The success of the satirical series The Boys on Prime led to spinoffs, including Gen V and The Boys Presents: Diabolical. So, when do these shows take place in the timeline? Are they all connected? Here is the complete The Boys watch order:
RELATED: Is The Boys DC?
Amazon’s The Boys in Release Order
The Boys watch order by release:
- The Boys Season 1 – July 26, 2019
- The Boys Season 2 – September 4, 2020 – October 9, 2020
- The Boys Presents: Diabolical – March 4, 2022
- The Boys Season 3 – June 3, 2022 – July 8, 2022
- Gen V Season 1 – September 29, 2023 – November 3, 2023
- The Boys Season 4 – June 13, 2024 – July 18, 2024
- Gen V Season 2 – TBA
READ MORE: Is Gen V Based on The Boys Comics?
Amazon’s The Boys in Chronological Order
Unlike other franchises, The Boys does not have a very complicated timeline. And so, there are not many differences in watching The Boys by their release order or by series order.
Here’s how you can watch The Boys in order of release, though.
For the first The Boys spinoff, Diabolical, only three episodes are considered canon, but take note that these episodes do not affect the main story in The Boys, so watching them before or after the main series will not really matter.
Gen V, on the other hand, takes place between The Boys Season 3 and The Boys Season 4, and sets up The Boys Season 4, so it’s important to watch it before the fourth season.
Here’s Amazon’s The Boys in chronological order:
The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Episode 8 – One Plus One Equals Two
The eighth episode of Diabolical is considered canon and is the most crucial event as it follows Homelander when he first joins The Seven.
In The Boys series, we’re informed about things concerning Homelander’s past, but in Diabolical, we see what happened, specifically when he first joined The Seven.
It also shows when Homelander partnered with Black Noir for his very first mission. Other episodes considered canon include “Nubian vs Nubian” (Episode 6) and "John and Sun-Hee" (Episode 7).
However, as mentioned earlier, it’s not necessary to watch episodes of Diabolical first before The Boys series and Gen V.
The Boys Season 1
This is where all the action begins. Hughie Campbell’s girlfriend is killed in an accident involving A-Train, a member of The Seven.
Hughie later finds himself teaming up with Billy Butcher, the leader of The Boys who despises superpowered individuals. They work together to take down the corrupt powerful corporation Vought, and The Seven, Vought’s superhero team.
The Boys Season 2
The conflict between The Boys and Vought continues in The Boys Season 2. The Boys are aided by Starlight, a member of The Seven who refuses to be one of the corrupt Supes in the picture.
A new mysterious superhero Stormfront joins The Seven, and the series, from then on, keeps piling up revelations about the dark secret of how Supes are really made behind the cameras.
The Boys Season 3
The Boys Season 3 takes place a year after the events of the second season.
The Boys now work for the government, but they later learn of a mysterious Anti-Supe weapon, capable of defeating Homelander. They begin looking for Soldier Boy, America’s first and greatest superhero before Homelander.
Gen V Season 1
Gen V takes place at a superhero college called Godolkin University, which is run by Vought International. The spin-off follows a group of young adult supes who are trained to be the next generation of heroes.
In the timeline, Gen V takes place between The Boys Season 3 and Season 4.
There are many The Boys cameos, references, and easter eggs, and it’s important to watch this first before The Boys Season 4 since Gen V sets up the upcoming season.
The story of the fourth season will be connected to what happened in Gen V.
The Boys Season 4
Billy Butcher has shortened his lifespan, Homelander is worried about aging while training his son Ryan to become the next 'Homelander' image at Vought, and the rest of The Boys have gone political in an attempt to establish societal balance with humankind living among Supes.
Two new Supes join The Seven: Firecracker and Sister Sage. What could possibly go wrong this time?
READ NEXT: The Boys: What Billy Butcher's Brain Worm Could Mean for the Group's Future
Meanwhile, fans can stream all of The Boys series and spin-offs on Prime.
Make sure to follow our official Facebook page for more news and explainer articles about your favorite films and TV shows!