I think there’s a pretty big difference between someone rooting for the dark space wizard against the light space wizards in a story set in outer space, vs taking the side of a psychopathic superman in a show that’s literally about calling out fascist chuds and male power fantasies, in a world that is meant to directly mirror our own.
Scifi and fantasy also try to mirror the real world. In star wars, the whole story about the empire and the rebellion is basically the story of any great Empire in history. It becomes too big, crooked people take over, it becomes corrupt, it becomes too restricted, too evil to keep power, rebels will fight against oppression and the empire will fall. With a new government filling the vacume, and the whole story starts over again. Heroes become villains. Good guys become bad. They all have their reasons, they all have twisted justifications for their actions. Whatever filter is used, it’s mirroring society. Whether it’s space scifi, fantasy or super heroes.
I’m well aware of the obvious parallels to the real world in Star Wars. The Boys is an accurate reflection of our real world, and how “supers” would behave in an unregulated, ultra-capitalist society.
You can like Darth Vader for looking badass and having a red light saber, without being a fascist. You can’t really say the same for people who actually like Homelander and think he’s a good guy.
I like Homelander because he’s so fucked up, so sick and twisted, such a well written roll and perfectly performed. But I like dystopian worlds, as entertainment. I like Gaspar Noé movies. But I can’t say Homelander is a good guy, no. Just pure evil.
But it’s the same with Darth Vader. Who would think he’s a good guy? You can like him for being cool and evil, but saying he’s the good guy is the same as saying Homelander is a good guy, isn’t it?
I think there’s a pretty big difference between someone rooting for the dark space wizard against the light space wizards in a story set in outer space, vs taking the side of a psychopathic superman in a show that’s literally about calling out fascist chuds and male power fantasies, in a world that is meant to directly mirror our own.
Scifi and fantasy also try to mirror the real world. In star wars, the whole story about the empire and the rebellion is basically the story of any great Empire in history. It becomes too big, crooked people take over, it becomes corrupt, it becomes too restricted, too evil to keep power, rebels will fight against oppression and the empire will fall. With a new government filling the vacume, and the whole story starts over again. Heroes become villains. Good guys become bad. They all have their reasons, they all have twisted justifications for their actions. Whatever filter is used, it’s mirroring society. Whether it’s space scifi, fantasy or super heroes.
I’m well aware of the obvious parallels to the real world in Star Wars. The Boys is an accurate reflection of our real world, and how “supers” would behave in an unregulated, ultra-capitalist society.
You can like Darth Vader for looking badass and having a red light saber, without being a fascist. You can’t really say the same for people who actually like Homelander and think he’s a good guy.
I like Homelander because he’s so fucked up, so sick and twisted, such a well written roll and perfectly performed. But I like dystopian worlds, as entertainment. I like Gaspar Noé movies. But I can’t say Homelander is a good guy, no. Just pure evil.
But it’s the same with Darth Vader. Who would think he’s a good guy? You can like him for being cool and evil, but saying he’s the good guy is the same as saying Homelander is a good guy, isn’t it?