Why Fans of The Boys Need to Check Out This Under-Appreciated Series

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The Boys is a surprisingly popular show that deliberately goes against typical superhero tropes, often in shocking and unsettling ways. It challenges our fascination with superheroes by taking the genre apart. A major reason for its success is Antony Starr’s performance as Homelander. He brilliantly portrays the character as both frighteningly angry and deeply insecure, turning the classic Superman figure into a compelling and unforgettable villain on television.

While many viewers recently praised Antony Starr for his role in The Boys, he gave a similarly impressive performance years before in Banshee. Both shows aimed to be shocking and boundary-pushing. Starr was perfectly cast as Lucas Hood, a former criminal pretending to be a small-town sheriff. Lucas is a complex and unpredictable character who operates outside the law, but unlike Homelander, he’s ultimately a flawed hero. Though Homelander and Lucas Hood are very different, the roles share enough similarities that playing both presented a unique challenge for Starr.

What Are the Differences Between Homelander and Lucas Hood?

A great thing about both The Boys and Banshee is watching Antony Starr’s incredible range as an actor. He plays Homelander as a truly monstrous person who enjoys hurting others, but the character is also deeply insecure and emotionally fragile.

Lucas Hood is a classic hero, reminiscent of those found in old adventure stories. Though he’s far from perfect, he’s confident and has a strong personal code of ethics. He’s incredibly loyal, consistently putting himself in danger to help others throughout the series Banshee. In many ways, Homelander is Hood’s opposite, as the two characters function in completely different ways within their respective narratives.

Superheroes often aim to maintain the existing power structure, and the show The Boys reveals the potentially dangerous, authoritarian tendencies hidden within these figures, particularly through the character of Homelander. As the leader of the superhero group The Seven, Homelander embodies a far-right nationalist ideology, and his power is directly linked to the demands of consumer culture and capitalism.

It’s amazing how much power Homelander has gained simply because everyone loves these superhero figures. It’s really gotten to his head, honestly. Antony Starr really shows how much Homelander enjoys hurting people – it’s how he feels strong. That’s why he can’t stand the idea of anything changing. But it’s fascinating to see Starr play Hood in Banshee – he’s totally different, actually driving change instead of resisting it.

The show Banshee centers around seizing the day, and Lucas Hood embodies that spirit. Actor Antony Starr delivers a powerful performance, completely capturing his character’s wild and unpredictable nature. Hood isn’t so much a traditional law enforcement officer as a badge-wearing vigilante. Upon arriving in town, Starr’s character quickly discovers it’s controlled by dangerous criminal figures.

Look, everyone’s terrified of these ruthless criminals, but Hood? He just refuses to be pushed around. It’s awesome, honestly, but his decision to go toe-to-toe with guys like Kai Proctor and Chayton Littleston? It gets messy, really messy. While Homelander’s all about control and a messed-up kind of peace, Hood is actively fighting the system, even if it means things fall apart. It’s a dangerous game he’s playing, but I’m totally hooked.

Do Lucas Hood and Homelander Have Anything in Common?

Though Homelander and Lucas Hood seem like complete opposites in their stories, Antony Starr portrays them with a surprisingly similar style. It’s interesting to see how Starr uses his ability to convincingly portray intense, unpredictable anger in both Banshee and The Boys.

He barely keeps his temper in check, a simmering rage hidden beneath a calm exterior. His character is defined by nervous movements and a fragile ability to stay composed. While Lucas Hood is generally a good person, that underlying volatility is always present.

The main conflict in Banshee comes from Lucas Hood trying to use his troubled past and inner struggles for good. Hood is a typical anti-hero – he’s driven by intense emotions and often resorts to extreme violence. Starr recognizes this character has a dangerous, darker side, but believes his anger is rooted in a desire to do what’s right.

Characters who work alongside Brock and Emmett are often intimidated by Hood, scared by how easily he resorts to violence. He’s a brutal fighter, and this is clear in the intense action scenes of Banshee. Lucas Hood doesn’t just subdue criminals – he deliberately inflicts serious injuries, even seeming to enjoy it. Like Homelander, he feels his authority allows him to operate outside the bounds of the law, and he’s willing to take matters into his own hands, even when it means being excessively violent against people who deserve it.

