Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, language, sex in subversive superhero drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Boys
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 48 parent reviews
Parents say that while the show offers a unique take on superheroes and features strong storytelling and character development, it is loaded with graphic violence, extreme gore, nudity, and profanity, making it inappropriate for younger viewers. Although some consider the themes thought-provoking and relevant, many agree it deserves its 18+ rating and that discretion is advised when allowing teens to watch it.
- mature content
- graphic violence
- not for kids
- thought-provoking themes
- age discretion
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 104 kid reviews
Kids say the show is intensely engaging and thought-provoking but comes with an abundance of graphic violence, sexual content, and strong language that makes it inappropriate for younger audiences. While many viewers appreciate its satire on superhero tropes and the portrayal of complex characters, there's a consensus that maturity is essential for fully grasping its themes, recommending the show for teens aged 14 and older.
- mature content
- graphic violence
- complex characters
- engaging storyline
- age recommendation
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the world of THE BOYS, superheroes lead celebrity-style lives, complete with corporate sponsorship and movie franchises of their own. At the top of their game are high-profile supergroup The Seven, whose reputations are closely managed by Vought International. They're worshipped the world over, but what the public doesn't know is that behind the scenes their behavior is far from heroic. From remorseless mass murder to sexual assault, the likes of Homelander (Antony Starr), The Deep (Chace Crawford), and A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) aren't the heroes they say they are. But there are a few people out there who know their secret. Led by The Butcher (Karl Urban), they come together to form vigilante group The Boys, and dedicate their lives to exposing the truth and fighting The Seven's violence and corruption.
Is It Any Good?
Adapted from a popular comic book series, this irreverent show flips the concept of superheroes on its head and has proven a hit with critics and audiences alike. The Boys asks the question: If superheroes were luminaries who lived outside of society's typical behavioral norms, wouldn't that inevitably lead to exploiting their power for something other than the greater good? It's the kind of exploration that dates back to the 1980s and '90s, when comic book writers like Alan Moore and Frank Miller began to use their work to investigate some of the moral questions that the very idea of superheroes might bring up. It's only fitting that, many years into the MCU era, superhero movies and TV series would begin to ask these types of questions about the relationship between power and corruption. Garth Ennis's comic The Boys may not be as famous as Moore's Watchmen, but the series covers similar thematic ground by effectively pulling the rug out from under everything we've come to expect from superhero shows in spectacularly entertaining, if frequently shocking, fashion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about superheroes and how The Boys turns the typical notion of a superhero on its head. What do we generally expect from superheroes and their behavior? How do the superheroes on The Boys behave differently?
How does The Boys blur the line between "good guys" and "bad guys"? What does it say about appearances and reputations compared to actual behavior behind the scenes? What do you think the show is saying about celebrity culture and power?
Do you consider any of the characters in the series role models? What are some of the positive character strengths of people like Starlight and Hughie? What darker sides to themselves do they wrestle with?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 26, 2019
- Cast : Jack Quaid , Erin Moriarty , Karl Urban , Antony Starr
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Superheroes
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : May 5, 2026
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