this post was submitted on 23 May 2026
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Since so many of you wanted to weigh in on The Boys

I don't know if I should actually link cybersmith

Transcription:

culture crave posts:

'The Boys' S5 finale is at 6.7 on IMDb
The final two episodes are the lowest-rated in the show's history

Cybersmith responds:

The writers really destroyed their own art out of a pig-headed refusal to look beyond their own political biases.
Homelander should have killed the nonbelievers and ushered in Heaven on Earth.
THAT would have made the show an all-time great.
Now? It'll just be remembered as a disappointment.

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[–] Damarcusart@hexbear.net 60 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I kind of love how fash will recognise that liberal storytelling is inherently unsatisfying, especially the endings, and they'll propose "solutions" that are literally the only way to make the story even more unsatisfying. There's a reason even these losers don't watch Nazi made films even though they had a massive film industry, because fash cannot tell satisfying stories because it relies on actual human connection.

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 45 points 2 days ago

"Strong guy is stronger than everyone else and uses that strength to beat the weak" isnt even an arc!

[–] Mutalisk@hexbear.net 46 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Cybersmith saw the fascist with the fucked up breast milk fetish and finally felt represented by the media... and then they took it all away from him catgirl-cry

[–] Civility@hexbear.net 20 points 2 days ago
[–] jackmaoist@hexbear.net 40 points 2 days ago (4 children)

My favorite part of the finale is that Vought is unharmed and still operates on the same level as before. This is just peak Liberal shit.

[–] Belly_Beanis@hexbear.net 28 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And since superhumans seem to get powers randomly, there's a good chance they end up with another Homelander/Soldier Boy/Queen Maeve/Bombsight/Ryan/whatever who is super strong and close to indestructible that will be impossible to kill or control. That doesn't even get into the other dangerous types like Victoria Newman or Cipher who, though mortal, can do shit like take over other people's bodies or make their heads explode.

Butcher is correct at the end of the series: superhumans will continue to be a problem. But of course, this is libshit storytelling so they have to swerve and he takes the most extreme solution possible to act as a strawman for why the neoliberal status quo must continue. Any systemic or radical change must be avoided because it implies liberal institutions have no legitimacy otherwise, as they are unable to deal with existential problems.

[–] Tommasi@hexbear.net 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Really felt like they wrote themselves into a corner. Butcher is obviously right in that they're just rolling the dice on getting another homelander situation. And the writes knows that he's right, I think, because everything just went back to the status quo from pre-season 1, but the only thing the other characters can do is awkwardly look away and morally condemn him. Only the most unhinged violent character is allowed to acknowledge the problem at all.

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think, because everything just went back to the status quo from pre-season 1,

It didn't even do that. It's worse than it was prior to season 1, because the supes are still in the military. That's not over, that's not done with. Everything Stan Edgar wanted he got, he got supes in the military, he has V and Temp V as products he can sell to the government, and he's rid of Homelander (And Stormfront, the seven as an institution, and any opposition to his unquestioned rule over Vought). In effect all The Boys did was clean up Stan Edgar's mess.
We even have a touching moment where Hughie rejects even the token opposition to Vought's total victory in the form of government oversight of supes.

Edit: Man, the show even cleaned up his ancient messes. Soldier boy is now in Vought custody rather than floating around some Russian lab, all the Red River people are dead, all the messed up experiments can be blamed on people who are coincidentally also dead now, there's no V1 people running around any more (And there won't be any more), the anti vought contingent of Godolkin U went to Canada.

[–] ryepunk@hexbear.net 25 points 2 days ago (1 children)

And the Esposito character basically said as much earlier in the season "you aren't taking down capital so I'll be back, or someone like me, and the fight will continue, and you'll always lose". The fact that MM didn't dome him right there was insane to me, but I guess they had to have him get tortured by homelander or soldier boy a bit for plot reasons or something.

[–] Goblinmancer@hexbear.net 18 points 2 days ago

Vought will be unharmed/didnt even disband their supes program so they can make endless spinoffs. Total MCU victory

[–] kristina@hexbear.net 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

is it? they fought against supes not capitalism, i feel like you could easily take it as a 'the rich continue to be shitty because that wasnt addressed by the boys' way. also yk, butcher was in with the CIA, of course theyre not getting rid of capitalism

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 18 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

MM spends the early parts of the series dressed in black panther/Malcolm x/black power fist labelled clothing and making both allusions to systemic oppression in conversation (Including outright calling Mallory out on the crack epidemic), and having his backstory be one rooted in capitalist exploitation and systemic discrimination is the thing. They just don't do anything with it beyond have him not like Stan Edgar.
But also I don't think we need to get too much into media analysis to have a little laugh about a guy thinking the show should have ended with a victorious Homelander and the only reason they didn't do that was because of woke.

