Television’s landscape is getting deliciously complicated this spring, with two heavyweight franchises muscling their way onto our screens — each bringing enough star power to light up Sunset Boulevard during a blackout.
Let’s dish about Prime Video’s latest gambit first. “The Boys” universe (already dripping with more dark humor than a Tarantino marathon) is taking us back to the fabulous fifties with “Vought Rising.” Think Mad Men meets superheroes, but with considerably more blood splatter and moral ambiguity.
The casting department deserves a round of applause — or perhaps a stiff drink. Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash are returning to their cape-wearing ways, this time pulling double duty as producers. Their previous turns as Soldier Boy and Stormfront left such delightfully nasty marks on the franchise that bringing them back feels like a no-brainer. Though honestly, darling, watching Cash work her magic again might require keeping the lights on.
Speaking of fresh meat — sorry, talent — the newcomers are an absolutely fascinating bunch. Ricky Staffieri (who’s been cooking up drama on “The Bear”) leads a quartet of promising additions including Brian J. Smith (remember his heartbreaking work in “Sense8”?), Jorden Myrie (currently making waves in “Bridgerton”), and the devastatingly watchable Nicolò Pasetti. Their roles remain more closely guarded than a celebrity’s real age at a Hollywood party.
Eric Kripke and Paul Grellong are calling this one “a twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s.” Well, considering how they’ve handled things so far, expect less Agatha Christie and more American Horror Story meets Madison Avenue.
Meanwhile, over in Montana (or whatever gorgeous Canadian location is standing in for it these days), CBS is betting the ranch on “Y: Marshals” — proving the “Yellowstone” universe has more spin-offs than a politician has excuses. Luke Grimes is trading his cowboy hat for a badge, with Kayce Dutton going full U.S. Marshal. Because apparently, family drama just isn’t quite spicy enough without adding federal law enforcement to the mix.
The series just roped in Logan Marshall-Green (fresh from turning heads in “And Just Like That…”) as Pete Calvin, some mysterious figure from Kayce’s military past. Marshall-Green’s got that particular brand of rugged intensity that makes network executives weak in the knees — and viewers reach for their remote controls.
Both shows represent television’s current obsession with franchise expansion, though they’re handling it with more grace than most. “Vought Rising” promises to dig into America’s complicated relationship with its masked defenders, while “Y: Marshals” seems determined to prove there’s more to Montana than family feuds and fantastic scenery.
With streaming numbers tighter than a designer dress at the Oscars these days, both series will need to deliver something special to stand out in 2025’s crowded landscape. But darling, with talent lineups this impressive, they’re certainly dressed for success.
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