As a seasoned critic with a deep appreciation for thought-provoking storytelling, I’ve seen my fair share of complex characters and intricate plots. But “The Boys” has managed to captivate me like no other show in recent memory. The latest episode, “Dirty Business,” was a masterclass in character development and moral ambiguity.
The blatant political critique and satire in “The Boys” have grown more overt throughout the series, with season four taking a particularly clear-cut approach to drawing real-life parallels, most notably between Homelander and Donald Trump. As depicted in “Dirty Business,” the powerful white supremacist leading the way has successfully recruited some of America’s wealthiest and most sinister individuals to orchestrate a coup on January 6, potentially with the active support of radical right-wing Fox News (or Vought News) viewers.
As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but feel frustrated when I come across stories that shamelessly copy real-life events. I get it, some people might find it intriguing, but for me, it takes away from the magic of imagination. But alas, we live in reality and this week’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity is a stark reminder of that. Justice Sonia Sotomayor put it bluntly, “The president, in every use of official power, now wields a king’s authority above the law.” As someone who cherishes democracy, I can only express my deep concern and disagreement with this ruling.
In simpler terms, “Dirty Business” is an engaging episode of “The Boys” that picks up pace after a fragmented and melancholic start to the season. Although there’s still plenty of torture and distress, especially in the main plotlines – I could have done without as much trauma for Hughie, Tek Knight, and Ashley – at least all the characters now seem connected to the same narrative.
Hughie has taken a back seat in recent episodes, less prominent than in the first two seasons. It’s great to witness him take center stage in this episode. An assignment to infiltrate Tek Knight’s mansion during a Federalist Society gala provides an excellent chance for Hughie to focus on a mission and distract himself from his father’s passing. He’ll disguise himself as Webweaver, the preferred informant of Butcher and Mother’s Milk. This ruse earns him an invitation as a prospective sidekick for Tek. The outcome is one of the most disturbing scenes in an already unsettling episode. Mother’s Milk drugs Webweaver with a roofie, leading to a grotesque moment where he is splattered with white goo from Webweaver’s “web hole.” (I shuddered while composing this.)
At the party, Hughie amusingly tries to mimic Webweaver’s slang by uttering forced “dog” and “no cap” phrases while concealed in his odorous costume. Though Webweaver possesses exceptional senses, making him an excellent liar detector, Hughie manages to carry out the deception and install bugs at the event, narrowly escaping a perilous encounter with Victoria Neuman and the Seven.
When Hughie experiences signal loss in the concealed “Tek Cave,” things gradually spiral out of control. Hughie hadn’t agreed to endure such humiliation, finding himself at the mercy of a billionaire’s whims and degrading treatments. Scenes filled with comedy emerge, as when Hughie screams random words like “tarantula” during Webweaver’s safe word guessing game. However, an overarching sense of horror prevails, intensifying as time passes. The relief that comes with Tek discovering the truth doesn’t alleviate the fear of potential sexual violence.
Fortunately, Kimiko and Annie successfully infiltrate the mansion, discover the hidden entrance to Tek Cave, and rescue Hughie just as Tek was about to inflict further harm on him. We are spared the disturbing image of Tek drilling new holes into Hughie for this purpose. With the assistance of Tek’s former accomplice, clad in a red gimp suit, they gain access to Tek’s financial records. This revelation ultimately leads to the exposure of Tek and Sage’s collaboration: They had agreed to utilize Tek’s private prisons as part of their plan to suppress dissent once Homelander and she were in power.
Following the harrowing events, it’s tough to believe Tek Knight would make it out unscathed, making Elijah’s brutal act of choking him to death all the more gratifying. However, this tale concludes on an uplifting emotional note as Hughie comes to terms with his feelings and confides in Annie about the traumatic experience. Jack Quaid’s poignant portrayal of “I miss my dad” leaves a heart-wrenching impact.
In an unexpectedly emotional turn for me in this episode, A-Train selflessly leaves the party to drive MM to the hospital after he collapses from a heart attack following Sage’s shooting. It turns out that MM was experiencing a panic attack instead, as his attempts at mindfulness are overwhelmed by his mounting responsibilities. When A-Train encounters a wide-eyed onlooker who witnessed the rescue, he is deeply moved by the child’s expression of awe. Only a few episodes prior, we observed this character boasting to his nephews about individuals whose lives he hadn’t truly saved; now, he is genuinely making a difference and experiencing the rewarding feeling that comes with it.
