TV Review: The Boys, Season 3
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I’m not entirely sure that everyone involved in the making of this third season of The Boys shouldn’t be asked to take some sort of psychological exam. Within the first three episodes, I found my self saying Oh My God more than I think I ever had. This show is absolutely demented…and season three is all the better for it.
When we meet our characters this season, they’ve had a year to learn and grow. Hughie is working with Congressman Newman on keeping super accountable, even leading his former team, something that rankles Butcher. Homelander, meanwhile is trying to put his life together after Stormfront’s true identity was revealed, and barely keeping it together. However, the delicate balance is thrown into disarray when The Boys learn of weapon that can help them win the super war, they go in search of it, which brings them into the legacy of Soldier Boy
How do you make a show that regularly goes places other shows won’t go even more enticing? By doubling down on interpersonal relationships and conflict. At the core of the show is a cast of characters that have somehow become worse people. Just when you think there’s a bottom or a floor for these characters, they hit you with something even more devious and despicable. Leading the charge is Antony Starr and Keith Urban, as Homelander and Butcher, respectively. What I find most fascinating about these characters is that they seem to represent a type of extreme masculinity, but these actors really plumb the depths of how pathetic these men truly are. Joining them in the toxic masculinity race this year is Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy. Certainly The Boys answer to Captain America, Ackles lets loose in this part. But while these men get the lion’s share of the scenes, it’s Colby Minife who is the show’s ace as the corporate climbing Ashley Barrett. She can pull focus from any actor and is also a vital part of making the plot move, I always looked forward to seeing her on screen.
While I thoroughly enjoy the shock and awe style of the writing, I am impressed at how the show uses its meta approach to subject matter. The episodes, especially in the first half of the season, move with incredible speed but also allow for more interesting moments to breathe. The show is really at its best when it continually forces its very bullheaded characters to confront their issues. That does come at a price as certain character feel stuck in a one track approach, namely Kimiko, Frenchie, and A-Train, all of whom have some highs but generally stay quite average throughout the series. This is due to the fact that while the first half of the season really sizzles, the back half does bend a bit as it works to weave everything back together and I did find myself a bit wanting in the end. However, the show was never boring and should provide all the thrills and superhero chills a viewer could want.
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