Review: The Boys Season 3 Premiere Episodes Refocuses On The Show’s True Villain

The show that is basically like the original Watchmen, but on crack, The Boys, returns with season 3 this summer. The Boys season 3 premiere episodes reveal higher stakes, a lot of conflicts, but a shift in its priorities. While season 1 introduced us to the corrupt world of Supers in this universe, season 2 dove into the nuances of dealing with it. With the world fully established in season 3, the writers really screw around with the idea of good and bad; even more than before. And in doing so, the series pivots from other threats and conflicts in season 2 to the true villain of the series—Homelander. Or is it? Read on for my non-spoiler review of The Boys season 3 premiere episodes 1 to 3. 

Disclaimer: While this review of The Boys season 3 premiere is spoiler-free, I will be discussing and spoiling all of seasons 1 and 2. So read on at your own discretion. 

The Boys Season 2 Recap—The Road So Far

Amazon Prime Video’s original series The Boys comes from a comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The show’s creator, Eric Kripke’s (Supernatural) adaptation retains the original’s very mature and adult orientated storyline by creating a completely R-rated superhero story. And I’m not just talking about graphic violence, gore and profanity, but truly explicit content that is lightyears ahead of any comparable superhero content currently out there. Along with the graphic nature of the show, it also deconstructs the superhero genre as a whole. 

The show based its main storyline on the idea of absolute power, corrupting absolutely. A world where superhero-ing is a business, with sponsors and endorsements, and superheroes are like celebrities. And when these larger-than-life personalities abuse their seemingly, God-like powers, the corruption of the world covers it up, enabling them even more. Enter, the Boys: a group of humans whose mission is to fight against the biggest superhero group in the world, The Seven, and their leader, Homelander. Each person in the Boys has their own personal reasons for wanting to rid the world of Supes. Mostly, being a victim of some personal tragedy at the hands of a Supe. 

Season 1 focused on recruiting the Boys and their fight against the Supes. While also setting up relatable characters like Hughie and Starlight (Erin Moriarty) as the proxy for audiences. Season 2 took a bit of a detour from the threat of Homeland, taking the opportunity to flesh out the villain character, as another villain in Stormfront (Aya Cash), took center stage. With a lot happening between seasons 2 and 3, The Boys season 3 premiere looks to set the Boys’ sights back on Homelander. And it’s about damn time, as there is definitely something wrong with Homelander. 

The Boys Season 3 Premiere Episodes Set Up So Much

The big reveal of season 2 was how Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), who was helping the Boys, was actually an evil Supe herself. This was ominous as Hughie (Jack Quaid) was now working with her, to seemingly end the superhero threat. The world is a little bit different than what we knew of it from season 2, but Homelander (Antony Starr) is still a prevalent threat. Trying to appease, control or blackmail the man, as Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) did in the finale of season 2, might not work. As everyone is quick to find out. 

The premiere also deals with Butcher (Karl Urban), on the other hand, who has to not only deal with the loss of his wife, again, but also raise her and Homelander’s child. While Butcher seemingly has a handle on things, his tipping point comes in the form of an opportunity. As the trailers have already shown, Butcher gets powers. And how that affects him, the team, and their mission, is something that’s going to be interesting to see unfold during this season. 

As Homelander also unravels in weird-ass ways due to weird-ass reasons, the Boys all have to reassess their motivations and approaches. What worked before may not work now, and how it all plays out is gonna be a fun ride!

How The Boys Season 3 Furthers The Moral Themes Of The Show

At its heart, The Boys is an exploration of the morality how being deemed superior to the human race affects someone. Heroes are not just super powerful physically, but they are also meant to have a super sense of right and wrong. Their ideals are hyper-moral and their values, are incorruptible. At least, superheroes that we’ve seen in the traditional sense. The Boys displays a more realistic look at how heroes are corruptable and more so given their enhanced abilities. The conversation goes further in season 3, as we now explore the idea of someone getting powers, after already having an established sense of self, without powers. Is it power that corrupts, or the individual person? We explore this through Butcher and his storyline. 

It’s Not All Philosophical Discussions Of Morality

The Boys season 3 premiere episodes are substantial, but they also bring back the trademark style of the show’s fun and lighthearted vibes that make it so enjoyable to watch. The premiere episodes have enough shock and awe comedy, that hooks you right back in. It’s like meeting up with your incorrigible friend from college who, despite the years, has not changed. Kripke and his writing team keep the jokes coming, along with some outrageous action and gross sequences that will have people clutching their pearls in shock. 

And don’t worry, season 3 also has enough needle drop moments that will rekindle the love for classic pop songs that The Boys has also become known for. For some reason. And oh boy, is there enough conflict this season. Without spoiling things, Homelander isn’t the only threat to look out for. And while some of those other threats are external, for others, it’s more an internal thing to worry about. 

Is The Boys Season 3 Worth The Hype?

It’s still too early to tell if the show will stick the landing of the payoff to these storylines. So far, it’s an enjoyable ride that continues from its previous seasons. The characters have evolved naturally and where they are at the beginning of this story all makes sense. Where they go and how they get there, however, is another matter entirely. And we’ll need to wait for the season to end to determine if the journey is worth it. The show premieres season 3 with 3 new episodes and then switches to a weekly format for the subsequent episodes. 

The Boys season 3 premieres on June 3, 2022, on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes weekly. 

Are you excited for season 3 of The Boys? What thread or storylines do you want to make sure they address in the new season? Let me know in the comments below. Or connect with me on Twitter @theshahshahid. 

Featured image via Amazon Prime Video.