As a longtime fan of “The Boys” and someone who has personally lost a loved one to a degenerative brain disease, I found Season 4‘s handling of Hughie’s father’s storyline particularly disturbing. While I understand that this is a show known for its edgy and often dark subject matter, the way they chose to say goodbye to Hughie’s dad felt gratuitous and unnecessary.
Contains spoilers for “The Boys” Season 4
“Since its debut, ‘The Boys’ has been known for its dark and subversive take on superhero stories on TV. However, the show reached new levels of audacity and offensive content in Season 4. Some viewers, who identify as ‘anti-woke,’ were unexpectedly upset by the series’ satire of former US president and current Republican nominee Donald Trump. Keep in mind that the show has mocked Trump, along with the entire American political scene, for over five years.”
Although criticisms of “The Boys” Season 4 being overly “woke” may seem unfounded, there are valid reasons why this installment has sparked intense debate among viewers. With shocking storylines and edgy humor that challenge boundaries, along with debatable plot decisions and moments testing fan tolerance, the newest addition to the Vought Universe on Prime Video is poised to be the most contentious chapter yet.
After carefully examining the key scenes that distinguish Season 4 from past installments in “The Boys” series, we have arranged them in order of least to most debatable impact. Regardless of whether these moments are viewed as sources of embarrassment or pride by the show’s creators and fans alike, we remain eagerly anticipating the surprises that await us during Season 5, the penultimate chapter.
Butcher’s new superpowers are a downgrade
To begin, let’s move on to one of the shocking turns in “The Boys” Season 4. With death seemingly imminent due to the Temp V tumor in his brain and losing both his grip on reality and any remaining faith in saving the world the “accepted” way, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) makes a last-minute decision. He crashes the secret gathering of The Boys with Vice President Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) to take her life personally using his newly acquired abilities. In Season 3, it was revealed that injecting Compound V into his body temporarily granted him heat vision, super strength, and increased durability. However, he now possesses the power to create disturbing tendrils that are strong enough to tear a person apart.
Some viewers might be frustrated by Butcher’s change in abilities in “The Boys,” feeling that it could complicate the Compound V storyline and seem unexpected. However, as revealed at the end of Season 4, these powers may not actually belong to Butcher but rather his tumor – much like the powers exhibited in “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” Episode 7, “John and Sun-Hee.” In this light, Butcher’s new abilities fit nicely into the storyline, providing an intriguing addition to the show’s lore derived from the animated series.
The Deep’s descent is sad for all the wrong reasons
Chace Crawford’s portrayal of The Deep in “The Boys” is underappreciated because it makes audiences want to support him, despite his being one of TV’s most detestable characters during Season 1. His acting, combined with the show’s writing, made it believable that this character might find redemption eventually. Regrettably, with a sudden and rather perplexing shift in Season 4, it appears that this intriguing possibility for The Deep’s character development may have been abandoned.
Over the past three seasons, The Deep’s journey from being a fish to working among people has mainly revolved around him dealing with the repercussions of his intense obsession with joining The Seven. This fixation not only hinders his own potential happiness but also puts the lives of those nearest to him at risk. However, as hinted towards in Season 3’s finale, this obsession has taken a new turn: it is no longer rooted in deep-seated insecurity, but rather an unhealthy infatuation and longing to appease and mimic Homelander (Antony Starr).
Homelander’s actions in this new arc give the impression that he has become The Deep’s role model, even though this isn’t a total change for his character. Unfortunately, his violent behavior in this storyline feels repetitive since he had already displayed such tendencies earlier on. On a lighter note, this plotline satirically highlights the excessive admiration for alpha male heroes that is prevalent among fans of figures like Andrew Tate.
Butcher goes down the comic book route
The Amazon Prime Video series “The Boys” has been widely acclaimed for its adaptations from the original comic books. Although the source material made a significant mark, it’s often perceived as too provocative for contemporary audiences and includes some unsuitable characters for live-action portrayals. Regardless of addressing cultural sensitivities, it was intriguing for both supporters and critics to see these characters and storylines reimagined in a fresh and captivating way on screen.
Unfortunately for fans with this perspective, it seems that “The Boys” on Prime Video is heading towards wrapping up the storyline from the comic books – including Butcher’s descent into psychopathy. With his killing of Neuman and acquisition of the super-killing virus, it won’t be long before Hughie (Jack Quaid) must face off against him in a manner reminiscent of the original series’ conclusion.
Although Butcher had a clear objective in the first season – seeking revenge for Becca’s death at the hands of Ryan instead of Homelander – his intentions took a drastic turn after discovering her survival. With no alignment to The Boys’ mission, his reasons for action are now reduced to generalized vengeance and potential madness. These motivations may be engaging initially but might eventually feel unsatisfying as they lack depth and direction.
