Amazon got into the superhero game in a brand new way this summer with The Boys. The very NSFW show is a very different take on the superhero genre than you'll find on other platforms with other superhero series, and not just because Amazon let it go a whole lot further than anything that can happen on The CW or ABC. On The Boys, superheroes abuse their superpowers instead of use them for good, and there's a certain group of people who don't want to take that anymore.
It was difficult to predict how such a different superhero show would work in an era when superheroes are all the rage, but Amazon has reason to celebrate. Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, shared the reaction to how The Boys has performed so far:
We are thrilled that The Boys have surpassed our predictions for viewing in its first two weeks, and has become one of our most watched Amazon Original series by our Prime Video customers. This creates great momentum and excitement for us as we get ready for season two.
Amazon actually renewed The Boys for Season 2 before the Season 1 premiere, so it was clear that the platform had faith that the show could deliver, but it was far from a sure thing that the show would do so well so quickly that it would surpass predictions. The new show already ranks as a worldwide hit for Amazon Prime Video, and that's not all.
The show is already one of Amazon's most-binged series and one of its most-watched series ever. Considering the show only premiered back on July 26, I think it's safe to say that Amazon was on the money with the early renewal for the show. And the adaptation managed to work with audiences in the era of the Me Too Movement!
Bad News For Those Hoping Amazon Will Start Releasing Streaming Numbers
Executive produced by Eric Kripke of Supernatural fame as well as Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, all signs point toward the good news propelling the team toward a strong second season. Production has already begun on the second season, which hopefully means the wait for the next batch of episodes won't be too painfully long. Eric Kripke weighed in on the good news as well:
I’m so beyond thrilled with the response to Season 1. And mainly, it’s made me get my ass in gear and work even harder on Season 2. I don’t want Season 2 to go bigger, I want it to go deeper. A more intense, more insane, more wrenching, more character-driven season. It’s my one and only goal to make Season 2 even better than Season 1.
Eric Kripke, who apparently helped Supernatural's Jensen Ackles come to terms with the final scene of that series, aims for an "even better" second season, and that's a lofty goal! Between the glowing reviews and positive word-of-mouth, The Boys clearly already has a lot going for it thanks to its first season.
The show also proves that Amazon can dabble in plenty of genres. The Boys is hardly in the same category as Good Omens, after all, and I'm guessing the Lord of the Rings series -- which may have an impressive episode count -- won't be too NSFW. There is one type of scene that we can probably rule out appearing in The Boys Season 2, though!
You can catch all eight episodes of The Boys streaming on Amazon now, if you haven't already. It's definitely a kind of superhero show that can't be found elsewhere on the small screen, and that has clearly worked for a whole lot of people.
