As a long-time fan of The Boys, I’ve grown accustomed to the gritty realities and moral gray areas that define this universe. But this week’s episode took things to a whole new level for me.
If you’ve been following the online reactions to the fourth season of “The Boys,” you might have noticed a change in tone. Critics’ reviews have become more divided than before, and fan responses are also differing. Some viewers have expressed disappointment with the series’ increased political commentary, which they find heavy-handed and lacking subtlety. I can see where they’re coming from – the show has always been bold and explicit in its messaging. However, I’m less understanding of those who claim the show has become “woke” overnight, leading to negative reviews that have prompted this humorous response video from Vought International’s Twitter account.
“The Insider” episode in “The Boys” series doesn’t necessarily win back fans who were put off by the show’s satire of fascist messages, as the catchy tunes from “Avenue V” only reinforce the same Fox News-like themes. However, this episode effectively stands alone as an engaging piece of television, particularly leading up to the finale. For some time now, we have anticipated an insurrection orchestrated by Homelander and The Seven on January 6th. Yet, the specifics of what this event entails remain unclear, adding to the unease. There are numerous other elements at play, such as the supe-killing virus, a shapeshifter assassin, and the moral dilemmas faced by Butcher and Neuman.”
Last season, I brought up the issue of all the complex elements and the finale seemed underwhelming. However, this finale might be an exception. Not every character development has been successful this year; Frenchie and Kimiko have been stuck in limbo. Nevertheless, most characters’ arcs are shaping up nicely, such as Butcher’s potential heel turn. The show has skillfully crafted the storyline without resorting to contrivances leading to Butcher’s moment of transformation. In this scene, Butcher grapples with understanding that Kessler is merely an embodiment of his own bloodlust. Despite Kessler’s attempts to provoke him, Butcher manages to keep his focus on Ryan and not be swayed by Kessler’s taunts. Instead, Kessler serves as a reminder of why Butcher feels compelled to protect the boy—not only because he made a promise to Becca, but also due to his genuine admiration for Ryan’s defiance against Vought’s orders on live TV.
This season, Deep’s character arc has seen a significant development, following a period where he didn’t have much screen time. The way Homelander has influenced Deep may seem unexpected, with his infidelity towards his stigmatized octopus girlfriend and his complex relationship with a manipulative and intelligent superhero. Initially, I might have dismissed this storyline as another trivial comedic subplot. However, “The Insider” effectively ties this love triangle to Deep’s burgeoning ego, highlighting how Sage’s deceitful persuasion has led him to embrace his negative traits.
Watching him recklessly destroy Ambrosius’s aquarium and leave her to die a painful death by suffocation is truly unsettling. The prolonged choking and her heart-wrenching pleas for mercy before her last words, “I love you,” add to the disturbance. It becomes clear that he didn’t only take the life of his girlfriend; he also eliminated the last remnant of himself capable of loving or being loyal to anyone other than a monster. His chilling declaration to Homelander that he would kill “any fish in the ocean” for him, delivered masterfully by Chace Crawford, takes this revelation to a new level.
The show’s dark tales about people succumbing to their worst selves wouldn’t be effective without the contrasting journeys of A-Train and Ashley. Although neither character is portrayed as a saint, it’s intriguing to see them challenging the Seven’s leadership. Last week, we saw what Ashley and Tek Knight were capable of, but it’s a welcome change to have characters turning against their corrupt masters.
In this episode, I’m thrilled to see A-Train taking on a mentoring role for Mother’s Milk. We’ve been through this situation before, with MM grappling between his family and his mission to bring down Vought. This time around, Monique and their daughter are relocating abroad, and Butcher is once again leading the Boys. However, we get a deeper insight into MM’s internal struggle.
As the insurrection approaches, Homelander remains uncertain about who to trust. Currently, Sage is on his list of mistrusted individuals due to her deception regarding the leak. She knew it was A-Train all along but chose to use him as a tool for spreading false information. While she’s disappointed when Homelander dismisses her from the Seven, she acknowledges that this outcome was likely. Given his preference for sycophantic allies like Firecracker over those who challenge him, their partnership is already faltering. Even the appeal of her pharmaceutically enhanced breast milk no longer holds his interest.
In this episode, the main objectives for the Boys regarding Dakota Bob Singer’s assassin and improving the super-killing virus become their focus. The second plotline brings Frenchie back into the action, released from jail by Grace Mallory to collaborate with Sameer on the project. While Sameer intends to escape after injuring Kimiko with a new concoction, they ultimately develop a weapon powerful enough to potentially neutralize at least one major threat for the Boys by episode’s end.
In the beginning of this episode, it becomes clear that the Singer assassin, carrying out her mission with Secret Service assistance and rally blueprints, is also a shapeshifter. Once she manages to elude capture, we, along with Hughie and Annie, are left guessing which person could be the disguised shapeshifter. The episode skillfully sets this plotline aside for much of it, focusing instead on other aspects and delivering an impactful fight scene involving Annie, Butcher, Deep, and Black Noir. This tactic heightens the surprise when we learn that the Annie who recently slept with Hughie is, in fact, the same shapeshifter who injured him earlier that day.
I truly enjoy a good twist involving an evil doppelganger character, as proven by my fondness for “Pretty Little Liars” (despite some reservations about the final A reveal). This latest development is engaging, even if the new character has only just been introduced. It adds another layer of intrigue leading up to the finale, leaving our heroes clueless about the impending danger they’re up against. The events of next week’s finale could potentially hold more significance than before, given that we’re in the final season and a violent insurrection is on the horizon. The risks are higher than ever.
Extra Frames
It’s heartening to watch Frenchie and Kimiko share their past regrets with each other for the first time. The most striking disclosure in this scene is that Kimiko had been rendered speechless by Shining Light, who compelled her to fight silently and mercilessly take lives of young girls without making a sound.
In simpler terms, I enjoy the part where Hughie tells Neuman about the internment camps and begs her to stop it. Sadly, their relationship in season three didn’t receive much development, but it’s great to witness more interactions between them in this current season.
Based on my personal experience, I can only speculate as to how Annie’s mom knew that Hughie had taken the Starlight suit from the trash. It’s possible that she saw him doing it herself, or perhaps she noticed some telltale signs, like the suit being missing and then reappearing in his possession. Maybe there were witnesses who reported seeing him rummaging through the trash. Or, it could be that Annie mentioned something to her mom about Hughie’s interest in the suit and her mom put two and two together. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that there was some sort of investigation or observation that led Annie’s mom to this conclusion.
It seems that Noir has been involved in a hidden relationship with Sage outside of the limelight, and surprisingly enough, she hasn’t asked him to undergo a lobotomy beforehand – quite an amusing turn of events.
• Very gnarly but creative effects for the shapeshifter shedding her skin to don a new identity, ripping flesh and tissue off her own body. I do feel like there’s been a little bit more ripping this season — the Splinter clones come to mind — whereas the earlier seasons featured more exploding.
As someone who has spent countless hours sifting through the chaos of superhero battles and their aftermath, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief at the demise of Webweaver. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to revel in violence or death, but Webweaver’s presence was more an annoyance than a threat. His web-farting antics, as Homelander so eloquently put it, were a nuisance that often made the cleanup of a battle scene even more arduous than necessary.
I’m sorry but the catchy “see something, say something” tune from the Avenue Q Christmas special just won’t get out of my head.
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2024-07-22 18:12