The Fight Club twist we saw a mile away
As a gamer, I was really looking forward to the big revelation in “The Boys” Season 4. Butcher’s mind was playing tricks on us throughout most of the season, making me question who he would team up with. I thought for sure it would be The Boys, led by Mother’s Milk, but instead, he worked alongside CIA agent Joe Kessler, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. The hype around Morgan’s character had everyone guessing if he could possibly be the main villain, like Tek Knight. But as it turned out, he was just a tool for a twist that was way too obvious. Fans had already figured it out weeks before the show even got to reveal it.
Kessler, the vibrant character created by Butcher, was merely a product of his own imagination throughout the story, employing an overused plot device in drama known as a “reveal” or “twist.” Despite the disappointment of seeing this familiar trope, it effectively served its purpose within the narrative. Since Kessler resides in Butcher’s mind, he is compelled to face aspects of himself that he has presumably suppressed since Becca asked him to look after Ryan during her last moments – however, this part of the story seems to hinder rather than advance Butcher’s development in new and unexplored ways.
Homelander tortures his torturers
As a huge fan of “The Boys,” I’ve noticed how the show delights in coming up with unique and disturbing ways to eliminate characters, often when it seems their demise is long overdue. Take Supersonic (Miles Gaston Villanueva), for instance, who was Erin Moriarty’s altruistic friend Starlight – he met his end off-screen in a surprisingly dignified manner, courtesy of Homelander. The “Gen V” crossover introduced Golden Boy (Patrick Schwarzenegger), whose explosive demise took place high up in the clouds. Even Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell) and Lamplighter (Shawn Ashmore) received honorable exits after their heart-wrenching backstories were revealed in the previous episode (it looks like they’re planning something similar for Jessie T. Usher’s A-Train next season).
When dealing with less sympathetic characters such as Translucent, Stormfront, Tek Knight, and Webweaver, their demises often involve more gruesome or embarrassing fates. The most unsettling instance of this occurs in Season 4’s “Wisdom of the Ages,” where Homelander goes back to his lab to brutally punish and ultimately eliminate those who once held him captive.
I’m a big fan of “The Boys,” but even I can’t find humor in the way Homelander’s past actions are portrayed, specifically that scene where he’s terror-stricken while trying to masturbate. It’s neither funny, cathartic nor heartbreaking for me. Instead, it’s awkward and uncomfortable in the most unpleasant ways possible. And as the show continues, I can’t help but feel uneasy about how it presents sexual violence against men as a form of dark humor. This trend is not only unsettling but also problematic.
Ryan’s accidental killing spree continues
In “The Boys” on Prime Video, a major transformation was made: the anonymous offspring of Homelander from the source material became Ryan Butcher, a character with defined feelings and intricate connections to his surroundings. The show primarily revolves around Ryan’s journey, as he is tugged between two worlds that both aim to possess him. In the fourth season, Homelander initiates Ryan into becoming the world’s next savior, instructing him in the unique abilities of Supers while emphasizing the inferiority of humans.
As the end of the season approaches, Ryan finds himself facing the genuine reasons behind Butcher’s opposing stance. With Homelander determined to transform the nation into a fascist super-powered regime, and potentially the world, Butcher can no longer remain idle and let Ryan decide his own path. Whether Ryan chooses to stay with his biological father, a genocidal fascist, or join his adopted father, an anarchist also responsible for genocide, the weight of using his abilities for “right” continues to grow heavier. Regrettably, this burden results in two unintentional deaths, increasing Ryan’s tally of accidental kills to three.
Beyond being repetitive now, Ryan’s unintentional killings hinder his ability to process and learn from the distressing situations he encounters. Consequently, his character development is impeded, making it more challenging for us to sympathize with him.
Violence is never the answer — except when it is
It’s clear that real-life violence is usually unwarranted, save for rare, life-threatening situations. Shows like “The Boys” explore such extreme circumstances each season. Yet, given the excessive and outrageous portrayal of violence throughout the series, Hughie’s call for peace in Season 4 seems insincere.
In simpler terms, Hughie seems to be suggesting that it would be more advantageous for them to win Neuman over instead of harming her at this point. However, the way he speaks and the message conveyed may serve as a key theme in the upcoming finale – violence should not be our response even when dealing with the worst adversaries. The scene’s lack of tension and the insensitive reactions from his team members suggest that this could be the overarching message of the series.
The issue lies in the fact that the series frequently portrays gruesome situations where violence seems unavoidable according to the storyline. Given this context, how can Hughie and The Boys peacefully address a predicament in which the US government is supporting Homelander’s fascist ideology? Could they stage a nationwide protest or petition against Vought, or perhaps use their powers to protect its employees without resorting to violence? With Butcher grappling with his own violent tendencies, Hughie’s non-violent approach appears insufficient.
