Using the word “mature” when describing The Boys doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. But as the show enters its fourth — and penultimate — season, it certainly has the hallmarks of a show that’s entering a mature phase. It’s more thoughtful and intimate than ever, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be plenty of funny — and violent! — moments that have been this show’s signature. THE BOYS SEASON 4: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? Opening Shot: As the Sex Pistols’ “God Save The Queen” plays, Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) walks out on stage on election night. The Gist: Neuman is oh so close to being elected vice president, as it seems that Robert Singer (Jim Beaver) is poised to win the election. One big, big problem: She’s a “Supe”; in other words, she has super powers and on top of it, she seems to owe Homelander (Antony Starr) big time. Homelander has proven that he’d rather kill and sow the chaos needed to foster fascism than to actually promote freedom. The CIA group dubbed “The Boys” are outside the campaign rally, hoping to eliminate Neuman; they know what kind of threat her being VP poses. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) is no longer the group’s leader, and it seems like he’s got his own agenda during this operation. He sees Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) and pulls him aside when he sees his stepson with Homelander; he wants Ryan to go back to his mother and stay out of Homelander’s clutches. Another hiccup happens when Neuman’s daughter Zoe (Olivia Morandin) catches the agents in her mother’s hotel room, and surprises them with her ability to attack. Apparently, Neuman shot her up with Compound V as a form of protection. After the failed operation, Butcher and new leader Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonzo) are being reamed out by Singer and CIA deputy director Grace Mallory (Laila Robins), when Butcher encounters Joe Kessler (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), an operative that he worked with over a decade ago. It’s not by coincidence; Kessler tells him that the CIA needs someone like him to take out Homelander before the Supes start rounding up humans and putting them into camps. Meanwhile, Homelander is tired of getting yessed to death by the other members of The Seven, and when they look over prospective new members, Sister Sage (Susan Heyward) catches his eye; her power is that she’s the most intelligent person in the world. He goes to her cluttered apartment seeking her honest views on how to deploy the kind of leadership he’s looking to deploy. She tells him what needs to be done, and he invites her to join The Seven. In an attempt to get Ryan away from Homelander, Butcher proposes a deal to Neuman; she wants the evidence Hughie (Jack Quaid) has against her in return. Also dealing with some personal issues is Annie January (Erin Moriarty), who is trying hard to get away from the image of her as Starlight and still use her powers. Hughie starts to have some regrets when his father High (Simon Pegg) suffers a massive stroke. What Shows Will It Remind You Of? At this point The Boys is really its own thing, having built its own universe via the main show and spinoffs like Gen V. Our Take: Showrunner Eric Kripke recently announced that The Boys is going to end after five seasons, and after watching the Season 4 premiere, it makes sense. Kripke and his writers are not only working towards the ultimate confrontation between Butcher and Homelander, but there is a whole lot of finality that the story seems to be hurtling towards. There’s Butcher’s terminal condition, where it seems like he only has about six months or so to live. There’s also the oncoming fascist apocalypse that could be happening if Homelander comes into power. It just seems like a story that feels like it has a conclusion, and that’s a good thing. All of these factors is why the show is in a relatively quiet, contemplative mood as its fourth season starts. We were surprised at how many moments there were when characters sat there in deep thought or having quiet conversation. The scene where Homelander discusses fascism with Sage was especially intimate, more intimate than you might expect from a show that has thrived to this point on funny moments, scatological and otherwise, and bloody action scenes. But at this point, the story of The Boys feels like one that’s been around awhile. There’s been some character attrition, and a feeling of weariness amongst many of its characters. The weariness comes from people like Butcher and Homelander, who have waged this battle the longest and can feel the end coming in one way or another. It’s good to see a story like that, one that has progressed to a point instead of spinning its wheels to fill in episodes. Let’s hope the rest of the fourth season proceeds the same way. Sex and Skin: Nothing in the first episode, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see anything during the rest of the season. Oh, there’s a butthole shown at some point in the episode. Almost forgot about that. Parting Shot: After backing off the deal he was going to make with Neuman, Butcher says, “Well I hope you’re happy now” to Becca (Shantel VanSanten)… well, his vision of Becca, that is. Sleeper Star: Susan Heyward’s Sage is a character that will wield some power this season, just by virtue of the fact that she’s smarter than everyone else on the planet. Most Pilot-y Line: Homelander is so disgusted with the sycophants in The Seven, that he orders The Deep (Chace Crawford) to have oral sex with A-Train (Jessie T. Usher)… and he almost goes through with it. Our Call: STREAM IT. The Boys continues to build towards a climactic confrontation, but with a story that has reached the point where it’s become personal and intimate. We hope that continues, even if it exists alongside the action and funny moments. Joel Keller (@joelkeller) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.com, Fast Company and elsewhere.
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