Episode Guide
Episode 1: The review scores for the first episode are 3.5/5. Episode 2: The review scores for the second episode are 4/5. Episode 3: The review scores for the third episode are 3.5/5. Episode 4: The review scores for the fourth episode are 3.5/5. Episode 5: The review scores for the fifth episode are 2.5/5. Episode 6: The review scores for the sixth episode are 4/5. Episode 7: The review scores for the seventh episode are 4/5. Episode 8: The review scores for the eighth and final episode are 3.5/5 ..
Diabolical feels like a rough draft of last year’s Star Wars: Visions anthology. Within that anthology, numerous different artists got together to produce a series of different artistic interpretations of its source material, with wild, wacky and wonderful chapters. It wasn’t the best anthology, and it was a little rough around the edges, but for the most part it was largely watchable. ..
The Boys Presents: Diabolical is an animated series that is essentially a riff on The Boys. It is not as gripping or enticing as the live-action series, but there is enough here to like across the 8 bite-sized chapters. If you can go in with an open mind, you’re bound to have a good time.
The episodes are a mixed bag across the board with a chapter written by Awkwafina about a sentient turd by far the worst of the season. It’s unfunny, it also riffs on ideas that South Park introduced way back in the 90s. ..
The majority of these episodes have a consistent theme, using a simple idea – love, loss, revenge, divorce – and then tying that into an action and violence scene typical of Boys. ..
In the final chapter of the series, Homelander makes an appearance as Noir, the number one. He is now a fresh-faced Homelander who has entered The Seven. ..
The other issue with this anthology is that it seems to be written for shock value rather than adding to the story.
In The Boys, it makes sense that A-Train completely obliterates Hughie’s girlfriend because it makes us care about his plight. Here though, we see a baby hiccup and go on a rampage but it’s done for shock rather than a narrative purpose.
I don’t want to be negative, but I do have some concerns about this new show. ..
Despite the gripes, there’s enough to like in The Boys Presents: Diabolical, which offers up something slightly different from the norm, with an animated series that takes all the best and worst stuff from The Boys and blends it into an 8 episode anthology. It’s not perfect but there’s enough here to recommend nonetheless.
