10 Hilarious and Cringe-Worthy Jokes From Amazon's TV Show 'The Boys' That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Discover the cringe-worthy jokes from Amazon's TV show, The Boys, that didn't stand the test of time Uncover the jabs at extended universes, a surprise cameo by Charlize Theron, Butcher's Matrix metaphor, and the controversial Joss Rewrite Get ready for some laughs that haven't aged well
Summary
The Boys' clever and risky jokes about the superhero genre have made the show entertaining, but some now fall flat due to the introduction of the spinoff series Gen V.
The show's critique of popular superhero franchises, such as the MCU and the DCU, strikes a chord with audiences weary of tiresome trends. However, their ridicule of team-ups and cinematic universes has taken on a hypocritical tone.
Amazon's The Boys captivates viewers with its humor and recurring jokes, making it an entertaining watch across multiple seasons. Nevertheless, certain choices within the series have caused some jokes to not age well. The Boys stands out among superhero shows today for its thought-provoking characters and moral ambiguity. It is this mature approach that enables the show to push boundaries with daring and risky jokes, even though some have been more successful than others.
The Boys’ Dawn Of The Seven Movie Takes Shots At Extended Universes
The Boys frequently targets the superhero genre as a whole, specifically taking aim at popular franchises like the MCU and DCU. While this genre has gained immense popularity in recent years, there are certain trends within franchises like the MCU that are becoming tiresome for many audiences. The Boys fearlessly mocks these trends whenever it gets the chance. However, the introduction of the spinoff series Gen V has exposed some hypocrisy in The Boys' criticisms.
The Boys' third season had plenty of laughs at the expense of 'Dawn of the Seven,' an in-universe film that cleverly parodied popular team-up movies like The Avengers and Justice League. Through this film, viewers got a glimpse into the shallow and superficial nature of these big-budget projects, where famous names are used solely to expand the fictional universe and rake in more money. However, it's ironic to see that The Boys itself is now following the same path with Gen V, a superhero spinoff that mocks exactly what it has been ridiculing all this time. In retrospect, 'Dawn of the Seven' doesn't seem quite as amusing anymore.
“Everybody Loves A Team-Up”
The Boys features the repeated use of a certain phrase, primarily by Homelander, to highlight the shallow and insubstantial nature of Vought's movies. The company's sole concern is selling tickets, and team-ups serve as the perfect strategy for achieving that goal. Initially introduced as a comical joke, the significance of this catchphrase diminished as The Boys themselves began engaging in similar alliances. Notably, the entire plot of the show's third season revolved around a team-up between Butcher and Soldier Boy, which ultimately culminated in yet another collaboration between Butcher and Homelander in the finale. Following this pattern, season 4 of the series has even hinted at a potential partnership between Neuman and Soldier Boy.
The Vought Cinematic Universe
The Vought Cinematic Universe (VCU) in The Boys satirically mocks Marvel and DC movies. Not only does the name resemble them, but VCU is often used as a punchline to criticize Vought's lack of originality and effort in their projects. Over time, the show has cleverly joked about the exhausting nature of these cinematic universes. Ironically, with the introduction of Gen V, the show itself is transforming into one. The spin-off will even feature characters from the main show, which is precisely what it has always ridiculed.
Charlize Theron’s Dawn Of The Seven Cameo
Charlize Theron surprised fans with a cameo appearance in The Boys, where she portrayed a fictionalized version of Stormfront in the film Dawn of the Seven. This moment was intended as a playful jab at other blockbuster franchises, known for using celebrity cameos to generate hype among viewers, but often with little actual impact. Adding to the irony, Theron also made a cameo in the MCU's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness during the same period.
However, with the recent announcement that actors from The Boys, including Jensen Ackles and Jessie T. Usher, will be making cameos in Gen V, this joke no longer holds its original significance. Now, it seems that The Boys is following the same pattern it once found amusing in the MCU, causing the joke to fall somewhat flat. It is likely that there will be more surprise cameos in Gen V, further highlighting the shift in The Boys' tone from mockery to conformity.
Butcher’s Matrix Metaphor
The “Joss Rewrite”
One specific analogy introduced in The Boys' first season, where Butcher references the red pill/blue pill analogy from The Matrix, has become outdated in recent years. This same concept, now associated with 'waking up' and 'revealing the truth,' has been co-opted by right-wing conservative groups that The Boys aims to criticize. The show effectively depicts the prevalence of certain fascist ideologies in modern America, making this particular analogy, although innocently used at the time, now feel somewhat uncomfortable and out of sync with the narrative.
During a discussion about the reshooting process of Dawn of the Seven (a playful jab at the frequent reshoots and rewrites in the superhero genre), Homelander casually mentions that a character named Joss had rewritten one version of the script. This particular moment in The Boys hilariously mocks Joss Whedon’s reshoots of Justice League. As the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Whedon famously made significant changes to the project during post-production, which many fans believe ruined it. Initially intended as a harmless dig at Whedon’s problematic writing and production, the joke's relevance has since diminished.
When the episode was aired, Whedon was already facing public scrutiny due to multiple allegations of misconduct by female colleagues during his time on set. As a result, he has been effectively ousted from the entertainment industry. The joke remains relevant within the context of Justice League, but incorporating Whedon's name (to some extent) in The Boys feels awkward and highlights a persona that many viewers would rather not acknowledge. Considering the eventual extent of Whedon's downfall, there are numerous other well-known individuals in the superhero genre who could have been substituted for 'Joss' if the writers had foreseen the magnitude of Whedon's fall from grace.
