It’s been a year of calm. Homelander’s subdued. Butcher works for the government, supervised by Hughie of all people. But both men itch to turn this peace and quiet into blood and bone. So when The Boys learn of a mysterious Anti-Supe weapon, it sends them crashing into The Seven, starting a war, and chasing the legend of the first superhero: Soldier Boy.
For in-depth thoughts on The Boys: Season 3, please see my colleague Tia Fabi’s review from its original streaming release here.
Video Quality
The Boys: Season 3 arrives on Blu-Ray with a fantastic AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The series continues to kill it when it comes to its dazzling cinematography that gives the show a cinematic quality that sets it apart from many others of its ilk. This show has a distinct style that elevates the series where every dollar can be found on screen. The level of detail this presentation is able to showcase is a treat for all, as all of the subtle details in the production design and costumes are front and center.
The color palette runs slightly on the cooler side, but there are plenty of sumptuous colors popping off the screen throughout. Black levels are deep and give way to an excellent amount of detail in shadows. Highlights likewise avoid blooming at its most luminous. Skin tones appear very natural and nuanced across the entire cast throughout the season. The special effects employed throughout are ambitious and perfectly rendered here. There are no unsightly instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable in this transfer. The Blu-Ray is a winner as it brings a carefully crafted series to life in a can’t-miss transfer. This presentation continues to offer the top marks of the series on physical media.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a favorably nuanced DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that creates an immersive experience for all. Dialogue always emanates clearly without being overshadowed by the music or any sound effects. Ambient sounds are carefully placed in the rear channels. The spatial awareness of the track never falters, and the surround channels have fun with the panning of certain scenes. Special consideration should be paid to the series music from Christopher Lennertz. His work perfectly sets the mood for the story, and it creates a wonderfully enveloping sound that draws you further into the show. Action sequences and more kinetic moments are given the power you crave in the mix with an unbelievable showing in the low end. The audio presentation gets top marks all around. There are English, English SDH, and French subtitles provided.
Special Features
- The Making Of A Giant Urethra: A two-minute look at the creation of one of the most memorable moments of the season.
- Gag Reel #1: A nearly three-minute collection of flubbed and forgotten lines, joking around, malfunctioning props, and more. This is always one of the best features.
- Gag Reel #2: Another three-minute collection of flubbed and forgotten lines, joking around, malfunctioning props, and more.
- Deleted & Extended Scenes: There are seven unused scenes totaling eight minutes provided here focusing on the movie premiere, Hughie and Butcher, and more. Most of these moments are fairly brief and were likely cut for pacing reasons, but what is here fans will definitely want to check out.
Final Thoughts
The Boys continues to be one of the shows that has avoided getting wrapped up in the whole superhero fatigue of it all. The way the series subverts what the mainstream has foisted upon us over the last few decades is a refreshing delight while still reminding us why we loved the genre in the first place. This third season is an unhinged entry that delivers some of our favorite moments of the run so far. All of the cast members fully know their characters and bring out so much keeps you invested in the story. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a few special features to sweeten the deal. If you are anxiously awaiting the new season, it is very helpful to relive the glory of this latest one. Highly Recommended
The Boys: Season 3 will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 24, 2023.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.