The Boys Recap: Power Through Popularity

By M Muzamil Shami

       Photo: Courtesy of Prime

Three occurrences establish a pattern, and the fourth season of The Boys features far more than just three trauma-centered stories. This episode, however, stands out as my favorite among the first three. It strikes an excellent balance between plot and small-scale character drama, delivering both excitement and emotion.

Let’s start with the big picture. Dakota Bob is moving full steam ahead with the Superhero Management Act, now amended to immediately ban supes from military, private policing, and government positions. Passing this bill through Congress will be tough, as hundreds of representatives and senators remain under Vought’s influence. Victoria Neuman is acutely aware that the bill could jeopardize her career. Additionally, the polarization between the Starlighters and Hometeamers is intensifying, a divide Sister Sage aims to exacerbate by selecting Firecracker for the Seven. (It seems last episode’s mishap didn’t matter, or Sage never found out.) Firecracker’s incendiary language will amplify both sides, setting the stage for a coup. The villains' endgame for this season is now clear, and it’s refreshing to see the stakes explicitly defined.

Admittedly, some of this feels reminiscent of Stormfront’s arc in season two. Sage is now Homelander’s new partner, and the attempted attack by a radicalized Firecracker fan at Starlight House is reminiscent of the Stormchaser who killed an innocent grocery store employee he suspected of being a supe terrorist. However, Vought Tower feels different enough these days that I’m willing to overlook some of the repetitive satirical content.

A significant part of this new atmosphere comes from Sage quickly usurping Ashley as CEO, although she remains a figurehead and errand girl. In a normal job, this might be a blessing in disguise, giving Ashley the opportunity to build her career elsewhere. But the speed with which Homelander zaps a hole in a traitorous employee’s head frightens her into staying. Even though she might be safer somewhere else, given the amount of corruption and grotesquerie she has witnessed at Vought, Homelander probably wouldn’t let her leave anyway.

While it may seem absurd for Firecracker to believe Annie maintains her teenage persona as a "conniving little mean-girl," it offers a refreshing shift to witness Annie in the role of the aggressor, especially as she extends an apology to someone regarded as one of the most notorious figures in America. The notion of Firecracker delving into this darker, harsher facet of America's sweetheart is intriguing. Perhaps there's validity in Firecracker's seemingly biased portrayal of her.

There's significant headway made regarding the A-Train situation, as the Boys' latest informant actively involves himself in a plan to monitor a meeting between Homelander and Neuman at a Vought on Ice rehearsal in the VoughtCoin Arena. Mother's Milk points out the potential for blackmail against A-Train, highlighting the ongoing cycle of threats in the series. However, what stands out is the approach of not coercing A-Train's assistance but appealing to his conscience, aiming to inspire him to aid the Boys.

Hughie navigates through the vents to plant a bug, but the meeting is rescheduled, leaving him stranded. He listens in on the conversation as Sage proposes a deal: she and Homelander will handle Dakota Bob post-certification to shield Neuman from suspicion. In return, Neuman must dissolve the Bureau of Superhuman Affairs, oppose the "defund the supes" movement, eliminate "critical supe theory" from education, appoint heroes to lead police departments nationwide, and publicly reveal herself as a supe. However, Hughie's presence is nearly exposed when he inadvertently drips sweat onto Homelander, risking his safety.

While the Vought on Ice sequence may lack the extravagant spectacle of the previous episode's clash with Splinter, it stands out as my favorite action climax of the season thus far. The allure lies not only in the setting itself—highlighted by the aptly chosen "Put the 'Christ' Back in Christmas" song and the darkly humorous demise of a few unfortunate ice skaters, courtesy of Homelander's errant laser blast and the chaotic scramble across the ice—but also in the thrilling espionage thriller vibe that The Boys effortlessly slip into. The exhilarating pursuit of Hughie by Homelander, with the latter keenly aware of his quarry's identity, is a delight to watch. Realistically, Hughie stands no chance against the formidable Homelander, making A-Train's silent intervention a satisfying conclusion.

Homelander's day takes a sour turn as he engages in another introspective dialogue with his more composed and ruthless reflection in the mirror. Beset by jealousy upon learning of Ryan's time with Butcher, he resolves to transcend his human limitations and elevate himself to a superior state, shedding his undignified emotions along the way. This journey of self-discovery mirrors the endeavors of Hughie, Annie, Frenchie, and Kimiko throughout the season.

Meanwhile, Frenchie and Kimiko's parallel odyssey serves a similar purpose, as Kimiko confronts a scarred individual from her past Shining Light exploits. While their objective is to eradicate all involved parties, Kimiko inexplicably spares the scarred woman, failing to elucidate her significance to Frenchie. Frenchie, grappling with his inner demons, remains reticent about his aversion to Colin, resorting instead to hallucinogens to evade introspection. In a departure from his usual participation in violence, Frenchie passively observes Kimiko's acts of vengeance, his mind awash with surreal imagery of blood and gore rendered as harmless objects.

Frenchie's inner turmoil is further accentuated by a hallucinatory confrontation with an imaginary Colin and Little Nina, who admonish him for past misdeeds and perpetual self-flagellation. Despite Nina's absence, Frenchie remains ensnared in a cycle of guilt and remorse. Later, at home base, he finds solace in a candid conversation with Annie, reflecting on the perennial temptation to shirk accountability and deflect blame onto others.

Butcher seems to be holding onto his commitment to doing things "the right way" for the time being. While he's reverted to his usual harsh tactics on missions this season, he consistently refrains from crossing certain lines. In "We’ll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here," there's a moment where he considers drugging Ryan with a potent opioid to facilitate his removal to a safe house for "deprogramming," alongside his intimidating CIA ally. However, following a heartfelt conversation with the boy, Butcher opts against it, disposing of the spiked cookies.

For me, that heart-to-heart stands out as a pinnacle emotional moment of the season thus far. It's likely because we've been following the evolution of Butcher and Ryan's relationship, particularly since Butcher's promise to Becca in the season-two finale. Their foosball game serves as a poignant backdrop for Ryan to express his frustration with the constant coddling he receives at Vought Tower, echoing his feelings towards his biological father. I empathized deeply with Ryan when he disclosed his accidental killing and his poignant admission, "I get why you don’t want me. I wouldn’t want me, neither."

At least Butcher is sticking with doing things “the right way” for a while; we’ve seen him resort to his usual brutal tactics on missions this season, but he always pulls back before doing something really awful. In “We’ll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here,” we see him contemplate drugging Ryan with an extremely potent opioid so that he and his scary CIA buddy can squirrel him away to a safe house and “deprogram” him. But after a genuine heart-to-heart with the kid, he decides against it, dumping the spiked cookies in the trash.

That heart-to-heart might be the emotional peak of the season for me so far, maybe because we’ve been following this dynamic for a while now, especially with the promise that Butcher made to Becca back in the season-two finale. Butcher and Ryan’s foosball game offers a perfect segue to discuss Ryan’s frustration with everyone at Vought Tower letting him win all the time (a parallel irritation to his biological father’s). And I especially felt for the kid when he opened up about accidentally killing someone, especially with that really vulnerable comment: “I get why you don’t want me. I wouldn’t want me, neither.”