The fourth season of The Boys is finally here, with the titular crew of vigilantes ready to continue their quest to take down Homelander and his legion of useless marketing figures. It might’ve been exhausting in previous years to realize that the team was far from taking down the villain. Still, as the Prime Video show continues to grow, the character development and interactions alone have become the highlight of this story. At this point, who cares if they never manage to take down Vought’s corporate scheme? The Deep (Chace Crawford), with his entertaining antics, keeps the audience engaged, ensuring this adventure can continue for as long as they want to.
The fourth season of The Boys picks up with most of the main characters stuck in complicated situations. Butcher (Karl Urban) doesn’t have much time to live, considering how the Compound V he consumed last season did plenty of damage to his body. Homelander (Antony Starr) struggles with his self-esteem and identity despite having the control he assumed he wanted. But just like it has done throughout the previous seasons, The Boys was ready to split the spotlight for its large ensemble cast. And none of them were prepared for the intensity of this season, which dares to beg the question: What if these characters were getting tired of their own story?
Previous seasons of The Boys have spent plenty of time establishing how the world of the Prime Video adaptation worked, including Vought’s reach, purpose and secrets and what motivated every member of the titular team to fight against them. But the fourth season knows that people have been tuning in for years, and it focuses on a single theme: Introspection. Homelander questions if his powerful status makes him happy. Butcher doesn’t know if he’s done anything remarkable in his life. Hughie wonders if his family is who he thought they were, and Starlight isn’t sure if her political image helps people.
The constant deconstruction of these characters keeps The Boys interesting, even when it’s clear that the series is getting closer to its conclusion. At some point along the narrative, the quest to defeat Homelander stopped being the primary target, and the new episodes did a good job of letting viewers know why that is okay. The other good aspect of this season is how it continues to introduce new characters to the conspiracy in the wake of Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) stepping away from the story.
After losing some of their members in the war against Homelander, the Seven desperately need new heroes who can sell Vought’s values to the masses. Firecracker (Valorie Curry) and Sister Sage (Susan Heyward) are the latest additions to the team, and they both have a particular purpose within the organization. What makes their introduction feel organic is how, before Homelander took over the entire business, heroes were hired depending on what the company needed. But now, the main villain’s priorities are the only ones that must be fulfilled. The new characters are fantastic to watch, with Heyward’s performance being insightful and an excellent contrast to Homelander’s delusions.
Regarding the returning cast, Antony Starr continues to find new ways to make his performance as Homelander more intriguing. The villain who started as a ruthless dictator is often shown as charismatic in recent episodes. That doesn’t mean the series wants you to cheer for him, as he’s still very much the threat to deal with in The Boys. But something about the development of Homelander makes him sincerely fun to watch, from the unpredictable outbursts to the awkward silences. Starr can’t seem to miss with this role.
The Boys has delivered most of what it had to over the past few years. When a series reaches a fourth season, it’s clear if it could go on for a long time or if it’s time to wrap it up. Fortunately, this show knows that the end is near, so the closure set up in the fourth season feels refreshing and healing. This drama about a world where superheroes are capitalism’s greatest weapon won’t overstay its welcome, and this season should be considered the prelude to the finale.