The Boys Season 4 Episode 4 Review
LIGHT SPOILERS FOR SEASON 4 EPISODE 4 TO FOLLOW
Many of the characters take trips down memory lane in the fourth episode of ‘The Boys’ season three, and see how their past actions continue to have repurcussions on their present life. It’s a thematically tight episode that starts to weave together some of the many dangling plot threads the first three episodes introduced, though some of the action lacks the flair, with heroes not using their powers at critical moments.
Firecracker takes centre stage, wanting to take Annie January/Starlight down in a state of revenge. It’s a powerful throughline, and ties into Sister Sage’s master plan. Firecracker continues to be a political presence in the episode, spewing hatred and peddling lies to the public, but now in a way that makes her a direct threat. There’s even a moment where Firecracker’s dirty past gets brought up, but she, like many of the right wing that lead cults of personality, is able to twist the truth so their followers stay loyal. It’s a depressing moment of reality, and effectively demonstrates flaws of society.
When Annie January/Starlight does snap, unable to listen to the very personal attacks Firecracker launches, the results are somewhat underwhelming. It’s not a glorious display of power like one might expect, but a rather pedestrian reaction. And, when the dust settles, Annie January/Starlight’s followers fail to honour their icon, especially on a certain progressive issue the audience would expect them to instead rally around. It’s a bit confusing.
Homelander himself has a personal story, revisiting the lab where he was raised, along with key scientists that were present for his childhood. It’s where he wants to cut out the part of him that’s still human, the part of him that still craves love. But the trip is only self indulgent for Homelander, and doesn’t result in him being able to move on from his past trauma in a big way. He’s stuck in the past, unable to move on from his “human” side.
While Homelander wants to remake Ryan in his own image, Ryan has demonstrated that he’s still connected to his humanity (literally through Butcher, but thematically through his compassion). The story in the lab is perhaps too predictable, but it’s a testament to Homelander’s inability to grow.
A-Train continues on his path to find his heroic calling in this episode, attempting to maintain both his humanity and corporate persona. It’s a delicate struggle that Jessie T. Usher pulls off well. So far, A-Train has been acting out of guilt of his past, especially lying to his family. It’s another way the past can drive people, another emotional response that proves his humanity rather than his SUPEriority. It’s yet another way this episode commits to the theme of the past driving who people become.
In some ways, Kimiko is trying to move on from her past. She wants to reach out to it and make amends. But it’s not always that easy, and this is ultimately the lesson Kimiko learns in the episode. Hughie watches on, unable to help, applying lessons in his own life. While Hughie’s presence ties it to the main plot, it’s only tangential. Frenchie’s story also feels a bit tacked on, but still keeps with the idea of the past and how people deal with it.
In the last part of the episode, Hughie manages to demonstrate what so many of the characters in this series have been unable to do with their past, showing growth as a result. No one can understand why Hughie has let go, and Hughie’s asked why he’s not milked the past for all it’s worth. But that’s no way to live. Hughie shows that even though he’s wrapped up with people trapped in cycles of pain and a world that’s falling apart, all that it takes is a few good people to keep the flame of hope and humanity alive. It’s a great scene, and surprisingly touching.
Overall, the strong idea of past mistakes that ties each character together gives this episode a sense of thematic identity. Most of the characters were motivated by a past they can’t let go, and this episode explores the many different ways the past can drive the future.
