WARNING! This contains spoilers!

Amazon’s adaptation of “The Boys” comic books have become a massive hit for the service. With two seasons already released, it has become insanely popular. With that popularity naturally comes discussions of how to expand the show and it’s universe. The first one out of the gate is this animated anthology series. With people like Seth Rogen, Awkwafina, Anthony Starr, Don Cheadle, and even comic book creator Garth Ennis working on this series, you can expect to see a wide variety of stories that will satisfy you until the next season of the main show comes out.

There is a wide variety of animation styles used for these stories. From a style influenced by classic Looney Tunes shorts to styles heavily influenced by Japanese animation, this show will try a little bit of everything. Some visual styles might be more to your liking than others, but that’s okay. Because all of the stories features in this anthology can fit right into the tone of the main show.

In the first episode, no dialogue is spoken and it takes it’s influence from Looney Tunes to tell the story. A scientist trying to free a super baby from Vought before she is terminated, a lot of physical comedy can be expected. Physical comedy that is drenched in blood of course. But there are a couple of episodes that have more of a dramatic leaning. One of the final episodes focuses on an elderly couple, the husband works as a janitor for Vought and steals Compound V in the hopes it will cure his wife with Pancreatic Cancer. The episode has a lot of death as it has an unintended effect on the cancer within the wife’s body. But it is arguably the most human episode of the entire series. You do feel the desperation and the sadness of the two main characters, as well as how much they care for each other. Even though the husband doesn’t want to loose her, he does realize that in order to do the right thing that he must let of his feelings and come to peace with loosing the love of his life.

But there is one question that does need to be addressed. Even though this is an anthology, does it actually take place in the main show’s universe? The answer is both yes and no. It really does depend on the episode. The final episode shows a young Homelander just joining The Seven and going on his first mission. It contains both Stan Edgar and Madelyn Stillwell to establish, with the latter especially showing early signs of grooming him and establishing the relationship we later see in the first season. We also see how Homelander starts off wanting to be a genuine superhero but ultimately loses control. The only other Supe in the episode, Black Noir, helps him cover it up and tell a story that earns the newest Supe support and admiration. This also establishes a level of respect for Black Noir that we see Homelander briefly show in a couple of episodes from the main show.

Another episode that can easily exist in the main universe is one that sees the debut of Groundhawk. But the focus of the episode is on the young daughter of two Supes, Nubian Prince & Nubia. The two of them are on the brink of divorce and the daughter seeks out Groundhawk to recreate the first battle her parents had together that began their relationship. While it does briefly rekindle their romance, it comes at the cost of the two of them seemingly killing Groundhawk as well as leaving emotional scars on their child who witnesses the entire thing. Ultimately pushing her to get her parents to sign the divorce papers.

But there are episodes that make it a little tricky to see existing in the same universe as the original show. There is one particular episode that, while definitely well done, basically makes it impossible. Written by original comic creator Garth Ennis, Billy Butcher confronts a guy who sells drugs for the Supe community and gets him to inject something into the drugs that he plans to give to a Supe about to be entered into the Hall of Fame. The events of the episode don’t contradict anything from the live action show. But character inclusions and appearances do go against what has already been established. Hughie shows up in the episode with a look that’s more in line with the comics than the live action show. And The Seven includes the Supe known as Jack from Jupiter, an actual alien. The live action show doesn’t have any indication a character like that was on the team in the main show, nor does the show have any signs that aliens actually exist either. Meaning that this episode does have to take place outside of the show’s universe in order to exist.

But at the end of the day, that’s for the best. A few episodes that can’t take place in the live action show’s main universe with a couple that could feasibly be integrated in. The rules don’t have to matter as long as an interesting and entertaining story can be presented. And that’s what you get with all eight episodes. With all the characteristics and trademarks that helped Amazon’s main show become a smash hit. The good, the bloody, & the nasty.