[–] space_comrade@hexbear.net 16 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

MM spends the early parts of the series dressed in black panther/Malcolm x/black power fist labelled clothing and making both allusions to systemic oppression in conversation (Including outright calling Mallory out on the crack epidemic), and having his backstory be one rooted in capitalist exploitation and systemic discrimination is the thing. They just don't do anything with it beyond have him not like Stan Edgar.

Also in the literal last episode they call billionaires the "ruling class" explicitly in that White House scene where Homelander meets fake TV show Elon Musk, but uh I guess they can just keep being the ruling class as long as Homelander is dead.

[–] JoeByeThen@hexbear.net 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

MM spends the early parts of the series dressed in black panther/Malcolm x/black power fist labelled clothing and making both allusions to systemic oppression in conversation (Including outright calling Mallory out on the crack epidemic), and having his backstory be one rooted in capitalist exploitation and systemic discrimination is the thing.

https://www.okayplayer.com/laz-alonso-explains-why-mothers-milk-wears-hip-hop-tees-in-the-boys/526833

I wouldn't put too much into the shirts. Apparently, it was very much a mix of aesthetics, actor preference, easter egg vibes. The shirts will often reference something happening in the ep.

spoilerFor example the ep when the president was being hunted, MM wore a Dead Prez shirt.

The had him wearing black panther breakfast shirts and pictures of Obama in his apartment, it was all lib caricature of what they think a black revolutionary is. They drained that well pretty quick and didn't know what to do after. Heaven forbid they read a book.

[–] ElChapoDeChapo@hexbear.net 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The had him wearing black panther breakfast shirts and pictures of Obama in his apartment

I'll have to go back and check but I could've sworn he took down the Obama picture at the end of season 3 to symbolize his abandoning working within the system

Not that it matters, season 4 went turbo lib after that

[–] JoeByeThen@hexbear.net 6 points 2 days ago

Oh, I don't remember that. You sure he wasn't packing it to take with him? Lol.

[–] jackmaoist@hexbear.net 10 points 2 days ago

They fought against one supe specifically. All other shitty supes including the psychopath psychics are still around and under the command of Vought.

[–] Salem@hexbear.net 32 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I watched the show because of Jensen Ackles, since I liked him in Supernatural and he just oozes charisma despite the SB character being genuinely evil.

But if we're being honest the show is really bad. Season 1 is the best of the worst but leaning into the caricature of Trump as the show went on definitely killed the momentum and satire of the show.

The show and its spinoff is a very vulgar, cruel, obscene, program. SA is played for laughs in Season 4, and generally has terrible pacing and storytelling. The deaths in The Boys are all very cruel and sadistic, played for shock value, but it is just cruel and barbaric.

Anthony Starr was incredible as Homelander. He transcended the script's prescription for his character and turned Homelander into a menacing figure, a deeply disturbed psycopath that started unraveling and escalating his menace throughout the series.

The liberal politics and resolution of The Boys is unsurprising. Liberals are only becoming critical of US Power when the Republican is in power, never questioning - out of captive fear of abandonment to the Republicans - the Democratic party and its inefficacy in combatting the GOP. Largely out of complicity themselves, but there are parts of indifference towards the vulnerable and fear of escalation (read: loss of privilege) without the Democrats.

Andor's revolutionary expression is a fluke in these stories on streaming platforms that are based in politics.

Therefore its unsurprising for The Boys' ending. Even in the comics the message was to embrace the learned helplessness and trust that the State and vigilantism (human resistance) will prevail. Nothing preventative to stop these entities, just reactive.

And that's what superheroes are. Reactionary to crises. They don't solve problems that cause problems, they defend status quo that produces them.

[–] Dort_Owl@hexbear.net 49 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wait wait wait are you telling me there were still chuds watching that show expecting Homelander to be presented as the one in the right?

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 46 points 2 days ago

A lot of them were doing the "lol the commies are siding with the bugs again" thing but for human beings

[–] Hohsia@hexbear.net 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

People wanting homelander to go “scorched earth” are showing that they don’t understand the character. If he was as powerful as he said he was, it wouldn’t have gotten to this point. I know that a destructive character can be fun, but it’s like people weren’t watching the show

But that ending was fine just very confused and tried to resolve so many different plots in one episode , but this is why you don’t get attached to cape shit

I don’t like how homelander is a stand-in for Trump, was defeated and illustrated a hope that we can all go back to brunch after this is over. And vought will be much better now under new leadership. At least that’s how I read it

Also really left a bad taste in my mouth that Israel wasn’t poked at even once, but shouldn’t be surprised I guess. Liberal fan fiction

Lastly, just want to mention how it’s absolutely ridiculous how fans don’t understand that not every show is going to have a GOT or AMC budget (I know Amazon is quite a charitable company so this might be shocking)

[–] Crucible@hexbear.net 40 points 2 days ago

The Boys is one of the more obvious examples of a show keeping the same liberal tone throughout but in between every season the chuds watching have gone even further right wing. They can't admit that they have changed their own positions so they blame the show for going woke

[–] bravesilvernest@lemmy.ml 31 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I mean, the ending season was a bit "meh", but got damn was it great to see Homelander as he really was deep down, groveling and aired out to the world on live TV.

