Summary
The BoysandSupacellshare many common narrative and thematic attributes, most obviously their core premise that imagines how regular people would cope with superpowers. Both shows depict a gritty and uncomfortable reality at the heart of something that seems, on the surface, to be positive. Each show explores the corrupting power of having special abilities, and connects it to nefarious corporate interests with close ties to the government. And bothSupacellandThe Boysmake cutting observations about the real world, tying historical events to the present day.
However,The BoysandSupacellapproach its thesis on humanity from quite different ends of the social strata. Both shows are hyperrealistic in their portrayals of regular people with superpowers, but that reality comes from very different perspectives. And while each does a fantastic job of telling captivating stories that draw from real life,the origin of these superpowers highlights a fundamental difference in their narratives. This distinction allowsSupacellto offer a more nuanced and relatable exploration of superpowers, grounded in the realities of those often overlooked by mainstream superhero narratives.
Supacell’s Biggest Unsolved Mystery Means Season 2 Can Feature A Surprising Villain Return
The British Netflix superhero series Supacell left many open questions in its finale, including the chance a surprise villain will return in season 2.
The Boys Is Real, But A Different Kind Of Real
Supacell Shows More Genuine Struggles Of Marginalized Communities
It’s undeniable thatThe Boysdraws its inspiration directly from news headlines. In fact,The Boysseason 4 faced backlashfor its sharp political commentary that hit too close to reality for many members of its dedicated audience.The Boyshas drawn clear parallels to real-world political events, set in a corrupt, bleak, yet relatable universe dominated by megacorporation overreach, and personality cults. Notably,The Boysseason 4 finale is set on January 6, the same date as the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack. While controversial,this mirror of reality makes the Amazon Prime Video series all the more compelling to watch.
Supacell, on the other hand, focuses on the experiences and struggles of marginalized communities, offering a unique lens on how superpowers can exacerbate existing societal inequalities and provide new forms of empowerment. LikeThe Boys,Supacellalso draws from reality and history. TheSupacellpowers are connected to sickle cell diseasewhich predominantly affects the Black community. Using this as the show’s impetus, the Netflix series taps into the harsh realities of life in South London. Its raw and unvarnished depiction of the region’s issues and lack of supportaren’t inspired by real life, they are real life.
ForThe Boys, there’s a barrier between its narrative and the audienceas it portrays a reality disconnected from everyday life.Supacelldigs deeper than that and largely shows more likely scenarios should individuals suddenly acquire superpowers. By grounding its story in the genuine struggles of its characters,Supacellcreates a more immersive and authentic experience.
Supacell Imagines Powers As A Bottom Up Revolution Where The Boys Is Top Down
The Origins Of The Powers Define How Each Show’s Social Structure Works
Within the realistic universes that bothSupacellandThe Boyshave set up is a class and power system that’s, again, very similar to the real world. But this is where the creators diverge in how this class structure might play out. Yet it’s these origins that are critical to how both shows see their characters and how they impact their worlds.
The Boyssees an all-powerful, mostly white American assembly of elite superheroescontrolled by Vought International. This connects to the origins of the powers asNazis developed Compound Vto create super-soldiers. Its purpose was always domination and control from the top. Therefore, the present world views superheroes in this light, and the Seven use this perception to perpetuate its top-down approach. From this perspective,The Boysdelves into the manipulation and exploitation of superpowers by the elite, emphasizing the dangers of absolute power in the hands of those already at the top of the social hierarchy.
However, Rapman’s Netflix series imagines the emergence of super-human abilities as one of unintended outcomes of medical experimentation on Black bodies.
Theorigin of powers inSupacellis similarly derived from painful real historical events. However, Rapman’s Netflix series imagines the emergence of superhuman abilities as one of unintended outcomes of medical experimentation on Black bodies. It’s borne from exploitation of the poor under the guise of science, soSupacellsees the powers as ones that rise from the bottom up.The show gives powers to the otherwise powerlessand imagines how that would work in the real world. This is what givesSupacellits authentic edge overThe Boys.
The Boys Avoids This Common Superhero Pitfall
While the origin of the powers is a key difference between these popular streaming shows,Supacelltakes a risk in incorporating a character who can stop time and travel through time. This is going to be a challenging power to keep in check as it has the opportunity to take all the drama out of its story. If something bad happens, then Michael (Tosin Cole) can just go back and redo it.
The Boyshas, thankfully, avoided this common pitfall of superhero fiction.Its development of a singular, overpowered and dominant hero in Homelander could’ve been the show’s undoing, but its treatment of the character has become a major highlight for the Amazon Prime Video series. As bothSupacellandThe Boysdemonstrate, balancing powers within a team can be tricky to manage, and the balance determines the team dynamic. So far, unlikeThe Boys,Supacellstill sees the powers as reasonably equal, but it’s unclear if that will continue should aSupacellseason 2happen.
Supacell
Cast
Supacell is a British superhero drama series that follows a group of ordinary Black Londoners who suddenly develop superpowers. The series explores the impact of their newfound abilities on their personal lives and the broader societal implications. Supacell blends action with social commentary, highlighting themes of empowerment and responsibility.
