The Boys Recap: An Age of Wonder

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Ever since Soldier Boy was frozen at the end of season three, fans have been wondering how he’d return. When President Calhoun led Homelander to the CIA bunker containing Soldier Boy’s capsule at the end of season four, it became obvious that Homelander planned to revive his father.

The episode “Teenage Kix” marks a significant return for Soldier Boy, but it’s really about Homelander’s deep loneliness. He’s craving a father figure, especially after A-Train’s setback. It highlights how disconnected he is – he still sees A-Train as a brother, despite not understanding real family or friendship. Trying to control those who support Starlight isn’t helping him feel any better.

I’m starting to see that Homelander needs a real teammate, because Deep and Black Noir just aren’t cutting it. This episode, Soldier Boy is totally focused on finding Butcher – he thinks it’ll get him back on The Seven as number two, get him a pardon, and make everyone like him again. It’s pretty convenient how Homelander doesn’t mention anything about a virus that could kill supes, though.

I was completely hooked by this episode’s central mystery: figuring out how to test the virus. It was fascinating to see the team already hunting for potential subjects before Soldier Boy even showed up! They quickly landed on this incredible supe named Rock Hard – can you believe he weighs 900 pounds and is made of granite? And the story of why he disappeared… well, let’s just say it involved the Lincoln Memorial and a rather…unconventional situation. Apparently, he’s been laying low in the basement of the Kix Crib, which is basically a social media influencer house for this team of young supes called the Teenage Kix. They’re all forced to do brand deals with Vought, and the team includes Sheline, Jetstreak, and this amazing actress, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who plays Countess Crow – I loved her in Never Have I Ever!

Hughie and Kimiko remain understandably wary of Butcher and frustrated by Annie and Frenchie’s eagerness to follow his orders. However, they seem willing to go along with the plan, at least for now. When the team reaches the Kix Crib, they’re forced to think on their feet: Rock Hard has grown to an enormous, unmovable size, reportedly due to a… unique habit of watching volcano pornography and, well, ejecting magma. (You probably haven’t read that in a story before!)

They’ll have to secure the area and run the test on-site, which creates some problems. Rock Hard can hold his breath for a very long time, so giving him the virus isn’t an option. That leaves Countess Crow, the most engaging and tolerable member of the Teenage Kix, as the only other test subject. (The other two members are somewhat amusing, though seeing the woman from the TikTok ad taken away was disturbing.)

Okay, so this week we got a surprisingly tender moment with Mother’s Milk. He catches Countess Crow doing Vought’s makeup tutorials and, duty calls, he brings her down to the basement. But honestly, it was nice to see a gentler side of MM – something we haven’t seen much of lately. They have a real conversation, and he lets her go. It was a small but effective scene, clearly bringing up his feelings for his daughter. It felt like a throwback to when the show really focused on character development, and while it’s a decent little side story, it felt…contained. I’m hoping Countess Crow gets more screen time later, but mostly, I’m really hoping they don’t sideline Mother’s Milk this season. He deserves more than just being a plot device.

Just as Butcher returns to the Kix Crib with Hughie, Kimiko, and a sample of the virus, Soldier Boy shows up, ready for a fight. The two incredibly strong men clash, bringing up old grievances from “The Instant White-Hot Wild.” Butcher manages to prove his point that Homelander betrayed Soldier Boy. Soldier Boy then sends Sheline and Jetstreak to hunt down Hughie and Kimiko. However, the team cleverly lures Soldier Boy into an empty tunnel while Frenchie, wearing a gas mask, releases the virus. Soldier Boy, Jetstreak, and Rock Hard all quickly succumb to its effects, and the rest of the group escapes unharmed.

I appreciated that The Boys was willing to kill off a major character so early in the season, though I did suspect Soldier Boy might not stay dead. So, seeing him sit up in the body bag wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was a bit frustrating. If the virus couldn’t permanently defeat Soldier Boy, it probably won’t be able to defeat Homelander either, which feels like a step backward in the story. It makes the stakes less clear as we head into the next episode. Still, it puts Soldier Boy in an interesting spot – caught between Butcher and Homelander, and simply wanting to survive independently, rather than being controlled by them, as he might put it.

These days, it feels like the core goodness of many characters is being tested. Hughie really wants his girlfriend to share her feelings and deal with her inner demons, but she mostly seeks escape through sex and fleeting pleasures. It’s unfortunate, considering Annie readily discusses her problems with Frenchie, possibly because he carries the weight of past tragedies. However, Annie’s actions haven’t been as devastating as his; she simply ignited a rebellion, and isn’t to blame for the consequences. What worries me more is where Annie’s path will lead – whether she’ll ruin her relationship with Hughie, or become someone completely unrecognizable.

The fact that Butcher still cares for his dog, Terror, and gives him medication suggests there’s still some good left in him, which makes his recent betrayal even more heartbreaking. Season four used Joe Kessler to represent the internal struggle within Butcher, but it’s important to remember he’s not a split personality – and neither is Ashley Barrett, despite her unusual condition. Butcher is one complex person, and even if his darker side takes over, the part of him that still cares won’t let him escape that knowledge.

Extra Frames

The image of Ashley’s psychic tumor was really unsettling, and I’m worried it will be a recurring, unpleasant sight throughout the season. Also, if ‘Ashley 2’ is actually vocalizing thoughts, it’s strange that no one else seemed to notice or react.

I’m really enjoying Ashley’s storyline on the show, especially her ongoing struggle with who she used to be as a passionate activist. She’s not growing as a person, but still manages to succeed, which makes her a compelling supporting character. It’s actually more interesting than what’s happening with some of the characters who are supposed to be the leads, as they often feel like they’re playing secondary roles.

It was interesting to see the pastor giving a politically conservative sermon, delivered very loudly, at his large church.

Homelander often shows a lack of respect for President Calhoun, and perhaps the most hilariously insulting thing he does is order the President to make him drinks.

Butcher tricked Sameer into working with him by falsely claiming Homelander had killed his daughter and her mother. However, we know Zoe is actually alive and well – she was last seen assisting Marie on the show Gen V after being saved from the Red River Institute by Stan Edgar.

Okay, so Sheline… she feels a little played out, honestly. Like, haven’t we seen the ‘superhero with animal quirks’ bit before? A cat-powered person coughing up hairballs and dealing with…well, litter box issues? It just feels like something The Boys or Gen V would have tackled already, you know? It’s not exactly groundbreaking stuff.

• Nice to hear Hughie stick up for A-Train and call him a hero.

It’s no surprise Taco Bell is featured with Sage, given her personality. However, listing off specific menu items felt a little over the top.

• “More like Soldier Doy, am I right?”

Frenchie’s quick plan to escape with Kimiko didn’t seem realistic, though a happy ending for them is still possible if the show’s writers allow it. Personally, I haven’t been convinced by their romantic moments, but it seems like others might feel differently.

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2026-04-09 00:55