This Action Show With 8.1 on IMDb Walked So 'The Boys' Could Run, but Syfy Failed It

The fourth season of The Boys ended a year ago, and the fifth season won't be released until 2026. If you've watched everything similar to the Eric Kripke series, we have a hidden gem for you – a show based on a comic titled Happy!.

It can be called the older brother of The Boys, which came out two years earlier. Although Happy! only lasted two seasons, it definitely deserves the attention of fans of black humor and unbridled violence.

What Is 'Happy!' About?

Nick Sax has flushed his life and career down the drain: he went from being an excellent detective to a drunk mercenary who dreams of suicide. After another failed mission, Nick ends up in an ambulance with a heart attack. There, he begins to see a blue unicorn named Happy.

It turns out that the unicorn is a figment of Nick's imagination, but it belongs to a little girl named Hailey who has gotten into trouble. After Happy convinces Nick of his existence, they set off together to find the missing kids.

Syfy Was the Wrong Place for 'Happy!'

It would surprise many viewers, but Happy! is a Syfy original. It's no exaggeration to say that the show feels out of place on the channel.

It's possible that this was the reason the show was canceled after the second season – it was just too provocative for Syfy. Reddit user myklgrge wrote:

“Happy! had the style, performances, and originality to go big but SYFY didn't really have the reach or audience for something that edgy and unfiltered. If it had landed on HBO, Netflix, or even FX, it might've blown up and gotten the longevity it deserved.”

2 Years Before 'The Boys', 'Happy!' Delivered Everything We Love Eric Kripke's Show For

Like The Boys, Happy! takes the original comic to the next level. While the general plot remains intact, the series incorporates many elements that affect the story and characters in interesting ways.

For instance, an imaginary friend's appearance is logically justified, some characters have acquired supernatural powers, and there are hints that the world of Happy! is not what it seems.

Unfortunately, the creators didn't have enough time to reveal all the secrets. At least, though, Happy! doesn't end on a cliffhanger.

It's a must-see for fans of The Boys, and it's a shame that the latter overshadowed Happy!, as it is one of the best comic book adaptations ever.

Even before The Boys, Happy! proved that a comic book TV show could be a brilliant TV series while still respecting the original story.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of the Show?

• Happy! has 84% from critics and 89% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.1/10.