Season 4, Episode 4 of The Boys has introduced all of the simmering elements launched this season to a roaring boil. Right here, we see simply how bleak Butcher’s future is wanting, Hughie and his dad are a powder keg ready to ignite, and Sister Sage has full maintain of the reins. The percentages are extra stacked than ever towards the principle forged, and that’s an excellent factor.

Be aware: spoilers for S4E4 of The Boys will observe from right here on out.

New instructions for outdated characters

A number of the developments that come out of this episode have taken full seasons to construct as much as. It’s good seeing all of that payoff because the characters start to enter a brand new establishment. Getting among the smaller stuff out of the best way first, Butcher asks M.M. to care for Ryan, assuming he’ll die earlier than they take out Homelander.

A practical view on issues coming from Butcher is sobering, which units up how dire his scenario is after having abused Temp-V. There’s an opportunity that he would possibly survive this or subsequent season, but when he does, Butcher will probably be a drastically modified character. A model of Butcher that’s willingly emotionally susceptible does appear to point that his character arc could also be over, or close to it, which makes my hopes for his survival low.

Subsequent, there’s Frenchie and his relationship with Colin. Thus far, Frenchie has performed a a lot smaller half within the season than standard, however his actions have had a ripple impact in two instructions. The destruction of his relationship with Colin might trigger Annie to reassess who she’s spending her time round. Despite the fact that she has refused to partake in the identical quantity of violence as the remainder of the crew, it could be rubbing off on her. Subsequent, and possibly extra importantly, Frenchie’s actions have allowed the area Kimiko must observe her personal targeted plot this season. That development occurs with Hughie, which is refreshing as a result of it offers the viewers one thing completely different from the identical beats Kimiko has retread with Frenchie for the previous two seasons.

In distinction to Kimiko studying that she isn’t essentially a monster as a result of she has Compound V flowing by way of her blood, this season seems extra eager about displaying us why that’s the case. In her encounters with the Shining Gentle Liberation Military, Kimiko exhibits a reluctance to struggle and the capability for empathy, one thing that seems to be tortured out of the folks looking her. What makes this extra fascinating is the reveal that exhibits that she was one of many folks doing that torturing. It forces us to ask whether or not Kimiko can achieve some sort of closure right here, even when it’s not her fault that she was put into these conditions. Does the great she’s been doing not too long ago outweigh the entire horrible from earlier than?

Hughie evolves

Kimiko is pressured to speak extra successfully beneath strain with Hughie, who might not perceive her fairly in addition to Frenchie would possibly. Butcher and Annie have been nearer to him, in some ways. It’s fascinating to see Hughie discover his persona outdoors of these pillars. As Hughie is pressured to struggle, he does one thing he’s proven the potential for however not often delivers on: he believes in himself. In lots of different components of this sequence, Hughie has relied on Annie, Butcher, and even Soldier Boy to do the soiled work. However in a do-or-die second, he grows. Combating again and profitable on his personal, Hughie proves right here that he’s extra than simply the crew’s tech man.

Hughie additionally understands the toll that comes with taking a life, wanting conflicted after doing so. Maybe he’s reflecting on moments like when he tells A-Prepare that every one of this began as a result of he killed Robin. This has been Hughie’s motivation for your complete sequence thus far. In season 4, the present lastly shows a self-awareness about the truth that it’s changing into an outdated excuse.

If it had been all nearly Robin, Hughie would have stopped earlier. Regardless of that, different and admittedly extra fascinating issues have propelled him ahead, issues just like the bitter style of betrayal that comes from realizing that Neuman is a Supe. That is linked to Hughie’s pursuit of justice for Robin, however with Neuman, Hughie was discovering a technique to transfer on. He was making new associates and holding the ethical excessive floor over Butcher. He’s had no area to get better, been pressured into new fights, and now we see how the sequence lead offers with it. It’s a part of why Hughie tried Temp-V final season. It’s additionally why he couldn’t address the thought that his father would possibly die, and that everybody apart from him has come to peace with that. That’s what leads him to ask a favor from A-Prepare, dredging up extra of Hughie’s previous.

