‘The Boys: Presents Diabolical’ Season 1 Non-Spoiler Review – Not Your Usual Saturday Morning Cartoon

The Boys Presents: Diabolical is an animated anthology series set in The Boys universe. For anybody that does not know, The Boys is a television series streaming on Amazon Studios’ Prime Video streaming service, helmed by Eric Kripke, and based on the comic series of the same name created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.

The Boys Presents: Diabolical Season 1 consists of eight episodes. Their titles are listed below:

• 101 – “Laser Baby’s Day Out”
• 102 – “An Animated Short Where Pissed-Off Supes Kill Their Parents”
• 103 – “I’m Your Pusher”
• 104 – “Boyd in 3D”
• 105 – “BFFs”
• 106 – “Nubian vs Nubian”
• 107 – “John and Sun-Hee”
• 108 – “One Plus One Equals Two”

Plot Synopses

According to Amazon Studios/ Prime Video, here are the synopses for all eight episodes of The Boys Presents: Diabolical Season 1.

101 – “Laser Baby’s Day Out”

Laser eyes plus a cute baby equals an evisceration machine that will melt your heart. Before burning it out of your chest. With her laser eyes.

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

102 – “An Animated Short Where Pissed-Off Supes Kill Their Parents”

The title says it all and kinda gives away the ending. Let’s just say it’s cathartic and messy.

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

103 – “I’m Your Pusher”

Ripped from the pages of the original THE BOYS comics — Billy Butcher, with Terror in tow, terrorizes a narcotics supplier into spiking a certain supe’s fix.

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

104 – “Boyd in 3D”

Social media is a dysmorphic lens that warps how we view ourselves and others and numbs us to what’s truly important in life. This is about that.

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

105 – “BFFs”

Inject Compound V and get superpowers. Drink Compound V and uh… this happens.

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

106 – “Nubian vs Nubian”

Divorce is complicated. Divorce with a kid, even more so. Superheroes getting divorced with a kid who’s determined for that NOT to happen? There will be blood…

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

107 – “John and Sun-Hee”

Put on your crying face for this one as an elderly man risks everything to cure his wife’s inoperable cancer.

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

108 – “One Plus One Equals Two”

Even a great American hero like Homelander had to start somewhere…

Amazon Studios/ Prime Video

“A Stranger is Just a Friend You Ain’t Met Yet”

Animation is still somehow considered a weak spot in today’s entertainment industry, which after watching anthology series such as Love, Death, and Robots and Star Wars: Visions, I cannot see people shying away from these more serious animated projects. This is no different when it comes to The Boys: Diabolical.

You may have noticed the header for this, and it stays true to this series (quoted from the bloody brilliant Billy Butcher). This show will be a massive stranger for a majority of casual audiences, with nothing special about it from what they can legally show in marketing. But when I tell you, this show is much more than a fun quirky adventure show focusing on quick events.

Yes, the show does tell these stories in 10-15 minute episodes, but it somehow encapsulates enough heart and truthfulness to the live-action show and even the comic itself.

For lovers of the series, this show is right up your alley. It has all the gore, language, and raunchiness that makes the show so special. I could even throw in that it does a great job of the shock factor The Boys is known for, with a special touch because it’s animated.

For casual fans who have not read the comic, and haven’t had the time to check out the main series just yet, this show is a great introduction to what you’re in for. It brings all the elements that make The Boys great. This show is just a friend you ain’t met yet.

Writing and Animation for All

The writing in this show is superb for the tones of each episode. The series has quite a few big names attached to it, and their influences shine through with their vision.

Some of the writers of select episodes include:

• Evan Goldberg
• Seth Rogen
• Andy Samberg
• Awkwafina
• Justin Roiland
• Aisha Tyler
• Simon Racioppa
• Garth Ennis

And that doesn’t even fill the list, with each of these respected writers lending their voice in their episode from what I caught.

The animation from a standpoint captures what each episode is trying to convey. I absolutely adored the inspiration from different eras and types of animation they captured. Without giving away too much, some inspirations include Hanna-Barbera, Japanese anime, early-2000s imports, and more. There’s something for everyone in this show, but I’m not sure that every type of style they use will hit for everyone that views it.

Final Thoughts on The Boys Presents: Diabolical Season 1; Season 2?

From beginning to end, The Boys: Diabolical lends its purpose well. It captures exactly what it was going for, nothing more, nothing less. That may be a downside for some diehard The Boys fans, but the expectations for this show to push the universe forward ahead of Season 3 this year will be let down.

Not to say this show isn’t good; it very much is. On the other hand, if you come into this show with the mindset that this will blow the door wide open, there will be negatives you’ll find about it that were never downsides in the first place.

The stories in each episode are well thought out, with love put into each one. There’s action, romance, comedy, and dark humor all for you in this series, and canon or not to The Boys universe. It’s a fun ride for the binge-watch.

At the moment, the show has not been renewed for a Season 2 as of public knowledge. Would I want a second season? I could confidently say yes. Depending on the metrics and popularity of the show, only time will tell for a renewal.

As I always do, I’ll give this show a fun rating.

The Boys: Diabolical gets a 8/10 Laser Babys from me!

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