This dude has to be joking....right?

[–] Damarcusart@hexbear.net 33 points 2 days ago (1 children)

He's the "human pet" guy and a well known piece of shit who is incapable of holding his tongue, so it is probably legit.

[–] NephewAlphaBravo@hexbear.net 24 points 2 days ago (1 children)

oh god i didn't notice who it was

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 25 points 2 days ago (3 children)

What you dont follow the fetish fascist for his media reviews?

[–] fox@hexbear.net 30 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hey he's also a monarchist and a British supremacist

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 29 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

Oh no, he's a white supremacist who believes the mandate of heaven has passed to The Land of the Eagle (USA. He insists on this term) and its divinely appointed leader Trump.

[–] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 17 points 2 days ago

incredible, there's 2 guys who think trump has the mandate of heaven and they're at odds as to why

[–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This sounds more and more like a character he puts on for internet infamy and not genuinely held conviction.

[–] fox@hexbear.net 6 points 2 days ago

Yeah I dunno about that. People see him out in public and the outfits and muttonchops aren't a costume he dons for posting, he's just Like That.

[–] happybadger@hexbear.net 22 points 2 days ago

I was going to come in here and dismiss his opinion, but I don't understand The Boys as well as this man. He has a giant magnifying glass to find all the clues I missed.

[–] stink@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 2 days ago

That beard goes hard I hate to say it

[–] Goblinmancer@hexbear.net 21 points 2 days ago

Many people just want hype moments and aura and anything that isnt that is "cringe ahhh themes and such"

[–] robotElder2@hexbear.net 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This asshole makes it so embarrassing to be a pervert. It was cool till he showed up i swear.

[–] Drekaridill@lemmy.wtf 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I forget, is Cybersmith the furry mpreg guy or the slavery fetish guy? I'm a bit rusty on my pervert lore.

[–] volcel_olive_oil@hexbear.net 12 points 2 days ago
[–] Goblinmancer@hexbear.net 20 points 2 days ago

Mfers are idolizing a guy whos clearly meant to be just ultimately a bully while ignoring the real embodiment of "masculinity (toxic and positive)" character butcher (like isnt that why the comic was called THE BOYS??)

Anyway the blatantly obvious setups for the spin offs sucks but I hate to say this but media literacy is truly on the low these days.

[–] LENINSGHOSTFACEKILLA@hexbear.net 16 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I do think that letting the badguys win can sometimes be an interesting choice for tv and film. I dont think that's what this guy wants though.

I was okay with the ending. In fact its basically what I figured would end up happening as soon as they introduced the idea that soldier boy's blast could negate powers. The specifics were way off but close enough.

The things I hated were basically everything else about the season. The V1 didn't actually do anything. The college supes existed for 30 seconds and had virtually zero effect on the story. Frenchie is such an annoying character I hoped he died years ago. MM's actor is getting worse at his job somehow. Way too many things to list.

[–] Grapho@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 days ago

Laz Alonzo has been annoying the fuck out of me for a while. I swear he does every line with the same inflection and the same facial expression of one raised eyebrow and one squinting eye.

[–] Johnny_Arson@hexbear.net 7 points 2 days ago

The college supes existed for 30 seconds and had virtually zero effect on the story

This part bugged me the most, they brought in my three favorite characters from Gen V and did literally nothing with them.

[–] TrustedFeline@hexbear.net 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Homelander should have killed the nonbelievers and ushered in Heaven on Earth.

Was gonna make a joke about Taiping heavenly kingdom, but does China even exist in The Boys universe?

[–] superglue@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I was fine with the ending, predictable of course, but, I just couldn't see them ending it with homelander winning.

Only thing that bothered me was how soldier boy exited. A rear choke and that it he's done? Maybe they are leaving the door open for a spinoff, idk. I just thought they did him dirty.

[–] GoodGuyWithACat@hexbear.net 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The spinoff will probably have two timelines like better call Saul. Mostly a prequel with occasional cuts to the modern timeline. Why else freeze Solchaboi?

[–] jackmaoist@hexbear.net 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They're also making The Boys Mexico so I guess Soldier Boy is for that. I doubt Vought Rising will be like BCS in the first season. Maybe in season 2 or 3 if it doesn't get canceled.

[–] ElChapoDeChapo@hexbear.net 5 points 2 days ago

I'm putting my money on the season 1 finale cutting to the present and him getting out of the tube

[–] Keld@hexbear.net 10 points 2 days ago

He is starring in a spin off, you got it totally right. But that spin off is a prequel.

I don't know what the ending was, but I know in my heart that such an ending is the same sort of desire as Light Yagami, Eren Yegar, Patrick Bateman, and Tyler Durden to "get away with it". You simply must have gotten got by the plot to want such a thing