Both The Boys and Banshee feature Antony Starr playing characters who believe they’re above the law. In Banshee, his character, Lucas Hood, asserts his actions need no explanation while confronting a Neo-Nazi during an investigation. In The Boys, this declaration happens during a shocking scene on top of the Chrysler Building, though it’s in the middle of a very intense and explicit moment.

These moments are crucial for seeing how alike the two characters really are. Deep down, both Hood and Homelander act on instinct. They both claim to be public servants, but they really just enjoy the power their jobs give them. Antony Starr gets that both men think they don’t have to answer to anyone, which is why he plays both of these very different roles so well.

What has Antony Starr said about the comparisons between Homelander and Hood?

During a 2022 interview, Starr was asked to compare the characters Hood and Homelander. After a brief chuckle, he offered a thoughtful and perceptive response.

He pointed out that both characters share a strong personal sense of right and wrong, even though their moral codes are very different. He explained that even when someone does something wrong, like Homelander, they usually believe they’re doing it for a good reason, or at least to protect themselves. It’s rare for people to intentionally do something they know is wrong.

He explained that both Hood and Homelander shared a similar pattern: they acted with good intentions, but made poor choices. While Homelander is more focused on his own needs, both characters have troubled pasts that explain their behavior. Ultimately, the strongest connection between them is that they both operate with a personal moral code, even if it’s flawed. He admitted it was hard to find many other similarities beyond that.

What Makes Lucas Hood and Homelander Such Challenging Roles?

Acting is all about creating an illusion, but portraying characters like Homelander and Lucas Hood is a particularly complex challenge. Both characters are essentially putting on a show within a show, hiding who they really are. Sheriff Lucas Hood, for example, has to control his darker tendencies and appear lawful to maintain his public image, despite being a criminal.

Both Hood and Homelander attempt to create false impressions throughout their stories, but both ultimately fail. Hood’s colleagues quickly see through his act, realizing he isn’t a genuine police officer, and Homelander’s attempt to appear like a classic hero feels obviously fake.

Antony Starr excels at playing both characters because he convincingly shows their internal conflict – the effort they both make to hide their true selves. Sheriff Hood needs to appear professional, but his patience wears thin, and he’ll quickly use force to get what he wants. Similarly, Homelander is deeply unstable and struggles to keep up the facade of a hero.

Anthony Starr brilliantly portrays both Hood and Homelander, making them feel like real people even as he shows their difficulty hiding who they truly are. His performances in Banshee and The Boys demonstrate his talent. It’s a remarkable feat to play two characters defined by their lack of genuine emotion, and Starr does it flawlessly.

Should Fans of The Boys Check out Banshee?

Both Homelander and Lucas Hood are fascinating characters, but they’re also very difficult for actors to portray convincingly. Antony Starr excels at playing both, demonstrating his exceptional talent. His performances in The Boys and Banshee demand a delicate balance between frightening anger and hidden vulnerability.

Both characters enjoy violence, but Starr skillfully shows the differences between them. In Banshee, he portrays a hidden nobility within the brutal character of Hood. Meanwhile, Homelander in The Boys appears savage, but Starr’s acting reveals how truly weak and pathetic he is. The contrast between these two fantastic performances is a great reason for fans of The Boys to check out Banshee.

Even beyond Antony Starr’s fantastic performance, there’s a lot to love about Banshee. Similar to The Boys, the show boasts a truly unforgettable supporting cast full of interesting and unique characters. Plus, some episodes feature action sequences that rival those in John Wick.

The biggest reason to watch this show is Antony Starr’s incredible performance. Viewers who love his intense work as Homelander in The Boys will be equally captivated by his role as Lucas Hood. While he’s brilliant playing a villain in The Boys, Banshee lets Starr showcase a complex and compelling hero.

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Antony Starr’s Anti-Heros: Hood vs. Homelander
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2026-05-09 06:39