The Boys' fourth season becomes uneasy and a bit off course.

The last two episodes of The Boys have shown some of the show's strongest qualities, which include turning intricate and subtle circumstances into amusing carnage. However, they have also shown some of the most serious shortcomings that the authors are still struggling to address this late in the game.

Content warningThe topics of assault and non-consensual sexual actions are covered in this article.

Despite its pleasure, this season's episode 5 didn't accomplish anything. Although the storyline involving Hughie's father had little to do with the main story, it was an excellent approach to illustrate how Hughie has become more realistic. Furthermore, he's learned to live in a world where Compound V is the norm. Hugh Campbell Sr. went on a rampage that was similar to how A-Train would practically run through people after receiving a V injection from Daphne. Strangely, this time around, the reversed conditions were used much more for shock value and comedic effect. However, it brings home a portion of the core idea of The Boys. Hughie's previous life was just like everyone else's in the real world. Individuals often pass away without cause, and some never get justice.

The remaining members of the crew go out to find the virus that was tested on students at Godolkin University, which starts a lengthy chain of events in Stan Edgar's former residence. Much of this indicates how potent the virus might be against an ordinary supercomputer. Although there seems to be a break in the episode, Butcher eventually grabs Neuman's boyfriend and forces him to figure out how to obtain more virus. The audience is just as distracted by what's going on under the surface as Neuman is. The way this particular plot has developed suggests that its primary goal could be to raise the stakes in the world in order to put any dangers that may arise in season 2 of Gen V in perspective. This side story also makes it possible for Butcher to unveil himself in a way reminiscent to Tyler Durden in the next episode.

Not sticking to the landing

In episode six, Hughie gets the short end of the stick and is sent to bug Tek Knight's house during a party. Hughie is taken away by Tek and imprisoned in his lair while the guys figure out how to listen to the way stockholders and politicians want to mold the future. After this, there's room for some lighthearted repartee over Tek's political inclinations. Additionally, it results in unpleasant sequences beyond anything discussed in Herogasm. The audience was very taken aback by this incident, and that was more than justified.

Hughie has had a lot of hardship. There have been whole papers written begging for The authors of The Boys should give him a break. The public is used to it, but delicate subjects like assault are not. The comics' many instances of people's autonomy and consent being violated have been changed or removed. This has felt like the proper decision most of the time. In order to emphasize the seriousness of the events occurring in the story, Annie's attack at the start of the series was altered.

Hughie is coerced into what seems to be many hours of consenting intercourse, most of which is done for laughs. Fans were understandably offended that Hughie hasn't received the same level of consideration as Annie. Hughie's realization that he handled his father's death so terribly that he seldom spoke about it is sparked by these moments. Fans are perplexed at how a program that has addressed these delicate subjects with more grace has handled them. Many people think that this is particularly reminiscent of content from the comics that ought to have remained uncut. The sequences with Tek Knight and Ashley don't actually forward the main storyline, even from a narrative perspective.

One of the greatest moments of the season—where A-Train receives a save that seems straight out of a Spider-Man film—is marred by these sequences. Following a meeting with Sister Sage, M.M. becomes obsessed with the direct effects his actions have had, and still have, on his daughter. Sage manipulates him brutally—some of her greatest work to date—and it gives him a panic attack. A child recognizes A-Train when he is called in to drop him off. It's endearing to see the astonishment on his face and the sense of pride A-Train gets from this. It seems like it's solidifying that A-Train's secrets will be revealed and that he will be murdered in the next episode, which makes it way too hopeful for this program.

No longer as frightening

Sister Sage makes even more mistakes in this episode once she heals, and it only took a tiny bit of brain fog to cause them. Sage takes a gunshot and loses most of her abilities for the rest of the show, which sort of eliminates her danger aura. According to Sage, if she is stabbed in the heart, she will not survive; but, if she is struck in the brain, her hair will regrow. After failing Homelander when he needed her the most, she could no longer have a good connection with him. Sage may have incited Neuman to step up and provide a hand, but if she had been prepared to lay out their strategy, it could have spared Homelander the embarrassment. Recently, Homelanders' rage has been more prickly than it was before. Sage may, regrettably, suffer the same fate that the original Black Noir did in the previous season as a result of this. We can now be certain that the majority of the lads could easily defeat her in a fight, even if she doesn't.Even while we don't spend much time with Annie and Kimiko, what we do see of them further demonstrates their development. When Kimiko damages her phone, she has to think quickly once again. Though it's fluff, the moment when she utilizes book titles to communicate meaning seems like the funniest part of The Boys. It's humorous and strikes the right mix between lightheartedness and gravity. In her moment with Firecracker, Annie seems to be developing some complexity. She apologizes to her once again, but a lot of what she says seems sincere. It's also conceivable that she's pushed herself to become more cunning after realizing her opponents won't change.

With everything going on, it was natural to wonder: where is Frenchie? The irony is that the program has previously addressed this query. He is incarcerated. Despite Frenchie turning himself in for the killings he has been suffering over, it doesn't seem like much has changed. This choice hasn't been taken by him at a critical juncture when it would be more dramatic. With the exception of a few glitches in their goal, the lads seem to be operating normally without him. He hasn't shared any details about his time in jail with us other than turning down Kimiko's request to meet him. The guy seems to have reached the end of his story and no one is sure what to do with him at this point. Characters usually die out after serving their role, but that hasn't occurred in this case either. It's possible that Frenchie will be used in the future to develop a more potent strain of the virus.

There is a pace problem.

This rambling over a few scenes leads us to a more serious problem with the rhythm of the play. Hughie changed from a timid, fearful everyman in Season 1 to a man who is prepared to murder when he is confronted in only two episodes. How realistic his emotions and reasons are in such a little period of time is one of the finest things about that brief arc in which he murders Translucent. In Season 4, he's been forced into several situations when following the same course of action would have been as, if not more, profitable, but he has resisted.By episode 4, he eventually develops and takes the initiative. Regardless of whether the pivotal events in his growth have really been spurred over comparable periods of on-screen time, the issue is that, because of everything that has transpired in between those transformations, it seems like it has taken seasons to get there.Not that Hughie hasn't grown, mind you. The season's high point has been seeing him mature and accept that the murderers he associates with have an impact on his motivations. When he brings up Frenchie and Kimiko to his mother in Episode 6, she is shocked by what he says. The reason Hughie and Butcher haven't spent as much time together this season is probably this. Although they had amazing chemistry together on film, the authors seem to have realized that their relationship was in danger of becoming boring. It seems sense to take some time this season to flip their ideologies. Butcher's confidence and sense of reality diminish as Hughie develops a stronger backbone.

The Butcher twist is entertaining, but as more time passes after the occurrence, it sort of raises the issue of why we already knew he was seeing visions of Becca, so did we really need to know? Was the audience intended to be shocked? In a program that formerly prioritized succinct and engaging explanation, is it really worth it? Things like the Ezekiel conference from Season 1 advanced the storyline while revealing Annie's history and the attitudes of Homelanders now. In this case, episodes accomplish less in the same period of time. Things like that twist are starting to seem like filler. They promise a potentially fascinating Season 5, so why are we waiting?

What comes next?

This season seems to be building toward something, and maybe it will. However, there's a chance that this kind of media pace may make those stand-alone build-up chapters less rewarding. Nevertheless, The Boys Although the S3 finale received positive reviews, it was widely criticized for being unimpressive in a similar vein to how Season 4 drags on at times. It is legitimate to wonder whether Season 5 will live up to expectations. Will The Boys squander their time on wild-chicken/goat/dad/compound-V pursuits, or will they ultimately make their move and bring Homelander to heel?