The Boys - Season 2: EP 1-3
AMAZON
A startling view of an alternate world where super-humans exist – albeit with not-so-super flaws – Eric Kripke’s second season of The Boys revolves around the aftermath of the many plot threads left dangling more than a year ago. Back from its fourteen-month hiatus with much anticipation and an already confirmed third installment in tow, Amazon's flagship series is well worth the wait.
Starting off with a bang, the series picks up right where it left off: with Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) nowhere to be seen as Hughie (Jack Quaid) and the rest of The Boys face a life of uncertainty in hiding. Meanwhile, the corporate-controlled Seven, led by Homelander (Anthony Starr), must adjust to dealing with the team’s newest outspoken member (Aya Cash) as a conspiracy behind their origins begins to unravel. Yet, despite numerous revelations that will change the audience's perspective of the show itself, fortunately, all the spectacle, humor and blood and guts featured that the series has become known for is not only still prominent but turned up to an 11.
However, the season still brings many new things to the table. While it still contains many of its signature setpieces, this installment is a much more character driven narrative. Becoming introspective and curious to explore the nuanced root of each and every character’s motivations, this approach succeeds in fleshing out it’s characters, adding much depth to what some considered surface level depictions in earlier installments. Characters who were depicted as simply bad or good now have been drawn to blur the lines between good and evil, seeming like real humans with valid flaws they must overcome. As certain reveals hit, instead of cutting to the broader implications, Kripke makes sure to linger on the characters and observe the aftermath through their eyes before anything else, which helpsThe Boys truly stand out from others in the oversaturated genre.
None of those moments would work, however, without a strong set of central performances. The entire ensemble, akin to the other aspects of the season, seeks to one-up their previous performances, with most – if not all of them – far and away succeeding to achieve that with no weak links. From the cast of last season, Anthony Starr’s turn as a Homelander is sure to be the standout. The most despicable of the bunch, he falls back into his character with ease, one again delivering a near perfect portrait of a narcissistic, god-like figure whose world is now crumbling all around him.
Much has to be said of the new additions to the cast as well. Giancalo Esposito, who made a cameo in the penultimate episode of the first season, shines in his role as a Vaught executive, but the clear standout is Aya Cash’s unfiltered and brash Stormfront, a newcomer who breathes fresh life into both the Seven and the show itself. Throughout the course of the season, her character goes on an incredible narrative trajectory from an outspoken feminist icon who isn’t afraid of corporate pressures to something much more sinister, which Cash portrays brilliantly, hiding her true nature until it’s shockingly put front and center.
Yet, arguably, the best aspect of the series is seen in how it is written. Tight, witty and unabashedly satirical, everything from the core concepts of how even the most unique things are commoditised and stifled in our modern day world to how any person with a platform can undeservedly become the face of a media circus is touched upon and savagely mocked here, resulting in the highlight of the season’s signature stylistic flair. Ultimately,The Boys is a treat for both hardcore fans and casual viewers, delivering both the satirical humor and gore expected from the series, as well as introducing more in-depth character-driven narratives to ensure it stands out from its competition.