The Boys season 3 comes to Prime Video this month, and if you love this show, here are 8 more shows you should be watching.
8 Shows To Watch If You Love The Boys
The Boys is set to make its bloodiest entrance yet with season 3 returning to Prime Video, but it’s been quite a while since we last saw our favorite vigilantes. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be dreading the weekly waits and next goodbye once this season wraps; what could possibly fill the void left behind by Karl Urban’s foul-mouthed antihero and his merry band of friends and foes?
Watchmen
Watchmen adopts a similar approach as The Boys with a contemporary depiction of superheroes, only instead of being celebrated and pushing out a propaganda, these supers are deemed as outlaws by society. The series itself tackles themes of morality, inequality, and social injustice, and is technically a sequel to the original comic book series, though adjusts to present day. The limited series did go on to receive a widely mixed response but has also been praised for its portrayal of cultural themes and manages to uphold its own platform against the original material.
The Punisher
After his Marvel debut in Daredevil’s second season, Jon Bernthal returns to play violent vigilante Frank Castle in his very own TV series. The Punisher is yet another addition to Netflix’s Marvel universe that continues to push the boundaries. Considering the mature nature of The Punisher’s arc, the series derives away from the classic Marvel formula that filmgoers may be used to, but both seasons honor the material and find a way to give life to this iteration.
Bernthal is superb. He is Frank Castle through and through. His performance is gripping, tense, and everything you’d want for The Punisher. Sadly, the series was cut short after a two-season run due to a deal between Netflix and Disney, but with Charlie Cox returning as Daredevil and the remaining Defenders potentially reprising their roles, our fingers are crossed for Bernthal’s comeback.
Misfits
Before Iwan Rheon was wreaking havoc in Game of Thrones, he found himself in the company of a bunch of delinquents sentenced to community service for committing various degrees of criminal activity. Following a thunderstorm, however, the group are struck with the realization that they now have superhuman abilities.
Misfits is the crown jewel of British superhero television. Running from 2009 until 2013, the dark themes and sharp script are top class. There is a powerful retelling of realism incorporated into the characters with just the right amount of humor to balance out the heavy nature of the series. In the same way that The Boys takes the concept of how superheroes may respond in real life, Misfits breaks the premise down further in its convincing depiction of a group of teens now tackled with responsibilities beyond their control.
Banshee
Antony Starr always delivers an outstanding performance as the villainous Homelander; he can steal a scene just with a mere facial expression, and this also extends to his work on action series Banshee. Starr plays a mysterious ex-con who assumes the identity of the eponymous small town’s sheriff Lucas Hood, becoming entangled with the local criminal underworld and uncovering secrets of his past.
You’ll never know what to expect with Banshee. The series is brutally violent and littered with compelling characters of various backgrounds. Fight scenes are beautifully choreographed; the drama is as gritty as it can be. Starr is phenomenal as he shapes himself into the flawed protagonist. Banshee is a one-of-a-kind television series, and it’d be a great shame to miss out on its excellence.
Invincible
J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, and Steven Yeun are already a major selling point as to why you should be watching this animated show based on Robert Kirkman’s comic series of the same. The premise follows Yeun’s Mark who, also the son of Simmons’ most powerful superhero on Earth, begins to develop his own powers and falls under his father’s wing to control them.
Invincible is a hit with fans and critics alike, receiving renewal for a second and third season shortly after its debut. Between this and The Boys Presents: Diabolical, the future is looking bright for this exact genre with Invincible setting an exceptional standard of shocking action, hilarity, and squeamish violence that keep you hooked throughout the duration of the series.
Peacemaker
In the first DCEU television series, Peacemaker picks up immediately after the events of James Gunn’s 2021 The Suicide Squad and expands on John Cena’s titular killer when he must join A.R.G.U.S to prevent global annihilation.
Comedy is a heavy feature of this spin-off, and it pays off hilariously well. Gunn is a fantastic writer whose work is complemented by Cena’s dedication to his performance. They have proven to be quite the formidable duo in the DCEU; Peacemaker lets itself be both playful and serious when the time calls for it. The series is so easy to get lost in, and before you know it, the credits are rolling.
Doom Patrol
The only word that comes to mind when describing Doom Patrol is baffling. It’s the definition of weird, but it’s all in good fun, and the peculiarity of the show allows it to flourish its way into our hearts. The characters are great, there’s a star-studded cast in front of the camera, the story is creative, actually, there’s very few things to dislike about Doom Patrol.
Though the show might (understandably) not appeal to all viewers, the DC-inspired series is a lot of fun to experience in its full wacky glory – that’s what makes it so endearing after all. Some episodes can feel as though they’ve lost direction; however, Doom Patrol more than makes up for its flaws when it opts to delve into heavier topics whilst maintaining its light-hearted tone.
The Boys Presents: Diabolical
If you want to stay within the realm of The Boys’ chaotic madness, this animated anthology series is exactly where you need to be. Set within the same universe as its predecessor, Diabolical shares the unseen stories that occur outside of The Boys’ central storyline.
The cartoonish elements vary in every episode, keeping the style of the show unique and creative; the humor remains as dark as ever, the violence is still extreme, and it is definitely not lacking in gore. Diabolical is a fun misadventure that can be enjoyed on its own with short episodes holding plenty satisfaction to fulfil feeling of emptiness whenever Karl Urban and his vigilante boys are on sabbatical. It’s not for everyone, I’ll admit, but it’s an easy binge watch.
Related: Antony Starr Admits Homelander Is The Weakest Member Of The Seven
Jenna is a Film and Visual Culture graduate and freelance entertainment writer from Scotland. Her passion lies with TV and horror, where she will take any opportunity to geek out. Jenna spends her free time binging shows and looking to be spooked.