The boys

‘The Boys’ Is Back, More Relevant Than Ever
Amazon’s irreverent take on the superhero genre is defined by depravity and violence, which makes it suited to a time when “authoritarianism and celebrity are combined,” its creator said.

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‘The Boys’ Is Back, More Relevant Than Ever
Amazon’s irreverent take on the superhero genre is defined by depravity and violence, which makes it suited to a time when “authoritarianism and celebrity are combined,” its creator said.

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In “The Boys,” returning on Sept. 4, “victory isn’t guaranteed for the good guys,” said Karl Urban, center, with Jack Quaid, left, and Laz Alonso.
In “The Boys,” returning on Sept. 4, “victory isn’t guaranteed for the good guys,” said Karl Urban, center, with Jack Quaid, left, and Laz Alonso.Credit...From left: Jessica Lehrman for The New York Times; Devin Yalkin for The New York Times; Jessica Lehrman for The New York Times
Dave Itzkoff
By Dave Itzkoff
Aug. 27, 2020
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It’s the penultimate episode of the new season of “The Boys,” Amazon’s superhero action series, and it’s time for a costumed champion named Starlight to give one of those rousing speeches that inspires listeners to ignore insurmountable odds and get motivated for the journey ahead.

Her eyes brimming with tears, Starlight says, “I gave my whole life to nothing,” then adds: “The good guys don’t win. The bad guys don’t get punished. What we do means nothing. It’s just all for money.”

It’s not exactly an “I am Iron Man” moment. But then again, “The Boys” was never trying to be the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“The Boys,” which begins its second season on Sept. 4, is in many ways the moral inverse of a typical comic-book adaptation. It is populated with superhuman adventurers (known as “supes” in the show’s parlance) who are often narcissistic, vainglorious and unconcerned with human life. Fighting to bring them down is a small band of mercenaries — the Boys of the show’s title — regarded as terrorists by the general public.


Though “The Boys” was not quite a critical darling or an awards magnet like HBO’s prophetic “Watchmen,” “The Boys” was one of Amazon’s most-watched shows in its first season, according to the streaming service (though it has not released exact numbers).

Now “The Boys” has a chance at achieving a deeper cultural resonance. It is arriving in a year when many other would-be comic-book blockbusters have been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and when its spirit of frustration, mistrust and paranoia is especially of the moment.

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