Prime Video’sThe Boysis the cure for ‘superhero fatigue,’ according to one of the show’s stars,Antony Starr. Starr plays Homelander in the series, a narcissistic, ultra-violent, breast-milk-obsessed take on Superman, and Starr’s performance throughout the show’s four seasons is scene-stealingly terrifying. As franchises like the MCU struggle to find their fight, battling against genre fatigue, Starr has revealed howThe Boyshas kept the genre going.
Antony Starr recently appeared onLate Night with Seth Myersto promote the show’s fourth season, which currently releases weekly on Prime Video. During the conversation, Starr touched upon what makes the show so popular, and how it has managed to maintain its momentum when other superhero franchises have begun to fizzle out. Starr explained:
“I’ve heard this phrase thrown around a lot, ‘superhero fatigue.’ And I think we are the antidote to that, because our universe is completely 180. The good guys are the bad guys. And the bad guys are the good guys. Right?”
The Boys - Season 4
In season four of The Boys, Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under the control of Homelander. With only months to live, Billy Butcher must find a way to work with The Boys if they want to save the world.
Unlike the predominantly PG-13 MCU and DCEU,The Boysconstantlypushes the limits of its R-rating,with each new season featuring several shocking moments that take the internet by storm. Starr clarified his comment, explaining that the fatigue doesn’t come from the genre itself, but from underwhelming storytelling. The actor said:
“I don’t think there is superhero fatigue. I think everyone’s going to be really interested in storytelling when it’s done right. And we’ve just got such a unique angle. So I think that’s really it.”
Antony Starr Slams Fans Who Support Homelander
You’d think that an all-powerful, self-obsessed, super-powered individual who murders at will, manipulates the media, and threatens almost everyone he comes into contact with would be seen by audiences as the obvious villain of the series. Sadly, not everyone in the fan base is sharp enough to pick up onthe Boys' not-so-subtle hints that Homelander is the bad guy.
This is a point that Antony Starr loves ridiculing, and brought it up during his appearance on the talk show. Following on from his comments about how the “good guys are the bad guys. And the bad guys are the good guys”, Starr took a jab at the fans who genuinely believe that Homelander is the show’s protagonist. Starr joked:
“Sorry, all the Homelander fanboys that thought he was the good guy. Uh, the giveaway was when he killed a guy on a plane. Episode one, season one.”
The Boys Antony Starr on That Twisted Turn for Homelander and Firecracker
Homelander actor Antony Starr discusses that hilariously NSFW scene in a recent episode of The Boys.
WhileThe Boys(andit’s spin-offGen V) has been regarded as one of the best superhero shows in TV history, its fourth season hasn’t been as much of a hit with the fan base as previous seasons. The first three seasons logged high 80-90% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. But,The Boys' fourth season currently holds a rotten 52% audience score. Some of this comes from the aforementioned “Homelander fanboys”. However, many long-time fans have criticized the new season for its less subtle and underdeveloped satire - which is usually the show’s strongest element.
