If you find the life of superheroes exciting, then “The Boys”, “Daredevil”, “The Flash” and “Arrow” are definitely recommended because they enrich the genre in a unique way. All four series address the battle between good and evil, illuminate the complexity of heroism and reveal moral gray areas in which the protagonists have to move.
The Boys
4 seasons | 32 episodes | stream on Amazon Prime Video
“The Boys” offers a refreshingly critical view of an entire genre, with a world in which supernatural powers are more or less commonplace, but whose superheroes act arrogantly, unethically and corruptly. The story follows a group of ordinary people who have joined forces to uncover the dark machinations of the Supes and their secret control over the unsuspectingly cheering society.
The leader Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) is pursuing a personal vendetta, particularly against Homelander (Antony Starr), arguably the most powerful and ruthless superhero in the series. Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) also wants to take revenge on the Supes for personal reasons and is putting himself in great danger in the process. “The Boys” deals with topics such as abuse of power, corruption and the dark side of fame and responsibility in a satirical way and with explicit depictions of violence.
Daredevil
3 seasons | 39 episodes | stream on Disney+
“Daredevil” is based on the Marvel character Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer who fights for justice by day and acts as a masked vigilante by night. The action takes place in Hell’s Kitchen, a district of New York City. The series not only highlights Murdock’s heroic fight against crime, but also his everyday life as a lawyer. Their cases are often linked to moral dilemmas that challenge the law.
As Daredevil, he repeatedly reaches his limits, especially against his notorious adversary Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). The mixture of intense action scenes, profound character development and philosophical questions about right and wrong make “Daredevil” a captivating and emotional series. The dark atmosphere and realistic tone create a haunting picture of the daily challenges that the hero of the series faces.
The Flash
9 seasons | 184 episodes | stream on Amazon Prime Video
“The Flash” comes from the DC Comics universe. The American television series is set in Central City and follows the young forensic scientist Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) as he discovers his supernatural abilities as the fastest being in the world and tries to protect the city from various threats. In addition to exciting confrontations with some supervillains, such as the Reverse Flash, Gorilla Grodd and Zoom, it is also about his personal development.
The series uses a dynamic narrative style to outline a variety of storylines and themes that play with complex time travel, parallel universes and the effects of Barry’s decisions. With a mixture of action, drama, humor and emotional moments, “The Flash” offers a captivating examination of the concept of heroism and the challenges associated with it.
Arrow
8 seasons | 170 episodes | stream on Amazon Prime Video
“Arrow” is about Oliver Queen (Stephen Arnell), a billionaire playboy who was able to survive on a deserted island for five years as a castaway. When he finally returns to Starling City, the experience has changed him forever. He decides to rid his city of crime and corruption by becoming a masked hero and at the same time correcting his family’s legacy.
Over the course of the series, Oliver gathers several team members with different skills who actively support him: IT genius Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), mentor John Diggle (David Ramsey) and lawyer Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy). Various flashbacks to his fight for survival on the island also play an important role. In an interesting combination of action and drama, “Arrow” examines topics such as friendship, family and the eternal fight against evil.
