Captain Al (aka Mardy)

Well, what to say about The Boys that hasn't already been said here? What kept this show so charmingly gripping for me was not just the comedy, or the outstanding social commentary. It kept me glued thanks to it's dark world. To immerse oneself in The Boys' gritty take on superheroes is often so cold and twisted it can trigger the gag reflex. Homelander in particular is an outstanding concept, and sometimes he really is terrifying in a way only a good topping of blatant corporate backing can stir in me. He is only topped in performance by the terror some of the other characters show in his presence. What would it be like when a flying indestructible man with infinite corporate backing is also a desperate, utterly broken and ruthlessly two-faced narcissist? The Boys shows you all this and more, because of course I think we all know what would really happen to the world if 'supes' did exist, and it's not the shining world presented by Marvel. The discerning anti establishmentist need look no further than The Boys for a nauseatingly accurate satire of capitalism and the consumer industrial complex. Patent it, build a brand, slap it on a plastic lunch box and sell it, it's what most of us swallow every day, and it takes a Matrix-esque perspective like this to show people what the consequences of it really are. The relationship between the Boys themselves is always entertaining. Urban as Butcher is a perpetual treat as his character and performance are larger than life in the best kind of way, even if his British accent drifts into Australian and even South African on a regular basis. Wee Hughey is a character you're always routing for, his rapid onset PTSD keeps the squeamish viewer reminded that all of this madness is definitely not normal. It's also kept lively by The Deep and his hilarious side story, along with all the other washed up supes whom have fallen by the wayside. Who doesn't love the fish guy? Even if he does whip his Lad out at the slightest prompt. To sum up, and to half quote Tyrion Lannister, a mind needs good shows like a sword needs a whet stone. The Boys is the kind of show that keeps a curious mind ticking all the next day, and even in my case for the rest of the week. Watch it.