TV Review: The Boys Return And Get Political
With Election Day, November 3, not coming SOON ENOUGH, it seems like politics are everywhere and understandably so. We are in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more people than two of our wars combined (Korean and Vietnam), and we are having the biggest protests for Black equality and empowerment since the Civil Rights Movement. Maybe, it was predictive, but The Boys Season 2 flies in with socio-political commentary that burns like a rockets’ red glare.
What I loved about The Boys Season 1, was that it was a commentary on celebrity culture and whether so much power, to one person, truly is deserved or guarantees they will do the good to earn it. Short Answer: They don’t. The first season totally played to a truth most of us would deny; if we had superpowers, we wouldn’t be so nice and altruistic. Sure, I’d love to fly, but would I fly into a burning building…..ummmmm… Thus, Season 2 picks up that notion and lights it up with 10 trillion gallons of gasoline. In the beginning, The Seven are more intolerable (minus Starlight), cowardly, and powerful than ever. Yet, they are running into a real dilemma; the world praises and fears them, but it doesn’t love them. From Queen Maeve’s moral crisis (played powerfully by Dominique McElligot) to the existential crises of The Deep (played hilariously by Chace Crawdford) and A-train (played with even more vulnerability, this season, by Jessie T Usher). The Seven are breaking down fast, which leads the kind Starlight (played gracefully by Erin Moriarty) further into her own epiphany on how to bring them down and pushes Homelander into even more self-pity.
The Boys Season 2 – Official Trailer | Amazon Prime Video
Homelander (played so viciously by Antony Starr) will do anything for “love,” or the semblance of it, which is why family is a recurring theme for him and The Butcher this season, especially when it comes to Becca (an emotional performance by Shantel VanSaten) and Ryan (Cameron Corvetti). Yet, the whole show is about the “families” you build when you lose your sense of home.Everyone in the cast is back and fully embracing what we loved of them in the first season.The Butcher (played so perfectly by Karl Urban) is still a total pain in the ass that is hard-wired to get back his wife, even if it puts him in traitorous territory. Meanwhile, the delightful Frenchie (played sweetly by Tomer Capon) is still fawning over the total badass that is Kimiko (you will love Karen Fukuhara’s portrayal this season!). As for Mother’s Milk (played humorously by Laz Alonso), he is just nodding his head at how he got swept into their mess, and Hughie is 100% the heart of this show. Jack Quaid furthers him as a good guy way in over his head in terms of “vengeance” and bringing down the “supes.” He never gets accustomed to all the bloodshed, and MY GOD Is there bloodshed.
The Boys Season 2 – First Look Clip: “I’m Stormfront” | Amazon Prime
The Boys was NEVER a series devoid of gore and afraid to get super violent, but GEEZ did it up the ante this season. From whales to politicians, NO ONE IS SAFE from getting battered on this show. Admittedly, I am not one for violence so I squinted quite a few times, but I don’t love this show for its sweet, wholesome fun. From its quick-witted writing to savvy commentary on things like religions and partisanship, The Boys Season 2 is absolutely brilliant and ballsy. It is not veiled in its judgment and portrayal of racism, hatred, and the pure self-absorbance of some people’s character, which I was grateful for. Some people have no ideology beyond or greater than the acquisition of power, which can be seen in characters like, Homelander and new ones such as, Stan Edgar (played with finesse by Gianarlo Esposito) and the horrendous Stormfront (played villainously by Aya Cash). Even new “good” guys like, Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit in an AOC-inspired role), are both likable and suspicious. In this show, everyone has an ulterior motive and a massive flaw to back it. The question is do you still hold your morals, despite your imperfections?
The Boys Season 2 – Exclusive Clip | Amazon Prime Video
Season 2 embraces a new truth that, often, we try to avoid, as well; some people’s hatefulness isn’t redeemable, not because no one hugged them, but because they want you to die. Hence, Things get DARK in The Boys Season 2, which is why I am glad that Amazon Prime is breaking up the season with 3 episodes premiering per week, starting September 4. I had to rewatch every episode 18 times just to absorb all that was happening, which I love. I am TOTALLY FOR an action television series being A) action-packed B) filled with multiple storylines and twists per episode. This season feels like 14 different movies spliced together to confirm that power corrupts the already corrupt.
