All 3 Seasons of The Boys, Ranked

With the third season drawing to a close, it's time to rank the three seasons of this unhinged superhero tale from the least best to the best!

3. Season 2

Though season 2 didn’t live up to the high bar set by the first season, the return to this gleefully profane world still has plenty of delights. Without feeling forced to up the ante in every departmant, this allowed the writers to dive deeper into the characters. Aya Cash as Stormfront is a welcome supe who initially appears to have a politically correct mindset that challenges Homelander’s archaic thinking with modern popularity. However, once she is revealed to be a Nazi that has committed horrible crimes in the past, her effect on the public became a lot more timely and her abnormal relationship with Homelander exposes his desperation for affection as someone with powers far superior to the rest of the world. The introduction of Ryan and Becca puts Butcher at a significantly more vulnerable and emotional state than he previously was, and forms a better bond with Homelander as he vies for attention as a father.

Granted, the first half of the season was so focused on internal conflicts that the pace of the plot slowed to a crawl. It still has the humor and characters that are enjoyable, but there is a lack of momentum to drive the relationships forward or incite any conflicts to overcome. Likewise, there were a number of storylines between the characters, such as the Deep and Starlight, that were never as compelling as their potential promised. The outstanding second half compensated for this, with many mind blowing (pun intended) set pieces that gave us the explosive action or heartfelt goodbyes, especially in the rousing finale that wonderfully delivered on wrapping up so much of the narrative. In between the gasp-worthy instances that paid tribute to Garth Ennis’s wild comics, the dark comedy will either make you burst out laughing or sting your soul as it sharply recognizes the stupidity of modern culture, whether it’s the spoofing of the pandering girl power sequence in Avengers: Endgame or the way the sexuality of celebrities are capitalized on for marketing. It’s this awareness of the true effect superheroes would have on society that sets it apart from other lightweight portrayals of this subject like The Umbrella Academy, and cement it as both fascinating and fun even in its weakest outing.

2. Season 1

Releasing in the oversaturated market of comic book adaptations, The Boys stood apart as a wholly original subversion of superhero tropes. The witty premise plunges all of the elements into extremely dark territory, giving everyone corrupt motivations, filling the action with the hyperviolence ripped out of Deadpool, and draining the protagonists of any semblance of heroism. The commentary transcends basic shock value through insightful analysis on the control of corporations and influence of marketing still made it a highlight in the genre. By drawing from the real world and using archetypes from the Justice League, it grounds the mythology and characters while indulging in fantastical action or absolute brutality. This made the season feel like a fresh relief from every trope that made brand immensely popular, with the origin of Starlight and Hughie discovering this world makes this the most focused story out of any of the seasons. The mission to stop Compound V expands the mythology of these heroes, with the advantage of this world being entirely new to the audience.

Butcher hasn’t been better than his debut, Karl Urban chewing up the scenery with his endless supply of one-liners, swaggering bravado, and Spice Girls knowledge. The introduction of the supes are all charming but unsettling portrayals that steal every scene they’re in and making for truly memorable moments. Particularly with the creatively twisted spins of Superman and the Flash, the writing surprises you with how wickedly clever they twist your expectations and those of the dramatic core in Starlight’s exposure to this evil. Since this worldview is so cynical and bleak, the experience becomes exhausting and not as joyful as it could have been, even with the barrage of thrills and laughs. The conclusion also wasn’t as rewarding as the setup, many of the anticipated events simply being delayed instead of paid off. With the benefit of starting the entirety of the show off, it uses everything the series is renowned for, some not perfected but others in fine form.

1. Season 3

At this point in the series, most of the best strengths had been perfected, most of the flaws had been fixed, and all of it was dialed up to more extreme levels than it ever had before. After the buildup of the first two seasons, the stakes feel more threatening than before as Homelander has descended into depravity and many of our heroes have temporarily injected themselves with Compound V to raise a moral dilemma of who deserves superpowers. This heightens the intensity, and immediately creates the greatest fight sequences that the show has ever seen, utilizing the urgency and shifting power dynamics within the battles to make for climactic brawls that were frequently the highlight of these explosive episodes (“Herogasm is easily the best episode yet, for none of the reasons anyone expected it to be). The writers don’t lose focus on the timely satire, moving past the typical send-up of comic book culture into the targeting of infamous celebrity mishaps or the tribalism and toxicity of the political climate. Due to the delicate tonal shifts and the balancing of the many lines, this is easily the tightest writing of the series whose spry pacing avoids the chance of any possible lulls.

From the online reactions, many seemed to be disappointed by the finale, which admittedly didn’t resolve some of the loose plot threads in a conclusive way. I was extremely satisfied with the showdowns between the characters and am excited for the direction of many arcs in season 4, but also understood from the beginning that the season wouldn’t end with Butcher, Soldier Boy, or Homelander definitively dying. Speaking of Homelander, I can’t praise the phenomenal development that he was given as he spirals into the rage he was forced to keep hidden and portray the loss and lack of true love he’s been feeling all throughout his life, all while drawing allusions to a certain political figure who shall remain nameless. Antony Starr’s stunning performance is an Emmy-worthy feat, flawlessly switching between the maniacal rage and the emptiness of his heart. New addition Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy is the ethically reprehensible Captain America that hilariously oozes testosterone with a code of violence stuck in the past.

Those two aren’t the only ones who get major upgrades, as many others finally get their time to shine. Starlight and Hughie’s arcs have mostly been stagnant for the previous two seasons, but the divide in their relationship makes both more interesting, where Starlight quits the Seven to pursue pure justice as Hughie decides Homelander can only be defeated through more corruption. A-Train’s rivalry with Blue Hawk over the abuse in his former home causes him to be more sympathetic than he’s ever been, Mother’s Milk’s hatred for Solider Boy is a nuanced perspective that linked to Soldier Boy’s past, and diving into the mind of Black Noir is always unique. On the other hand, the Deep continues to struggle for something relevant to do besides perverted punchlines about aquatic life, the same applying to the dull relationship between Frenchie and Kimiko that’s mostly going in circles. It still isn’t perfect, but season 3 of The Boys builds the tension of the story that allows it to fully live up to all of the series’ potential.

Thanks for reading this ranking, and if you want more like it, subscribe to and share Almost A Critic for more content! My review for “Herogasm” can be found here, while my ranking of the Stranger Things seasons can be found here!