bjornwilde (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bjornwilde) wrote2020-11-02 02:00 pm
bjornwilde) wrote2020-11-02 02:00 pm
More talk of The Boys
I'm two episodes from the end of season 01 and don't quite regret watching nor the time I've spent.
Things I like and what keep me watching:
The conspiracy that is driving the main story between the Boys (the protagonists) and the Seven (the super hero group).
The character Starlight, who is a new superhero who hasn't become jaded and still wants to do good, but is finding out how hard that is in the "big leagues".
Queen Maeve, the jaded Wonder Woman straw woman, finally having enough of the crap and maybe finding her way to wanting to do actual good again.
Hughie, one of the Boys, trying to juggle his trauma, the desire to take down the supes, and his honest attraction and growing feelings for Starlight. Hughie is pulled into the Boys due to his girlfriend (fiance?) being killed by A-Train (the Flash stand in) before the show started.
Frenchie, another of the Boys, actually thinking beyond Butcher's prejudice orders and saving a woman who turns out to be a supe. Their learning to communicate with each other and their friendship is interesting, as she doesn't speak and I am not sure if it's trauma induced or not.
Things I can do without but can tolerate and kind of enjoy?
Butcher's toxic masculinity and out right prejudice against any person who has powers. He has reasons for this and most of it is trauma driven, which they show, but I think the only reason this works for me is it is Karl Urban just chewing up whole cloth and spitting it back out. I don't think any other actor would be able to pull it off. Butcher is a complete asshole and knows it.
Plot holes that have made me roll my eyes. Like I don't know if the writers haven't read many comics or maybe haven't played RPGs, but they are not very creative with problem solving. Specific spoilers from here on out:
Case A: The Boys early on catch Translucent, a super who can turn invisible, by shocking him during a fight. They know they need to kill him as releasing him will bring the whole Seven down on their heads, but they can't figure out how to do it because his skin is harder than a diamond. Umm...you guys did just shock him? Ever hear of electrocution? He also breaths. Maybe try poisonous gas? Poison his food? But I guess that's not edgy enough, they have to finally come up with the plan to shove some C4 up his bum and blow him up. This realization took them most of an episode with them trying everything from diamond drills to carbon fiber bullets to pierce his skin. (Eye roll)
Case B: Homelander (their Superman) and Queen Maeve interrupt a hijacking of a passenger airplane over the Atlantic in international waters, so that there are no political toes to step on. Unfortunately Homelander destroys the planes controls with his laser eyes while taking out the last terrorist who was with the pilots. Homelander really has a problem with "accidental" collateral damage with those eye beams. Anyway, Homelander makes the call that the plane now will have to go down as they can't save it and they can't save anyone cause then there will be witnesses. Maeve tries to argue ways to save the plane; Homelander lifting it and flying it to nearest airport, or flying and hitting the nose to give it some more lift. Homelander shoots each idea down (nothing to push against or he'd just go through the plane, which was kind of a nice touch?) but no mention was made of him guiding the plane to a controlled crash into the ocean and then flying off for help. Like really? This turned out to be the last straw for Maeve who is not as sociopathic as Homelander.
I'm also kind of enjoying the take on super heroes in this. They are like sports stars, mixed with politicians, mixed with movie stars. They are basically icons of capitalism, which works in this world. There are some who try to do good, but the company seems to always drive them to making compromises.
Things I like and what keep me watching:
The conspiracy that is driving the main story between the Boys (the protagonists) and the Seven (the super hero group).
The character Starlight, who is a new superhero who hasn't become jaded and still wants to do good, but is finding out how hard that is in the "big leagues".
Queen Maeve, the jaded Wonder Woman straw woman, finally having enough of the crap and maybe finding her way to wanting to do actual good again.
Hughie, one of the Boys, trying to juggle his trauma, the desire to take down the supes, and his honest attraction and growing feelings for Starlight. Hughie is pulled into the Boys due to his girlfriend (fiance?) being killed by A-Train (the Flash stand in) before the show started.
Frenchie, another of the Boys, actually thinking beyond Butcher's prejudice orders and saving a woman who turns out to be a supe. Their learning to communicate with each other and their friendship is interesting, as she doesn't speak and I am not sure if it's trauma induced or not.
Things I can do without but can tolerate and kind of enjoy?
Butcher's toxic masculinity and out right prejudice against any person who has powers. He has reasons for this and most of it is trauma driven, which they show, but I think the only reason this works for me is it is Karl Urban just chewing up whole cloth and spitting it back out. I don't think any other actor would be able to pull it off. Butcher is a complete asshole and knows it.
Plot holes that have made me roll my eyes. Like I don't know if the writers haven't read many comics or maybe haven't played RPGs, but they are not very creative with problem solving. Specific spoilers from here on out:
Case A: The Boys early on catch Translucent, a super who can turn invisible, by shocking him during a fight. They know they need to kill him as releasing him will bring the whole Seven down on their heads, but they can't figure out how to do it because his skin is harder than a diamond. Umm...you guys did just shock him? Ever hear of electrocution? He also breaths. Maybe try poisonous gas? Poison his food? But I guess that's not edgy enough, they have to finally come up with the plan to shove some C4 up his bum and blow him up. This realization took them most of an episode with them trying everything from diamond drills to carbon fiber bullets to pierce his skin. (Eye roll)
Case B: Homelander (their Superman) and Queen Maeve interrupt a hijacking of a passenger airplane over the Atlantic in international waters, so that there are no political toes to step on. Unfortunately Homelander destroys the planes controls with his laser eyes while taking out the last terrorist who was with the pilots. Homelander really has a problem with "accidental" collateral damage with those eye beams. Anyway, Homelander makes the call that the plane now will have to go down as they can't save it and they can't save anyone cause then there will be witnesses. Maeve tries to argue ways to save the plane; Homelander lifting it and flying it to nearest airport, or flying and hitting the nose to give it some more lift. Homelander shoots each idea down (nothing to push against or he'd just go through the plane, which was kind of a nice touch?) but no mention was made of him guiding the plane to a controlled crash into the ocean and then flying off for help. Like really? This turned out to be the last straw for Maeve who is not as sociopathic as Homelander.
I'm also kind of enjoying the take on super heroes in this. They are like sports stars, mixed with politicians, mixed with movie stars. They are basically icons of capitalism, which works in this world. There are some who try to do good, but the company seems to always drive them to making compromises.