Amazon Prime Video’s Original Series The Boys, kicks off with a flashback parody of a child beauty pageant where Erin Moriarty’s Annie is competing as Starlight. The show makes it habit of showing over exaggerated jokes on certain things. Such as current streaming services, and well-known amusement parks. The difference being they have Vought in the name or are named after a hero. However, the pageant does not seem to be exaggerated at all. Instead, it shows just how deplorable those events can be. The viewer even sees young Annie with a sad face in the mirror. These types of events can cause serious problems to people. It is even worse when it involves a young child. This would one of those times the show gives a hard look at what kids sometimes must go through. Also, how some parents force their kids into these situations with dozens of health or mental problems soon developing after the fact.  

Further into the episode, the viewer gets a small taste of how Vought works its hero selections process. The show now shows us the real aspects on how corporations’ market their products. Focusing on the physical and background aspects of the person they consider using. The show does well in holding up a mirror to how society works. Later, the viewer catches up with Tomer Capone’s Frenchie and his old flame Jordana Lajoie’s Cherie. She essentially is the past version of Frenchie. Where they got constantly high on drugs, do dirty deeds, and work for dangerous people. What is interesting is that she dresses nearly the same as Karen Fukuhara’s Kimiko. They both wear black clothing and have black hair. In a way they represent Frenchie as a whole. Kimiko is the soft vulnerable side that Frenchie hides most of the time. While Cherie is the numb yourself so you can forget your atrocities side. When Frenchie decides to stay with Kimiko the viewer can see he is done with the numb yourself side. Even better he wants to jump headfirst into feeling everything with Kimiko. A clear sign that he wants to move forward with his life. Which is a great character moment for Frenchie to have. 

Fourteen minutes into the episode and the viewer gets a look into Jessie Usher’s A-Train’s life. The sad part is the viewer sees just how disconnected he is with the trouble that plagues the black community. Growing up with power made it so he did not have to go through much of those hardships. While others have and currently still fight their injustices. What makes A-Train interesting is he does not fit in with the superhero community either. This puts him in a unique position as an individual. He is having an issue with acceptance within his own community. Although, the question is which side is his people? Is it the superhero’s that care not for the life of the ordinary man? Or is it the humans that for years have face injustices based on the color of their skin? 

The viewer sees Antony Starr’s Homelander again in the episode. Only this time, he uses the mind of a psychopath. At this point his is just a feral dog waiting to be led off his leash. The viewer can see in his eyes that he is right at the edge of breaking. All he needs is a small push to finish his sanity off. His constant lashing out and outburst are clear indications of someone who is not well. Perhaps, as the season progresses, he will finally crumble. Or maybe he will change into an even worse monster. A person with no sense of good or ability to show mercy. 

At the end of the episode, the viewer is treated to a display of power over Annie. Homelander leaves her with no other choice but to concede. All while they both have a smile on their faces. However, behind those smiles there is much more emotion. The amount of rage Annie feels is indescribable. Only being apparent by her eyes that refuses to make eye contact with Homelander. While Homelander’s smile is mixed with satisfaction and a need to kill. He desperately wants to get rid of Annie. Only he cannot do it without losing in the process. The only satisfactory he gets is his power over Annie. The message from Homelander is clear for the viewer to see. If I cannot kill you, then you better be sure I will make you suffer. 

Rating: 8.5/10