We're obsessed with this week's series, thanks, I love it.
The Boys never backs down from poking fun at the relationship between capitalism, our obsession with superhero, and American white supremacy. Its latest parody, "Glorious Five Year Plan", set its sights on celebrity culture.
The Boys used speedster superhero A-Train as a stand-in for the Keeping Up With theKardashian star in a hilarious almost shot-for-shot recreation of the famous ad.
A-train shows a potential clash between police in tactical gear and peaceful protesters who appear to be representative of the Black Lives Matter movement. The celebrity ended the tension by drinking a refreshing beverage and giving good vibes.
The original ad and its parody end in an absurdist celebration of unity between cops and the people protesting the murder of innocent civilians, with The Boys adding an extra cringe line from A-Train.
The Boys is one of the best satires of American society on TV right now because of the small changes and context surrounding A-Train's character arcs.
The forces of oppression they're trying to fight against are more than the gross commodification of social justice movement. On-screen representation of marginalized people can be a double-edged sword.
A-Train, the only black superhero admitted into The Seven, has faced a constant onslaught of racism. He feels like he's above the fight for racial justice because of his wealth and fame. He encourages his corporate overlords to use him as a smokescreen to distract from their real world evil. He pitches a redesign that leans into the "trendiness" of social justice, complete with a costume.
At a time when A-Train's celebrity is waning and he's personally safe from the white supremacist forces taking over Vought, the parody ad catches him by surprise. He is starting to realize how the superhero narratives and all-powerful impunity Vought grants its predominantly white bermenschen directly causes racial violence. One of A-Train's cousins warns of a superhero who over-policing of their neighborhood leads to the murder of an innocent Black man. After many pointed to the connection between copaganda and police brutality, TV shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine tried to have a different view.
It's difficult for A-Train to let go of the safety that comes with being part of The Seven. When the chance to be welcomed back into the fold arises, he continues to change his mind about doing anything about it.
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The show's critique of capitalism and authoritarianism is expanded by the parody. The relationship between American pop culture and white supremacy is not limited to comic book companies. When you consider how that family's trademark beauty aesthetic fits Black culture, it's easy to see how celebrity worship of figures like that is part of it too. Our nation's values are shaped by the entertainment industry. It's no wonder why America's biggest idols are often seen as anti-Semitic.
It packs more punch and understanding of its underlying issues than any other attempt, and is only a few minutes long. SNL made it's own parody back in 2017: The Boys has accomplished many things, but it didn't have all of them.
The boys nailed America's recent backslide into white supremacist fascists. It's one of the most important watches of the year, even if you're not into the whole superhero thing.
The boys are on Prime Video.
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