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- Antony Starr’s Journey to The Boys
- Antony Starr as Homelander in The Boys
- The Boys Fans Will Love Starr’s Performance in Banshee
As a long-time admirer of captivating television dramas and a connoisseur of performances that leave me spellbound, I wholeheartedly recommend “Banshee” to any discerning viewer who appreciates the art of storytelling and acting prowess.
In June 2024, the return of the popular superhero satire series “The Boys” on Amazon Prime Video created an unexpected predicament. Despite the show consistently shattering viewership records, with a staggering 55 million viewers in just 39 days (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), fans appear to have lost their initial enthusiasm for the series. For example, the first season boasted a remarkable 91% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score, which is almost double the 53% rating of Season 4.
Additionally, Antony Starr, renowned New Zealand actor and the entertaining antagonist Homelander in The Boys, has voiced concerns about being admired in public and being confused with his evil persona (as reported by The L.A. Times). With the recent criticism of Season 4 of The Boys, fans of the show have a great chance to explore Starr’s lesser-known crime series, Banshee, a Cinemax Original that ran from 2013 to 2016.
Antony Starr’s Journey to The Boys
Although many people know Antony Starr for his role as the corrupt villain Homelander in the satirical superhero series ‘The Boys’, it’s important to note that Starr is a highly skilled New Zealand actor with a 30-year career in Hollywood. He made his debut on ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ in the early ’90s, and since then, he has steadily gained recognition through various films and TV shows. Notable movies on his resume include ‘Without a Paddle’, ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’, and ‘Wish You Were Here’.
In 2005, Starr made a big splash on television when he was chosen for the roles of Jethro and Van West in the hit crime comedy series “Outrageous Fortune.” Over the next five years, Starr graced the screens 107 times as part of this popular show. After his successful stint on “Outrageous Fortune,” Starr secured recurring parts on various TV shows like “Rush,” “Tricky Business,” and “Lowdown.” However, it was his role in “Banshee” in 2013 that marked the pinnacle of his career. Despite the acclaim he received for his work in “Banshee,” many fans still know Starr best as Homelander from “The Boys,” a unique take on the superhero genre that has started to lose some momentum during its latest season.
Antony Starr as Homelander in The Boys
Drawing inspiration from the irreverent comic book penned by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, “The Boys” is a witty satire on superheroes that debuted on Amazon Prime Video in 2019. The narrative revolves around a motley crew of superheroes known as The Boys, who are employed by Vought Industries, a powerful corporation that leverages the heroes for financial benefit. Under the leadership of Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), The Boys set out to confront The Seven, a group of seven malevolent villains spearheaded by Homelander (Starr), a distorted embodiment of American values. Though he presents a wholesome exterior and maintains an honorable public persona, Homelander is the antithesis of Captain America, prioritizing himself above all else.
Because of the character’s deceitful personality, Homelander assigns Starr an enticing role that allows him to demonstrate his acting prowess, explore, and enjoy. Given his most prominent role, it’s not surprising that Starr has earned nominations for the Saturn Award and Critics Choice Award for his Homelander portrayal. After two joint nominations in 2019 and 2020, Starr clinched an IGN Award for Best Dramatic TV Performance in 2020 for his work on The Boys. In 2023, Starr was honored with Critics Choice Super Awards for the categories of Best Villain in a Series and Best Actor in a Superhero Series.
Yet, despite the awards success, Starr recently lamented how fans idolize Homelander for all the wrong reasons. Speaking with the L.A. Times, Starr confessed:
As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of storytelling and character analysis, I find it fascinating yet perplexing to witness the enigma that surrounds this particular character. Despite his questionable morals and actions, there’s an unexpected following that seems to have attached itself to him. It’s a peculiar phenomenon that I’ve come across in my years of studying narratives, one that leaves me scratching my head in bewilderment.
As a fan who’s been watching with bated breath, I can confidently say that if you’re finding yourself at odds with the fervor around The Boys and its followers, Starr’s exceptional TV series, Banshee, serves as an ideal remedy. If you admire Starr’s portrayal of Homelander in The Boys, just wait until you encounter Lucas Hood in Banshee. It’s a whole new level of entertainment!
The Boys Fans Will Love Starr’s Performance in Banshee
Title character, Lucas Hood (Starr), a cunning ex-con and skilled thief, disguises himself as a deceased sheriff in the tranquil Amish town of Banshee, Pennsylvania. Originally introduced through the miniseries “Banshee Origins: Checking In” and the 12-part web series “Banshee: Origins,” this American crime drama by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler premiered on Cinemax on January 11, 2013. The narrative centers around Hood maintaining his deception while avoiding detection from crime kingpin Rabbit (Ben Cross), all while meting out his unique brand of vigilante justice in the town.
Over four seasons and 38 episodes, fans of the popular superhero series The Boys are eagerly anticipating how well Starr will adapt to a completely new character role that’s quite distinct from Homelander’s arrogant, self-centered nature. In contrast, Starr delivers a raw, intense portrayal as Hood that is strikingly different when compared to the two characters. From the brutal, forceful violence of killing Chayton (Geno Segers) to the heartfelt emotional turmoil displayed in revealing his true identity to Brock Lotus (Matt Servitto), Starr’s performance has left a significant impact on viewers.
Why Banshee Is So Underrated
Apart from Starr’s outstanding portrayal, the series “Banshee” has been favorably reviewed by both critics and viewers. It currently holds a 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating among critics and a 92% audience score. Additionally, it has a Metascore of 66, User Score of 84, IMDb rating of 8.4, suggesting broad appeal. However, despite these positive ratings, “Banshee” is often overlooked due to its relatively low viewership, particularly when compared to popular shows such as “The Boys”.
Based on Deadline’s report, the initial season of “Banshee” ranked as the tenth-highest-rated original series on Cinemax. In contrast, “The Boys” holds the title as Amazon’s most-watched original series. Initially, “Banshee” had a slow start, but its popularity grew as the first season unfolded. The finale of Season 1 attracted the highest viewership for any Cinemax original series finales at that point. However, despite boosting its audience in subsequent seasons, “Banshee” was unable to break into the Top 50 most-watched shows in America during 2013-24 (as per TV Guide). The show’s accolades only took it so far, and it couldn’t compete with heavyweight TV series like “The Big Bang Theory,” “The Walking Dead,” “NCIS,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Blacklist,” and others.
For fans who enjoy “The Boys,” particularly those captivated by Homelander, watching “Banshee” is a rewarding experience as it showcases the impressive range of Anthony Starr’s acting abilities. It would be a pity to only associate Starr with his villainous character, Homelander, without witnessing the full extent of his talent on screen. In essence, Starr plays a character who pretends to be good in both “The Boys” and “Banshee,” yet the depth, morality, and justice he brings to Lucas Hood in “Banshee” surpass what Homelander could ever aspire to achieve.
Banshee is available to stream on Max
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2024-08-03 21:02