Reviews

Often when a show begins, the trigger warnings will make me either delete the media rather than watch it, or, mindful of my girlfriend's triggers; compel me to watch with mindfulness to recommend if she should see it at all. For example: the remake of "I Spit On Your Grave" was utterly brutal and graphic cinematographically, but for myself having got past that, I deeply felt catharsis by proxy as she got her revenge, such that I could tell my girlfriend; "It was a well-done film for what it is, but don't watch it, it will be highly triggering." "The Boys' had for me an unexpected trigger very early on, but the manner in which it was handled set the stage for the (in my opinion) more severe trigger of rape later on. Firstly, my own unexpected trigger, which you will only understand if you're 'children' are beings that many refer to as 'pets': As a child, my first cat whom I deeply loved and who loved me too, was turned into a mess of blood and pieces before my eyes in a very similar manner to what I saw in this episode. Despite that I am crying through typing that some 42 years later, it is a matter I have dealt with and seeing it played out so similarly between two humans, while it did have a deep and sad emotional impact on me, I still, after a pause, laughed my ass off simultaneously holding back tears of grief, ass I believe the shows creators intended. The other trigger warning: "Rape", which I initially decided; "Look up the director" and; "So this is a show I'll watch by myself and probably recommend my girlfriend avoid.' has in fact been nullified my the excellent manner in which the writer, director and editor utilized the the tools of cinema to inform us of what occurred and its aftermath without actually showing us the event. The only element that was visually exposed was the impact the choices of a degenerate in a position of power had over his victim...there was no visual material for misogynistic titillation. If you're easily triggered by the set-up and manipulation to a sexual assault, then continue to avoid. If you have come to terms enough you are only triggered by graphic assault, then you won't find it here in episode one. I am going to watch the rest of it with my girlfriend (who will not watch any rape scene) and try to post a review again later as required. In the meantime; 11/10 for the manner in which a very sensitive matter was handled, and 9-10/10 for the acting, story, direction, and editing thus far after episode one.