronicle the life of superheroes who often abuse their superpowers for personal gain, but keep a friendly facade to society.
Crovetti is known by The Boys fans as the super-powered son of Homelander (Anthony Starr), who was born under horrible circumstances. At first, it was thought that Ryan had no powers, but his abusive father managed to push him to his limit in order to reveal he could be just as powerful as the leader of The Seven. Crovetti also starred in critically acclaimed projects like HBO series Big Little Lies, and is on the upcoming remake of cult horror film Goodnight Mommy.
Curry is fresh off another series: She starred in Peacock’s The Lost Symbol, and was also in another Prime Video super-hero series: The Tick. The actor was in other high-profile shows such as The Following, House of Lies, and Veronica Mars. In the cinema, she starred opposite Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning in American Pastoral, and was also in The Blair Witch Project sequel. In The Boys, she will play the superhero "Firecracker".
Heyward is known for her role as Tamika in the final seasons of Netflix’s hit series Orange is the New Black. She was also in The Following, Vinyl, and Powers, and most recently starred in OWN’s Delilah. In cinema, she starred in the horror remake Poltergeist, as well as in The Light of the Moon and Radium Girls. She was cast in The Boys as “Sister Sage”.
Season 4 of The Boys is still in early production. However, The Boys’ universe is moving fast not only with its spin-off animated series The Boys Presents: Diabolical, but also with Gen V – a spin-off young adult series that centers around super-heroes that go to a college run by Vought. The title is a play on Gen Z and Compound V, the artificial drug that gives superheroes in The Boys universe their powers, and is injected in them as babies.
Prime Video is yet to announce further details from The Boys Season 4, as well as a release date for Gen V.
It's Time To Hate Billy Butcher Becouse,
Billy Butcher walks the line between antihero and villain but The Boys season 3 confirms that it is finally time to hate him. While he may be an antihero, he isn’t a sheep in wolf’s clothing, like the case with many misunderstood antihero characters. Butcher (Karl Urban) is inhumane, but he is often paired against the Supes who are committing horrendous acts. But just because Butcher’s actions aren’t as monstrous as Homelander’s, doesn’t mean he isn’t a monster who deserves to be treated as such.
Season 3 depicts Billy Butcher and Hughie taking a Temp V to get powers. While season 2 centers around Hughie's hatred for Butcher, The Boys season 3 brings the two closer together. After learning that Temp V causes deadly side effects, Butcher still recruits Hughie for his plan. When he decides to spare Hughie and go by himself, Hughie is grateful when he should've been angry at Butcher's decision to sacrifice him without his consent.
Hughie's rejection of Butcher is essential in maintaining the core themes of The Boys. This is demonstrated in the season 1 finale where Hughie decides to save A-Train instead of letting him die. While Butcher kidnaps and straps a bomb to Stillwell, he proves he will stop at nothing to kill Homelander. The Boys' core theme points out that revenge doesn’t solve anything; it will not bring back what has been lost and it just adds to the violence and destruction in a corrupt world. While Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, and Kimiko may all reject Butcher’s antics, Hughie is the show’s protagonist, the audience’s vessel who reacts to Vought’s craziness as a normal person would. Hughie’s acceptance of Butcher goes against the show's theme outlined at the end of season 1. When Butcher decides to take Temp V alone, Hughie cries out that Butcher saved him. This is not only unrealistic, but it further forgives Butcher’s monstrous actions. There's no question that he's now become a villain.
Why Butcher Can't Escape Punishment In The Boys Season 4
The Boys season 3, episode 8 sets up Butcher’s dark and tragic ending and reveals that he is dying from Temp V abuse. After Starlight tells Butcher that three doses can end in death, he continues to use the experimental drug to even the playing field between himself and the Supes. Since he suffers from immense guilt over his brother Lenny's suicide and his wife Becca's death, he doesn't care what happens to him. Butcher will always seek revenge first, and he doesn't care who he hurts in the process as he already views himself as a monster. It is fitting that Butcher would hurt himself in the end, as this is not only what Butcher expects, but what the show needs.
It becomes clear in The Boys season 3 that Billy Butcher is the show's true villain. While the parallels between Homelander and Butcher are subtle in the first two seasons, the comparisons are much more apparent in season 3. Butcher may be incapable of realizing how pointless his quest for revenge is, but that doesn't mean he deserves sympathy. Butcher is not a hero because he decides to spare Hughie at the last minute; he's a monster for considering sacrificing Hughie's life. The Boys may be violent, but ultimately it shows the meaninglessness of violence and revenge while promoting a very strong undercurrent of love, forgiveness, and acceptance. However, this message will not be clear until Butcher gets his due.