# The Boys S1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, amazon-prime\ **Created:** [June 17, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656 "2019-06-17T20:58:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/201 "2020-01-12T00:40:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Umm, Ozymandias can catch bullets. That is indeed a superhuman power. It would be if it were happening because of something superhuman, but that isn’t the case. It’s made quite clear that Ozymandias is not superhuman, he is perfectly human. He is the smartest man alive and in peak physical condition, with skills that top even other costumed heroes. As far as we know, he only ever lost one fight (to the Comedian) and he later refought and killed that opponent. Adrian Veldt is not superhuman, he is the embodiment of human potential reached. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/202 "2020-01-12T01:42:39Z")
In a fictional comic book universe, normal people can accomplish things people in a non-fictional universe can’t. Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias is normal in a super-hero universe and is trained to the ridiculous level where he can catch a bullet, a feat that one could never accomplish in the real-world. Watchmen only had one truly super - Dr. Manhattan. Another is purported to have been alluded to in writing, but is never shown and probably has no more mention than a sentence or two in the graphic novel. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/203 "2020-01-12T03:19:57Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > It would be if it were happening because of something superhuman, but that isn’t the case. It’s made quite clear that Ozymandias is not superhuman, he is perfectly human. He is the smartest man alive and in peak physical condition, with skills that top even other costumed heroes. As far as we know, he only ever lost one fight (to the Comedian) and he later refought and killed that opponent. Adrian Veldt is not superhuman, he is the embodiment of human potential reached. Catching bullets is a superhuman ability as is Ozymandias’s intellect. Note that even having fast reflexes and great intellect would not enable a normal to \*catch \*a bullet, that also requires superhuman **strength.** \*Dodging \*a bullet, maybe. It’s true, that _compared to Doc M_, Adrian is pretty mortal. Doc M is nigh deity power. If mortals are on a scale of 1-10, then Ozymandias is maybe a 11, whereas Doctor Manhattan is like 90. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/204 "2020-01-15T00:17:00Z")
> [@Scoobysnax](#): > > In my opinion, this show is a much better representation of what people with powers would do in the real world. Would someone with unlimited powers use them altruistically? We can hope so but I would guess not. Doctor Manhattan is probably the best outcome; help his country win a war and then piss off to Mars. Homelander is what we would probably end up with. Watchmen answers the question “What kind of person would want to dress up and punch criminals?” which is a little different than “What would people with superpowers do?” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/205 "2020-01-15T01:33:18Z")
Except for Dr. M, which is the what would someone with such unstoppable power do question. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/206 "2020-01-15T01:38:22Z")
Double post ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/207 "2020-01-15T05:26:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Catching bullets is a superhuman ability as is Ozymandias’s intellect. > > Note that even having fast reflexes and great intellect would not enable a normal to \*catch \*a bullet, that also requires superhuman **strength.** \*Dodging \*a bullet, maybe. > > It’s true, that _compared to Doc M_, Adrian is pretty mortal. Doc M is nigh deity power. > > If mortals are on a scale of 1-10, then Ozymandias is maybe a 11, whereas Doctor Manhattan is like 90. You are correct that Adrian is mortal. Other than that, everything you wrote in this post is wrong. It is made clear that Veidt is not superhuman, he is a human. I suggest you re-read the book. > [@Taber](#): > > Watchmen answers the question “What kind of person would want to dress up and punch criminals?” which is a little different than “What would people with superpowers do?” I agree. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/208 "2020-01-15T05:31:14Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You are correct that Adrian is mortal. Other than that, everything you wrote in this post is wrong. It is made clear that Veidt is not superhuman, he is a human. I suggest you re-read the book.I agree. No human can _catch_ a bullet. Period. Even with super genius IQ and fast reflexes. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/209 "2020-01-15T05:41:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No human can _catch_ a bullet. Period. Even with super genius IQ and fast reflexes. No human can reason like Sherlock Holmes. Does that mean he has superpowers? No, of course not. Because within the narrative universe, this is simply definitionally something at least one exceptional human can do. Bringing in the capabilities of actual humans is just entirely beside the point. It’s the same with Veidt. Frankly, anything else just completely misses the point of Watchmen. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/210 "2020-01-15T07:00:35Z")