Tek Knight is pure wasted potential
I’ve been following the new series with great anticipation, eagerly waiting for the arrival of Derek Wilson as Tek Knight. As a longtime fan of superhero stories and the actors who bring these iconic characters to life, I was excited to see how Wilson would portray this unique take on the billionaire anti-hero.
Acknowledging our part in the excitement, fans, including us, may have set unrealistic expectations for Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character in Season 4, envisioning him as a Robert Downey Jr.-like figure due to the hype. However, showrunner Eric Kripke admitted that this was not his initial plan. When the character was introduced as part of “Gen V,” Kripke explained that he hadn’t intended to make Tek Knight as prominent as he appeared in the comics because the show didn’t have the budget for an Iron Man-style armor suit. Instead, writer Jessica Chou proposed portraying him as a straightforward super-detective, which is how we saw him in the spin-off and Season 4.
An altered version of this could be: Although Tek Knight’s powers were taken away, making him less formidable, he could have made a greater impact on “The Boys” with his intellect instead of being trivialized through fetish gags. Given his distinctive abilities and significance in the “The Boys” world, it seems a missed opportunity that he was eliminated so soon.
Everyone takes Compound V now
One key theme of Season 3 was this: Although some superheroes have admirable qualities, choosing to use Compound V voluntarily is a questionable decision that raises concerns about one’s judgment, morals, and fundamental beliefs. The narrative emphasized this message so strongly that Butcher paid the ultimate price for it.
If both the viewers and the characters are now aware that not crossing the line involves avoiding Compound V, then why is it that Hughie and Annie suddenly consider giving the substance to Hughie’s ailing father? It’s sad to think about losing Hugh Campbell Sr. (played by Simon Pegg), but isn’t Hughie questioning putting his father through the same risks he himself learned to avoid throughout the previous season?
In simpler terms, making Compound V easily accessible to characters like Ashley Barrett lessens its significance as a storyline element. For an audience favorite character like Barrett, whose presence we care about on the opposing team, having her only arc this season be transforming into a monster is underwhelming and diminishes her role in the show. This weakens her impact and questions whether “The Boys” offers a thoughtful critique of the superhero genre or just adds to its clichés.
Hughie’s dad’s send-off is horrifying
An intriguing plot twist unfolds when Hugh Sr., driven by his son’s desperation to help him, secretly takes Compound V without much prior preparation or foreshadowing. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Hughie’s longing to save his father leads him to arrange for his estranged mother (Rosemarie Dewitt) to administer the drug. Initially, it appears that the treatment has revitalized Hugh Sr., but soon after, the compound starts to take a toll on his mental health as he develops uncontrollable phasing abilities. This storyline resonates with the experience of watching a loved one struggle with a degenerative disease such as dementia or Alzheimer’s – filled with confusion, frustration, and anger.
Watching this difficult scene is a heart-wrenching experience, especially for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to a degenerative brain disease. The show’s writers deserve recognition for their ability to portray reality in an authentic and poignant way. However, the impact of this scenario is diminished by the unconventional method of saying goodbye to Hughie’s father in such a morbid manner.
Yes, “The Boys” is known for its edge among TV shows, but isn’t it questionable that one of the few sympathetic characters ends up indiscriminately wreaking havoc through a hospital filled with innocents before meeting his demise? The impact could have been stronger if Hugh had decided to inject his father with V and faced the aftermath, or if there were any semblance of choices and consequences following the violence. Without these elements, the episode appears to be merely edgy for the sake of being so.
Hughie’s assault is played for laughs
An unpalatable reality is that Eric Kripke’s “The Boys” often overlooks the issue of sexual violence against non-female identified characters in a casual and comedic manner. Instances include Hughie being manipulated into sex by Dolphin (and later forced to have sex with her), and Homelander coercing a senator for intercourse, followed by The Deep’s assault at the end of Season 1. These scenes, except perhaps for The Deep’s, are intended to elicit shock value and amusement from viewers rather than prompt reflection on the pervasiveness of sexual violence in society.
When fans strongly objected to Hughie undergoing hours of unwanted sexual torment without consent in “The Boys,” Kripke, the show’s creator, was taken aback by their anger. He spoke with Variety and expressed that he and the team found the scene amusing. He went on to say, “I enjoy how it sets up this perfect situation where Hughie doesn’t know his safe word. It’s a clever comedic setup as he keeps trying to find it throughout.” However, despite the show’s success in addressing social issues, its willingness to tackle sexual assault in a controversial manner hinders meaningful dialogue on this sensitive topic.
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2024-07-19 00:30