By the way, A-Prepare has been reaching his peak as a personality. His redemption arc at occasions appears too good to be true, and anybody who enjoys predicting the place issues go subsequent could also be apprehensive for his security. A-Prepare’s story this season has raised an alarming variety of dying flags. A-Prepare has been following a way more optimistic wanting path than characters often find yourself on. By making allies with folks like Hughie, Ashley, and M.M., it exhibits us that, on theme with Kimiko’s present arc, maybe he doesn’t must proper each incorrect. That’s unattainable for him now. Possibly a extra possible job is placing in an earnest effort to be higher, and to hearken to the sense of guilt that’s been pushing him down this path. Good deeds not often go unpunished on this present, but when A-Prepare is killed, seemingly by Homelander or Sister Sage, at the least he would possibly lastly exit as a hero.

Our greatest menace thus far

A number of the greatest shifts of the season observe. In the course of the premiere of Firecracker’s #Truthbomb, she owns as much as an affair with a boy whereas calling out Annie for appearing holier-than-thou. This results in Annie flying into body and giving her a beatdown. The direct consequence of that is that Annie’s huge on-line affect has diminished, a calculated assault by Sister Sage. Till now, Annie’s fame was considerably of a security web for The Boys to fall again on. Sister Sage is aware of this, which is why it’s simply the primary domino of what’s more likely to be a grasp plan.

If Sister Sage is ready to get her approach, she poses one of many greatest threats The Boys have seen thus far. Homelander has all the time been the man who can simply kill the crew if he will get the possibility, however Sister Sage is systematically dismantling the group and leaving them open for it. Because of Sage, they’ve by no means been weaker.

There are seemingly limitless prospects to what Sister Sage can do, which is what makes her so fascinating as compared. Homelander does what he does finest this episode. Whereas it’s nice, it’s additionally not as terrifying because it was once, as a result of he’s achieved it earlier than and Homelander has so many flaws. Sister Sage is the neatest individual on the planet. Due to that truth, it’s tough to shake the sensation that all the things occurring this season is part of no matter her plans are.

Even issues like Annie getting hits in on Firecracker in any respect, appear to occur as a result of Sage wished them to. She was feeling (justifiably) petty after Firecracker referred to as her “uppity.” If that’s what she’ll do over a minor slight, what about Homelander, who’s attempting to entice her? Sage has gone so far as to govern Homelander, sowing mistrust between him and Ryan. That might work as a fail-safe if both of them turns into extra of a menace to her. At each step, Sister Sage is out-thinking your complete forged. Due to her monitor report for flawlessness thus far, if she’s made a mistake, it’s arduous to see the place that’s.

Sage has had her eye on the remainder of The Boys for a second, and it’s equally tough to see the place they’ll earn a win towards her. It’s a race for data, and that’s one thing this crew has been notoriously dangerous at getting proper, selecting to wing it in most conditions and barely scraping by. There are some wildcards right here, like Butcher and his new unknown energy, Hughie’s newly Compound-V-powered father, and Annie’s rising talents. Nonetheless, it’s at present extra affordable to anticipate Sage to search out some counter to all of this stuff.

What comes subsequent?

That is additionally why, personally, the scene the place Sister Sage will get The Deep to lobotomize her was extra uncomfortable than watching Homelander terrorize the employees that raised him. Once more, we at the moment are acquainted with the carnage Homelander has wrought. It’s nothing new. Sage’s lobotomy was ugly, and leaves extra questions than solutions. May her penchant for escape be her downfall?

The place earlier episodes this season of The Boys have dragged, each scene on this episode flows into the following, tying all the things up in a satisfying knot and leaving us with a lot to consider. Finally, we’ll be seeing Cate and Sam from Gen V present up because the newly topped “Guardians of Godolkin.” There are various issues this might imply for Hughie, Butcher, and the remainder of The Boys, however few of them are good.