Eric Kripke’s satirical parody ‘The Boys‘ has its fair share of moments, which are gory, disturbing, and outright hilarious. The series also has moments that leave fans baffled, but for Antony Starr, some of them were downright funny.
Recalling them, the New Zealand native revealed how this one scene made him laugh endlessly. Turns out, it was about the show’s hard truths and parenting. Read on to get the lowdown.
The Scene That Made Antony Starr Crack Up
If you thought the “milk joke” would have Antony Starr in stitches, think again. The portrayer of Homelander apparently has one scene in mind that made him laugh for hours. In his interview with WIRED, Starr revealed that the scene he referred to is the rooftop one where he pushes Ryan off the house.
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“I also thought of the little squeal that Ryan, the son, Cameron, made as he went off the roof. I think that’s the hardest, I laughed up to that point in the show,” he revealed. His response came when asked about the most messed-up thing that his character, Homelander, did.
For those not familiar, the scene itself is psychologically disturbing and terrifying. It also mirrors Soldier Boy’s coldness and disdain towards his son. The way Homelander treats his own son reinstates one of the central themes of the series: dysfunctional families and toxic parenting.
Dysfunctional Families And Toxic Parenting In ‘The Boys’
Be it Soldier Boy, Homelander, or even Billy Butcher, it’s the trauma that binds them together. These characters carry the pain and suffering of the past, which has shaped their parenting styles. Soldier Boy was devalued by his father, leading to the emotional abuse that he carried on for years.
His machismo is merely a farce that hides his vulnerability. He passes this very trait to his son, Homelander. The latter is apathetic, and his actions reflect his crafty, manipulative nature. In the same interview, Starr revealed that he views it as traditional parenting.
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“I think that’s good parenting. See, I just think that that’s like old-school fathering when, you know, the kid falls over. Ah, yeah, your knee looks fine,” the actor explained. “Get on with it. Plus, he knew that the kid had superpowers, so he was gonna be all right. So, the kid learned a valuable lesson.”
But things take a violent turn when Homelander abuses Ryan physically, only for Billy Butcher to find the kid in a bloodied state.
As for Butcher, his upbringing was no different. He, too, takes on the role of a crude father figure to his stepson, Ryan. Still, he doesn’t beat him or abuse him and is caring for Ryan. It is surprising, given that his character is absolutely ruthless in the comic books.
In the grand scheme of things, the dysfunctionality of families and their toxic parenting affects not only these three characters. It is also evident in Starlight, M.M., and other characters who try to find normalcy through other characters. What is your view on the different parenting shown in the Amazon Prime Video show?
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