The Boys drew its strength from the graphic novel by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, but it quickly became a television phenomenon, led by Eric Kripke as creator and showrunner. Those familiar with the small screen will know that, before The Boys, Kripke steered Supernatural for 15 seasons, and it is no surprise that, years later, he found a way to involve all three of his main characters (Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins) in an episode of The Boys. Yet, when it debuted on streaming on Prime Video, The Boys did not carry a guarantee of lasting five seasons. In fact, some cast members feared that this TV series could also spell the end of their own careers.
The Boys and the Challenges of the First Season: Jessie T. Usher Feared for His Career
Before The Boys, Jessie T. Usher had not built strong popularity, playing supporting roles in a few films such as Independence Day: Resurgence and Shaft, but portraying A-Train proved beneficial for his career. At first, however, the actor believed the opposite. Today he has appeared in several projects like Smile and is part of the cast of Pulse on Netflix, but a few years ago, at the debut of The Boys on Prime Video, the actor feared for his future.
Speaking to Collider alongside his colleagues Karl Urban and Chace Crawford, Jessie T. Usher was asked how audiences had reacted to the terrible actions committed by their characters over the seasons. “The central point of the series is that these characters do truly bizarre things, but we try to justify them in ways that make sense to the audience. While the premise may seem implausible—obviously we’ve amplified these elements and set them in a surreal, quirky, and insane world—ultimately many people can relate, to a degree, to the choices these characters make.”
A-Train followed his own instincts and often the directives from Vought, but as the seasons progressed toward their finales, he sought to redeem himself by taking the right side to protect his family as well. This, however, did not erase what he had done in the past. “After the show found its identity, the reactions began to make sense. In the beginning, though, I thought that as soon as people had seen the show, I would never work in Hollywood again,” he added.
Chace Crawford, who before The Boys had already captured the public’s interest starring in Gossip Girl, said he was surprised by the audience’s reaction to the television series set in a universe of dysfunctional superheroes. Abyss is one of the most controversial and meme-worthy characters in the eyes of fans, and its actor confessed: “I think I was surprised myself as well. I thought the audience reaction would potentially be worse.” The Boys concluded with a fifth season, but its universe will continue with a prequel titled Vought Rising.
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