As A-Train evolves and improves himself, it’s disappointing that not many other characters on the show share the same goal. I’ve been pondering over Sage’s genuine convictions and reasons behind her extremist views for some time now. It was intriguing to learn from Neuman about the pivotal moment in Sage’s life that radicalized her: At the tender age of 11, she discovered a cure for her grandmother’s leukemia but was dismissed and ridiculed, ultimately watching her grandmother pass away. With the power to solve global issues at her fingertips, she holds no regard for mankind. Despite her disconnect from these wealthy elites, she finds joy in exploiting them financially and discarding them once they’re no longer useful.
At one point, it appeared that Sage may have harbored a more complex plan towards Homelander, potentially involving his removal. However, her monologue reveals a different perspective on her superiority complex. Unlike Homelander, who derives sadistic pleasure and disdain from humans, Sage views them as challenging intellectual puzzles she’s yet to solve despite years of outsmarting others. Both share the belief in dominating humans, but their motivations stem from distinct sources.
As a movie reviewer, I have to admit that I was disappointed for Homelander when Sage’s bullet-riddled state left her preoccupied with her Taco Bell cravings and TV shows. Unfortunately, she couldn’t contribute much during his secretive announcement of insurrection plans. However, Neuman proved to be an unexpected ally. Her political expertise allowed her to handle the Justice Department, military response, and OPEC, among other practical issues. Moreover, she persuaded Homelander with a compelling emotional argument, stating that “The masses are foolish,” and billionaires shouldn’t be subjected to any regulations or restrictions whatsoever.
Neuman has been deeply troubled for some time now, and the recent unexpected alliance didn’t make much of a difference. On the other hand, Butcher has been grappling with moral dilemmas throughout the series, with an inner struggle between good and evil. His wife Becca has served as his conscience, appearing to him in hallucinations. However, in “Dirty Business,” it is revealed that Joe Kessler represents Butcher’s dark side – a violent and ruthless alter ego brought about by his brain tumor. In the moment when Butcher lost control and brutally attacked Ezekiel, Kessler took charge.
For several weeks, viewers have pondered the enigma of Kessler. In this episode, the mystery is skillfully unraveled as Kessler removes his disguise by growling at Becca for her incessant chatter. This unexpected move stems from Sameer’s alarming intel about the virus, leaving Butcher in a dilemma: Should he put the lives of Kimiko, Annie, and above all, Ryan on the line to eliminate Homelander? As Kessler argues, a supes pandemic might not be an unintended consequence but rather what the world requires. However, once one starts justifying mass destruction, it becomes challenging to retract that stance.
Extra Frames
• No sign of Frenchie, who refuses to let Kimiko visit him in jail.
“You didn’t manage to remove all the Santorum from the cage.” (In this paraphrase, I used a more common phrase “remove all of” instead of “get all the santorum off,” and “cage” was clarified for better understanding.)
Instead of quoting the Speaker verbatim as they did with Todd Akin’s controversial remarks about “legitimate rape,” I prefer a more original and clear expression.
“Firecracker, we’re having a quiet chat, but I think the bar may have some SunnyD and Everclear available.”
• Of course the book that opens the entrance to Tek’s lair is The 120 Days of Sodom.
Annie’s confession of her unkind actions during the pageant circuit and her apology to Firecracker are heartfelt moments. However, just as we sympathize with her newfound awareness, she subdues Firecracker with a tranquilizer. This surprising twist doesn’t undermine the authenticity of her introspection.
I’ve worked as a fundraiser for various political campaigns and non-profit organizations throughout my career. With that background, I can tell you that the scenario described is quite extraordinary. Hughie, Annie, and Kimiko making such large donations totaling $205 million to Elizabeth Warren’s super-PAC, the Innocence Project, and Black Lives Matter is not something one encounters every day.
It appears that Stan Edgar has gone missing after being released, and Neuman’s connection to the situation seems to raise Homelander’s suspicions.
As a dedicated moviegoer, I’m thrilled to share that Firecracker has been religiously taking medications to stimulate her milk production, all in the hopes of pleasing Homelander. And it seems, my dear audience, that her efforts have paid off!
It’s quite amusing to witness the new Black Noir without his mask, confessing that he isn’t fond of violence, and complaining about being restricted from utilizing his flying capabilities as Noir. Simultaneously, this scene advances Deep into the next stage of his transformation towards becoming Homelander, as he advocates for “violence as a source of power.” Deep’s reason for resorting to violence is to silence those who mock him and make them respect his authority.
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2024-07-22 18:29