So much hinges on the first episode of a TV show, especially one in the sci-fi genre. This opening chapter is tasked with presenting a realistic and immersive world, along with characters viewers can root for and a conflict that’s worth investing in. If a show can work all that into that initial 45- to 60-minute runtime, it’s off to a promising start. And one Prime Video sci-fi show nails those aspects of its premiere: The Boys.
The five-season superhero series is widely known for its subversive storytelling, biting satire, and bloody action. However, it doesn’t get enough credit for what an incredible start it has. The Boys accomplishes so much in its premiere, “The Name of the Game,” and it effectively lays the foundation for everything that follows. It’s the sort of installment that’s gripping on a first watch and more impressive in hindsight.
‘The Boys’ Sets the Tone & Stakes for the Entire Show in the First 10 Minutes
The entirety of The Boys‘s first episode is great, but it captures the tone and stakes of the series in the first 10 minutes alone. The opening scene sees Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) and Homelander (Antony Starr) saving two kids from a pair of robbers. The methods are violent and questionable, but when the kids ask for a selfie, it’s immediately clear what kind of world the show is operating in. It’s one where supes are idolized and have enough social capital to
From there, The Boys takes a sharp turn, almost instantly challenging this idealistic view of superheroes. In what remains one of the most gruesome moments of the Prime Video series, Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) and his girlfriend, Robin (Jess Salgueiro), share a romantic moment — right before the latter is run through by The Boys‘s spoof of The Flash, A-Train (Jessie T. Usher).
The Boys doesn’t hold back when it comes to the gore, marking the first of many blood splatters Hughie will be forced to endure. It also drives home the darkness underpinning this superhero-centered society through A-Train’s callous reaction to the incident.
It’s no surprise that Hughie’s rage comes spilling to the surface not long after, and The Boys contrasts it with Annie January’s (Erin Moriarty) innocent enthusiasm about joining The Seven. Of course, she quickly realizes that the supes aren’t the bastions of goodness they pretend to be. Just like A-Train, The Deep demonstrates the true nature of these beloved icons.
It’s top-notch world-building, with strong genre and social commentary built in. It also lays the foundation for two of the most important character arcs in the entire series, and that’s before getting to the episode’s real action and suspense.
The Premiere of ‘The Boys’ Is a Gripping Episode From Beginning to End
The Boys does a lot of heavy lifting in just the first 10 minutes, but the premiere’s strengths go beyond that. Robin’s shocking death makes the show instantly gripping, but it never lets up, even after its first few scenes. From the moment that Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) introduces himself to Hughie, the tension and excitement builds.
Butcher and Hughie’s dynamic is instantly appealing, and the Prime Video series continues to capitalize on that chemistry for the rest of its run. Butcher’s speech about Vought, its casualties, and the capitalistic values that fuel the machine is also one of the most perceptive moments of The Boys.
Perhaps the best thing about The Boys premiere, though, is that it leaves off on two incredible cliffhangers, prompting viewers to dig into the rest of this story. Following another intense encounter with one of The Seven, it raises questions about Butcher and his true motives in hilarious fashion. It also reveals that Homelander is far from the savior he’s hyped up to be — and may actually be the worst of the supes.
These twists make you want to hit play on the next episode, but they go beyond that. Looking back, these two moments establish exactly who both Homelander and Butcher are from the jump — and ensure they’re both formidable opponents ahead of their seasons-long feud.
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