I’ve always thought (given the blood) that it’s not so much that he “caught” the bullet, in the usual sense, as he made sure the bullet only hit his rolled-up hand along the line of the tube - i.e. he placed his hands in the perfect spot so only the fleshy parts of his hand got injured and his chest didn’t. I realise that’s a fine distinction. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/211 "2020-01-15T18:52:48Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > No human can reason like Sherlock Holmes. Does that mean he has superpowers? > … > > Frankly, anything else just completely misses the point of Watchmen. Actually Holmes was based on a real person, who actually did stuff like Holmes did. Now, Holmes just got it right all the time, but it’s possible. Yes, I know Moore _wanted_ it to be one godlike super and the rest highly trained mortals. But when he wrote ozzie \*caught \*a bullet and when that was repeated in the TV show, that act meant that the _intention_ was offset by the reality- the reality is that Veidt is slightly super powered. So Moore blew his own point. Moore really isnt that great of a writer, and he made a mistake. And the TV show showed it again. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/212 "2020-01-15T20:48:15Z")
Believe what you want. Stomp your feet and hold your breath until you turn purple. But you are 100% wrong. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/213 "2020-01-16T06:14:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Actually Holmes was based on a real person, who actually did stuff like Holmes did. Now, Holmes just got it right all the time, but it’s possible. > Yes, I know Moore _wanted_ it to be one godlike super and the rest highly trained mortals. > > But when he wrote ozzie \*caught \*a bullet and when that was repeated in the TV show, that act meant that the _intention_ was offset by the reality- the reality is that Veidt is slightly super powered. So Moore blew his own point. Moore really isnt that great of a writer, and he made a mistake. And the TV show showed it again. If Veidt is superpowered, so is every other human who puts up with superhuman physical punishment in the fight scenes. To quote a different supervillain - if everyone is special, then no-one is. ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/214 "2020-01-16T15:23:28Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > If Veidt is superpowered, so is every other human who puts up with superhuman physical punishment in the fight scenes. Or in any other movie. In the Diehard universe plenty of people probably talk about how impressive / lucky John McClane is, but nobody’s speculating that he’s a mutant. It’s just how the knobs are set in that particular action-movie world; people like that exist. Same for Veidt. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/215 "2020-01-16T19:09:23Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Believe what you want. Stomp your feet and hold your breath until you turn purple. But you are 100% wrong. Believe what you want. Stomp your feet and hold your breath until you turn purple. But you are 100% wrong.:p:p:p:p ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/216 "2020-01-16T19:11:15Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > If Veidt is superpowered, so is every other human who puts up with superhuman physical punishment in the fight scenes. > > To quote a different supervillain - if everyone is special, then no-one is. It’s just possible for someone to do this. It’s totally, absolutely impossible to catch a bullet. Hey Moore fucked up. And then the TV writers continued the mistake. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/217 "2020-01-16T21:22:09Z")
By that standard John Wick has superpowers also. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/218 "2020-01-16T23:36:51Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > By that standard John Wick has superpowers also. I didnt see him catch a bullet in the first two, but yeah, he is verging on the super. ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/219 "2020-01-17T00:08:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I didnt see him catch a bullet in the first two, but yeah, he is verging on the super. Spoiler for the end of John Wick 3 Especially at the end of the third movie. You would need a wheelbarrow and shovel to move what remained after that fall ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656/220 "2020-01-17T00:52:08Z")
> [@Scoobysnax](#): > > Spoiler for the end of John Wick 3 > > Especially at the end of the third movie. You would need a wheelbarrow and shovel to move what remained after that fall In _wuxia_ fiction one can do that kind of stuff by cultivating one’s _neigong, qinggong_ and similar _gongfu_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boys-s1/835656.md?page=12)