TV Show review
Review basis: 1 season, 8 episodes · through March 3, 2022
March 3, 2022 · 14 min · TV-MA · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Boys Presents: Diabolical is an eight episode animated anthology series set in the violent superhero world of The Boys. Each short uses a different animation style and tells a standalone story about supes, Vought experiments, or ordinary people with powers. One episode centers a Black superhero couple and their daughter in a family story. Another episode shows a girl getting poop powers and fighting a corporation.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Boys Presents: Diabolical.
Woke representation / casting
Nubian vs Nubian gives prominent roles to Black supes with heritage names in a canon story about family and divorce. Aisha Tyler wrote the episode. Other episodes include varied casts but treat diversity as incidental.
Woke political dialogue
Episodes stick to crude violence, corporate greed jokes, and absurd humor. No lectures or activist speeches appear.
Identity-driven story themes
Nubian episode centers a Black superhero family with explicit heritage references. Boyd in 3D mocks social media and body image. Most shorts focus on gore and Vought satire without pushing identity.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The series repeatedly shows Vought as a corrupt corporation that exploits people and covers up disasters. One short critiques fame and social media. This follows the main series tone of mocking power and celebrity rather than identity-focused activism.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Web searches and social media around the 2022 release found almost no complaints that the show pushes woke or identity politics. Reception centered on entertainment value.
Creator track record context
Key figures include Eric Kripke at 57, Seth Rogen at 44, Aisha Tyler at 56, and Ilana Glazer with progressive political organizing. Lower scores apply to Garth Ennis at 19, Andy Samberg at 10, and others. The mix shows political satire more than strong identity focus.
