A week ago, we spoke to Cobra Kai: Season 6 star Brandon H. Lee on embracing his role as Kwon, working with some of the original cast members, and what we can see from him in future fights. Check out the full interview on Youtube! (link below)
When ‘The Boys: Season 1’ came out back in 2019, the show was dubbed a hit by both critics and audiences alike, purely due to its realism when depicting a human world that coincides with superheroes. Five years later, we have Season Four, and despite reusing certain plot points and familiar tropes, the series is still, somehow, so fresh. Maybe it’s because this season has backed down on the audience-craved supe vs supe action and takes the time to develop its characters and dynamics in incredible ways. This solidifies its status as one of the best series out there. The opening episodes establish the journeys the characters are to experience this season, from the introduction of Sister Sage and Firecracker to important reveals in the lives of our favorite protagonists like Butcher and Hughie. As for the newcomers, it’s when you find out what purpose these new characters will serve and how they benefit the overall narrative that you see how different this season will be from previous installments.
This difference brings a few negatives but actually surfaces an even better positive. To start with the pessimistic side of things, this character-focused season causes the narrative to become slightly disjointed. There tends to be a lack of cohesion that doesn’t allow you to speculate or look forward to later plot events because there isn’t much of a coherent story to this season. Instead, it’s a bunch of singular, more grounded stories for each of our characters that very rarely intertwine. Though, on the plus side, this results in some of the best character work I have ever seen on television. This season really puts a lot of emotional weight on all of our characters and takes us through their insights and journeys throughout the 8-episode runtime. I have nothing to complain about when it comes to what our characters experience as the season progresses. It’s all perfect in my eyes and sets the scene for the fifth season (which I’m glad is confirmed to be the last, as this show needs a good ending).
As for the narrative, despite its disjointed nature, I’ll still praise it for its unpredictability. There are twists and turns this season that will keep you entertained and craving more of The Boys. This ties in well with the character development, as certain characters go on arcs you wouldn’t dare think the show would steer towards, but they do. Every character is developed in some way this season, and to a great extent, which is something I thoroughly appreciate. Season 4 really played the mental, internal battle game rather than going all-out physical supe vs supe like its predecessors. The episode lengths (around an hour each) allow this to happen.
I think now is the perfect time to throw in some Homelander, as this season, we really find out how much of a menace he is. There are truly some despicable, gory Homelander moments this season that really show you how high the stakes have gotten for *The Boys*. Sister Sage’s introduction is another highlight of the season. Her impeccable dialogue and relationship with Homelander are intriguing and a major plot point of the show. Although this couldn’t have been depicted the way it was if it weren’t for Antony Starr and Susan Heyward. Susan is fantastic as newcomer Sage, and what she does with this exceptional dialogue elevates each episode. Though, my standout remains Starr. Homelander, as mentioned, is insanely menacing this season and could even be at his peak with Starr showcasing all aspects of the villain in the best way possible. But something tells me there is more of a mountain to climb for the character, and Season 5 will bring even more diabolical sh*t out of him.
The story goes in fascinating directions with other Seven members such as A-Train and The Deep, pushing more of an emotional burden with some of The Boys. Karl Urban smashes it as always, but his character development this season is fantastic and truly sprouts in the season’s finale—which some may find questionable, but for me, it just told me one thing: I need to see how, after immense character growth, the show comes to a conclusion.
Ultimately, ‘The Boys: Season 4’ is sublime. It switches things up by neglecting the audience-craved supe vs supe action and focuses more on internal conflicts and individual storylines that may disjoint the story but culminate in a gripping finale that will have you yearning for the next season.
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