‘The Boys’ Season 4 Review - Wrathful Gods

Amazon’s hit series The Boys is back for its fourth season and wastes no time in delivering blood, guts, and super moments that engross as an election looms that could put a super-abled in charge. Wanting to stop that, the boys come under instruction from president-elect, Robert Singer who is worried that his VP, Victoria Neuman, will replace him now that she is a heartbeat away from stealing his job and killing him in the process. So, he tasks the boys with putting a discreet end to her but in the season opener and as seen in the trailers, it does not go to plan.

As always with The Boys, there are moments that will blow many minds (and heads!) but leave you laughing at the absurdity, but at the same, remain grounded with characters that we love to see in all their bloody situations. One notable moment happens on ice as Homelander and Victoria watch the Vought on Ice rehearsal and meet to discuss future plans. In typical The Boys style, we are met with a chaotic bloody scene that clashes with the cheery Christmas music.  The blood and guts seem to have doubled this season especially when it comes to Hughie’s father whose bloodshed unexpectedly rivals Homelanders as the confused man causes havoc in a hospital but there is a vulnerable moment to it by the episode climax and gives the series its most heartbreaking moments that Jack Quaid sells and allows you to feel the acceptance and also the loss and draws you into a pivotal moment of his life.

Since the infamous whale scene of season two, Hughie was dubbed the canary of the series- or the heart. His troubles do not start or end in episode five, but it all goes downhill from there as he grapples with fights, death, family drama, and professional drama with his colleagues. Through Hughie, there is a richness to the story that Quaid sells at every moment, even when he’s in disguise to infiltrate a superhero and keeps up the façade despite the shocking proclivities of a superhero that he cannot escape.

Most of the plots weave together in a chess match between Singer and Neuman. Even if we barely see them physically interact, they move their pieces against each other in every episode and with the other's demise their end goal. Singer wants Neuman dead, but she just wants to survive and is having her own strings pulled by none other than Homelander himself with the help of newcomer Sister Sage.

Regrettably, the same cannot be said for all. Frenchie has a subplot that bears no standing on the show and seems to have a forced character development that resolves itself at the halfway point of the series, which feels disjointed and as if the writers had no idea what to do with the character. The same can be said for Kimiko whose adventures take her back to the past and confront the organization that ruined her life but, unlike Frenchie’s plot, which has been built up for seasons, it's nice to see some character development from Kimiko relating to her past Karen Fukuhara encapsulates Kimiko’s trauma and frustration perfectly and is, as ever, a joy to watch even though she doesn’t say a word. Tomer Capone on the other hand, does not have the acting chops and is easily the weakest performer which makes Frenchie come off as pathetic throughout the series and would serve better relegated to a guest role in favor of other characters getting that wasted screen time.

Season four will undoubtedly be another hit for Eric Kripke, Amazon, and the rest of those involved in The Boys as the season sets the political stage for a super-controlled America with Homelander pulling the strings and our heroes separated. The ending of season four sets up the long-rumored end of the series and if this is the penultimate, it is an effective build-up that caters to the wants of every fan.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Leigh Doyle
Publisher at Midgard Times
Note: All eight episodes were screened for this review.
Premiere Date: June 13, 2024, on Prime Video with the first three episodes.