By Romey Norton June 17, 2024
After a 2-year-long wait, The Boys is back with its 4th season and at its peak with the chaos and carnage. The shocking superhero drama is well-established and well-loved by its fans; who will be pleased to know that the shock-factor hasn’t dimmed, the political satire is strong, and the violence continues.
Synopsis
Superheroes are often as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians, and sometimes even as revered as gods. But that's when they're using their powers for good. What happens when the heroes go rogue and start abusing their powers? When it's the powerless against the super powerful, the Boys head out on a heroic quest to expose the truth about the Seven and Vought, the multibillion-dollar conglomerate that manages the superheroes and covers up their dirty secrets. Based on the comic book series of the same name.
Review
The parallel version of American government is core to the story, with all eight episodes unfolding the election of anti-supe presidential candidate Rober Singer (Jim Beaver). The series also incorporates the events of the spinoff series Gen V, as Butcher announces the existence of the anti-supe virus.
The series is very busy with subplots and lacks a strong overriding plot, which is probably its one weakness at this point. There is so much going on, but where is it going? I try not to question this and let the series take me on the ridiculous rollercoaster that it is, and trust that it will more than likely give a glorious, gory cliff-hanger of an ending that we’ll all have to live with.
There is a new addition called Sage (Susan Heyward), who is the smartest person on the planet, making a dangerous new ally for Homelander. The other newcomer Firecracker (Valorie Curry), is the annoying conspiracy theorist, quickly becoming a hateable character. I wanted her head popped off or lasers through as soon as she started talking.
Anthony Starr and Keith Urban shine as always in their hard-hitting roles, as they battle for Ryan’s soul. Homelander is having some sort of mid-life crisis, and Butcher finds out he has months to live, giving him a desperation that’s enabled by the appearance of a mysterious ally (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
The traumatic pasts of Kimiko, Hughie and Frenchie impact their current lives in very unexpected ways. Kimiko has more dialogue than in all previous three seasons put together – but this is welcomed and doesn’t take away from her mystique. Other characters such as Starlight (who now flies) are pushed to their limits, as always, but the show doesn’t feel repetitive, it feels fresh with its added twists and turns that will keep you invested throughout.
Oh and if you’re wondering, The Deep, is still the Deep but with a new found confidence and Ashley is still stressed.
There are some scenes and scenarios which made me laugh out loud, such as the Marvelous Mrs Maisel themed Bat Mitzvah, where they all crash where The Boys fight a bunch of naked supes who have pink-eye. And Ryan accidentally killing an actor by splatting him against a wall.
The Boys Season 4 still has its ridiculous moments, one-liners, brilliant soundtrack and epic fight scenes which give it its originality and make it stand out from any other series or film in its genre. Fans will be both excited and saddened to learn that The Boys has been renewed but will finish on its 5th season, and it’s certain it will go out with a bang… or at least a few characters will.
Star Rating
The Boys Season 4 is streaming now on Prime Video
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