The Boys: Homelander’s Return Sparks Darkest Episode Yet!

“The Boys” poses a fascinating question for our superhero-infused pop culture: what if superhuman powers were combined with corruption, neuroses, and corporate avarice. However, that dark, satirical take on the genre has developed into TV’s most political drama, a trait that will be even more evident in its much anticipated fourth season.

To put it simply, don’t be fooled by the masks and capes. As the US prepares for a presidential campaign, the latest episodes of the show’s run on Amazon Prime Video, including spin offs “Gen V” and “The Boys Presents: Diabolical,” highlight its hallmark qualities.

The fourth season sees the regular fight between superheroes under the uncomfortable control of Vought International and those who oppose them. The former cohort is led by the near-invincible, psychopathic Homelander (Antony Starr), whose Superman-like public persona is meticulously crafted to conceal those attributes, whilst the latter accept their lead from Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), even if they frequently question his methods.

The Butcher-Homelander standoff is compounded by their war for the soul of the latter’s biological son, Ryan (Cameron Crovetti), which raises the issue of nature vs nature.

More than any season before it, the new arc leans into the political realm because of the involvement of politician Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), and efforts by Vought and Homelander to influence the political debate.

This includes references to a group representing Qanon, a conspiracy-minded movement, and the use of propaganda to deceive the public and voters. At one point, the characters attend an event called Truthcon, where a banner reading “There are no conspiracies – or coincidences” is prominently displayed.

The show also displays the private disdain of people in (and with) power for their fans, which is made in a particularly “The Boys”-esque style.

To that end, there’s a new hero, Firecracker (Valorie Curry), whose political views mirror those of Vought News’ conservative commentators (she even has her own show). According to the series’ creator, Eric Kripke, the character represents conspiracy-minded movements and extreme right-wing news media.

Without regard for nuance, Kripke and crew have ringed that satire with violence and excess, elements that feel natural in this universe, where the conventional ideal of heroism is exploited to mask horrific reality. Although Deep (Chace Crawford), an Aquaman-like member of the Vought-backed superhero squad known as the Seven, is frequently mocked, he sums up that philosophy when he realises, as he puts it, “Violence is power.”

Inevitably, the upcoming season will have new, surprising, and awkward partnerships, as well as the contentious (and seemingly perennial) issue of finding ways to deactivate Homelander, which does not feel like a fair fight.

Having gained a reputation as the most gory and kinky show on television, “The Boys” is under pressure to live up to the expectations of its fans. In total, the eight-episode season largely clears that bar (or, if you prefer, limbo beneath it), with a few explosively humorous (and, not coincidentally, horrific) visual gags.

The Boys: Season 4, Episode 4 

In ‘Wisdom of the Ages,‘ Homelander returns to his beginnings, namely the laboratory house (read: prison) where he was raised (read: experimented on). In season four episode three, it was revealed that Supe, the most powerful member of The Boys, needed to confront his fears to advance his goals for global dominance.

Fans of one of the best Prime Video shows around, though, were well aware that this wasn’t going to be a happy family reunion. Sure, Homelander lulls the lab’s scientists into a false sense of security with the chocolate fudge whale cake he brings as a gift, as well as seemingly chipper demeanour.

But, what starts out as an apparently light-hearted visit from Homelander descends into a gruesome and diabolical quest for retribution as The Seven’s autocratic leader murders every lab staff member. Well, everyone except the lab’s former chief scientist Barbara, who he leaves – traumatised, may I add – trapped in a cell, surrounded by the mutilated corpses of her fellow boffins.

As terrifying as that scene is, the episode’s most brutal and devastating deaths are saved for two specific persons who caused physical and emotional/mental trauma to Homelander as a child.

Frank, who tested Homelander’s (formerly John) resilience to fire/heat in a massive furnace, gets cooked alive in such an incinerator by Homelander. Later, Marty, who cruelly nicknamed John ‘Squirt’ after catching him masturbating one day, loses his own manhood when Homelander uses his laser eyes to blast a hole through Marty’s nether regions. When Barbara chastises Homelander for allowing Marty to bleed to death, Homelander stomps on his head to put an end to his suffering.

What are fans saying about The Boys season four episode four?

Understandably, the brutality of these scenes, plus Starr’s outstanding performance – one that’s equal parts unhinged, evil, and sympathy-inducing – has seen fans flock to discussion boards and X/Twitter to voice their opinions about season four’s most impactful episode yet. On ResetEra, user JEH wrote “what an episode”, before adding: “[It’s] really refreshing to get scary Homelander again and have the violence be more personal and not played for laughs”. 

Many agreed with JEH’s sentiments on Reddit, too. ICrashedStockMarket said ‘Wisdom of the Ages’ was “one of the few episodes where I was genuinely terrified of Homelander“, while CartoonAcademic opined “every scene with Homelander… is some of the most tense TV I’ve ever seen.”

ZealousIdealTable1 was similarly effusive in their praise, saying it “might be one of the most unhinged episodes of television history”, before adding “Homelander is literally scaring viewers with every minute”. Iwillragequit99 perhaps summed it up best, though, writing: “Every time the episode cut back to any time in the laboratory my stomach would just drop and I would feel sick. What a crazy episode.”