Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Last summer, Amazon struck gold with their brash superhero series The Boys. Developed by Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen, the small screen adaptation of the comic book series of the same name became a critical and commercial hit for the streamer, far surpassing expectations on its way to blossoming into a tentpole series for Amazon. The show’s razor-sharp writing, charismatic ensemble, and caustic bravado combined to thwart the very real scourge of superhero fatigue to deliver one of the most entertaining shows of 2019.
Amazon didn’t need superpowers to know that they had a hit on their hand. The Boys was renewed for Season 2 prior to the series premiere and a third season has already been ordered ahead of the show’s Season 2 debut. An early renewal is generally a harbinger of creative success, which is why it should come as no surprise that Amazon’s latest round of supe hunting debauchery is a raucous, gory delight.
If you enjoyed the first season of The Boys, you’re going to love Season 2. The new batch of episodes avoid the pitfalls of a traditional sophomore slump by simply enhancing the most compelling aspects of the first season. The violence is still gruesome without being gratuitous, Butcher’s (Karl Urban) dialogue is still an ornery mix of vulgarity, grunts, and insults, and the perpetual deer in the headlights known as Huey (Jack Quaid) continues to be the heart of the show.
The new season once again finds The Boys at the top of America’s most wanted list as they attempt to topple the corrupt corporate superhero entity Vought. With the death of Translucent, The Deep in exile, and A-Train’s reliance on Compound-V affecting his health, The Seven find themselves in need of a new member. Enter Aya Cash’s Stormfront, a social media-savvy supe with diabolical intentions and swagger to spare. Anyone who’s seen Cash on You’re the Worst is already well aware of her theatrical bona fides, but the actor somehow manages to exceed lofty expectations to become the unassailable standout star of the new season.
The new season succeeds on the strength of its storytelling. Season 2 takes the time to add nuance to its existing characters — providing necessary backstories on Frenchie, Kimiko, and Butcher without making it feel like an exposition dump — while never losing the narrative thread of The Boys vs. The Supes.
Nothing is off limits when it comes to Amazon’s chaotic superhero series. Season 2 tackles timely issues like race and political corruption while also offering snippets of levity (a road trip singalong to a Billy Joel classic is one of the most adorable moments of the season) without giving viewers tonal whiplash. The new season also skewers both Scientology and celebrity marketing culture with entertaining subplots that seamlessly support the main story. Plus, if you thought the sex scene between Popclaw and her landlord was crazy, well, just wait, friend. Just. Wait.
The new season of The Boys is creatively on par with the first season and includes 100% more Billy Joel. In my book, that’s a win/win.
The first three episodes of The Boys Season 2 premiere Friday, September 4, 2020 on Prime Video. New episodes will debut each Friday, with the season finale airing on October 9.
