From sharp satire to preachy politics: The Boys runs out of ideas

Published July 29, 2024 4:00pm ET



Amid an entertainment landscape oversaturated with generic superhero films, Amazon Prime’s The Boys quickly set itself apart as a sharp satire not just of the Marvel fad but of society and media more broadly. The show’s fourth season, however, veers off into a cartoonish screed aimed at lambasting right-wing caricatures, losing much of the balance it once maintained.

Antony Starr continues to shine as Homelander, whose terrifying on-screen presence is heightened by his shrewd command of his facial features and the effectiveness with which he communicates his emotions. A talented crew of writers can only take you so far. It is acting of this caliber that makes a character stand out.

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