The Boys hit Amazon’s streaming service just a few days ago, and a lot of people have already binged the anti-superhero series, noting its graphic nature. In fact, there’s a big difference between streaming services and network and cable content and that difference often is the allowed amount of violence and NSFW language. There are limits to this even on streaming, however.
The Boys co-creator Eric Kripke recently revealed one scene he said Amazon absolutely said “fuck no” to, and to illustrate his point, he even typed the phrase in ALL CAPS. The NSFW scene involved jerking off and it is described in extreme detail below. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya.
There was ONE SCENE that Amazon said FUCK NO, you have to cut. I couldn't quite understand why considering everything else we have in the show, but: Homelander, after being dressed down by Stillwell in Episode 2, was standing on one of the Chrysler building Eagles. He pulled his pants down and started jerking off, mumbling ‘I can do whatever I want’ over and over again until he climaxed all over New York City.
I’m about to talk actual Season 1 spoilers, so if you want to go in fresh, now’s a great time to bail on this article.
Have you watched The Boys yet? The new Amazon series is pretty intense, but its explicit nature often tends toward violence, although there is full-frontal nudity and bizarre sex scenes, including one where a D-list super takes her landlord out while they have sex.
Because of this, it’s a little weird to hear Eric Kripke reveal in an AMA that this is where Amazon drew the line.
It's not the only place in the series where restraint was shown, however. In an early episode, new hero Starlight is sexually assaulted and while the assault is openly discussed throughout the series, the actual moment isn’t shown onscreen. So, there are scenes where The Boys does reign in the glut of brutal content during certain key moments.
If watching Homelander do his Homelander thing sounds appealing to you, the scene lives on in a computer somewhere. Eric Kripke said during his Reddit AMA that the scene with Antony Starr’s Homelander was filmed for The Boys. It was only after Amazon saw it that the studio said “fuck no.” He elaborated:
We shot it! Oh my God, Antony was the BEST in that scene. Amazon seemed to think it wasn't necessary. I thought it told me something about his psyche. To be clear, they've been great, that may have been the ONLY fight I lost in Season 1.
So, in general, Amazon has given Eric Kripke pretty free reign over The Boys, which is similar to what a lot of other showrunners and people in the business have said about streaming services in general.
There’s always a chance a similar scene can illustrate the same point in The Boys moving forward as well. Homelander is still alive and kicking in the universe of The Boys and the show has already been renewed for Season 2, although I think it’s worth pointing out that given the streaming nature of the show, this scene may not see the light of day anywhere except our imaginations.
Stream The Boys on Amazon now, or see what’s coming up with our fall TV guide.
