The Boys Season 3 is making huge strides, setting examples on how to carry a good show forward with quality seasons. The show is infamous for its graphic violence and abject nudity. But it does tackle pretty serious real world issues like racism, elitism, sexism, and class divide. But the one aspect where The Boys Season 3 thoroughly excels is its portrayal of toxic masculinity and how it affects its main characters, including its villains. Eric Kripke reveals that The Boys Season 3 is all about showing the world how blinded men can be with their over-inflated egos. And it does not stop there. The introduction of Compound V24 is also raising awareness on drug addiction.
Here’s How.
How The Boys Season 3 Is Raising Awareness On Toxic Masculinity
The term toxic masculinity is being treated at an arm’s length by many folks nowadays. But it is an actual issue and it affects not just the fairer sex but also men. Men being targeted for being not ‘manly’ enough is not something our forefathers would thought their descendants would be caing in society in 2022. The Boys Season 3 plays well into that arena, showing just how destructive Toxic Masculinity can be to society and organizations.
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The showrunner of The Boys Season 3 – Eric Kripke, even goes so far as to say that Homelander is a prime example of toxic masculinity.
“Part of it is where Homelander’s story naturally goes. He has this really combustible mix of complete weakness and insecurity, and just horrible power and ambition, and it’s just such a deadly combo. Of course he would feel victimized that people are angry that he dated a Nazi. All he ever wants is to be the most powerful person he can be, even though he’s completely inadequate in his abilities to handle it. So it’s white-male victimization and unchecked ambition.”
Jensen Ackles Says Hollywood Propagates The ‘Western Cowboy, John Wayne Myth’
Ackles, who plays Soldier Boy in The Boys Season 3, is also overly critical of how the US media portrays men. He explains to SFX Magazine how Soldier Boy is also all about addressing toxic masculinity, himself being an avatar of sorts for the same.
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“So often, power means fronting as this macho illusion that never existed. Especially in the States, we put so much stock in this Western cowboy, John Wayne, Marlboro Man myth. It’s such bullshit.”
The Buck Doesn’t Stop At Toxic Masculinity – The Boys Also Addresses Drug Addiction
The debut of the new Compound V24 is testament to the fact that The Boys Season 3 is not shying away from controversial topics. Kripke reveals the reason behind them giving the Boys temporary V instead of permanent Compound V.
“Frankly, to me, if you look at that hard enough, you can see the hands of the screenwriter on that idea. Because I was so scared. I was like, ‘I can’t give [The Boys] V and change the show, forever. It won’t work.’… So we compromised on this temporary V. And what I liked about it was, one, it was fucking temporary. And two, we could tell a story about drug addiction, except they’re literally getting addicted to toxic masculinity. It could come at great cost, and you could watch a degeneration of the characters.”
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Eric Kripke On The Boys Season 3 Violence: ‘This Show Is A Deconstruction’
The Boys is also all about showing how hypocritical Hollywood is. To be precise, Kripke makes a point on how Superhero shows condemn violence but then go on to do the same to save the day.
“I find that hypocritical. I don’t think this show does that. I think this show is a deconstruction. We are a superhero show, but we deconstruct and break down and shine a light on the complete fucking absurdities of a superhero show and poke a lot of fun at what it is to be a superhero, and how stupid that world is, and how horrible they’d be as people.”
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