The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024) - Film review by Kadmon

The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024) - Watch the trailer on YouTube
Watch the trailer in: English - Hindi - Italian
Watch the teaser trailer in: English
video © Sony Pictures Television & Amazon Content Services

Article updated: 2024.09.07

The The Boys: Season 4 (2024) is a contemporary fantasy action / thriller TV series. The TV series was reviewed by Kadmon.

Product: The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

Original title: The Boys: Season 4

Series: The Boys - The Boys (TV series)

Other adaptations of the story: The Boys graphic novels

Previous entries in the series: The Boys: Season 1 (2019), The Boys: Season 2 (2020), The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022), The Boys: Season 3 (2022), Gen V (2023)

Sequels: ?

Setting: contemporary fantasy Earth (The Boys universe - TV series)

Product type: Film, ca. 8x1 hours, Genre: contemporary fantasy action / thriller, Features: action, fantasy - contemporary fantasy, police action, science fiction, super-human abilities, thriller, Style: continuous storytelling, episodic stories, no conclusion

Release: 2024.06.13-07.18

Watched: Ep1-8 (2024.06-07), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

* * *

This is our preview of The Boys: Season 4, a superhero action TV series for The Boys series from 2024. It's about a group of regular people trying to limit the collateral damage done by super-powered people. It is based on the The Boys graphic novel series. I recommend this season for fans of the genre.

The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)
image © Sony Pictures Television & Amazon Content Services

"The world is on the brink. Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under Homelander’s muscly thumb as he consolidates his power. Butcher, with only months to live, has lost Becca’s son, and his job as The Boys’ leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they must find a way to work together and save the world before it’s too late."

* * *

Review (spoiler-free) - The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

First I've met the original comics, that I've read out of curiosity, but didn't really enjoy. Then I've watched the first two seasons of The Boys TV series, that were better than the comics, but still somewhat mediocre. However, due to my stubborn nature, I've watched the 3rd season of The Boys, that I've finally found quite enjoyable. Then I've watched Gen V, that was also great. So, now I'm eagerly waiting Season 4 of The Boys. I didn't watch the trailers, being afraid that it would spoil the story. I also have to admit that I don't remember much of what happened in the previous seasons.

The The Boys: Season 4 series is about a group of regular people trying to limit the collateral damage done by super-powered people.

Up to the episode 4, the story is mostly fine, with some weak parts. Ep5-8 were good. The knowledge of previous seasons probably enhances the experience, but I feel that it would also work as a stand-alone story, if you intend to watch the series from now on. There are some problems with the pacing of the plot, and there are some logical problems with the story. There are some character arcs for the main characters. Season 4 doesn't give us a closure, the last episode only sets up the next season.

Comparing it to the previous series, Ep1-4 is it's probably better than Season 1-2, but worse than Season 3 and Gen V. Ep5-8 was comparable to Season 3 and Gen V: Season 1. This season is more episodic than Season 3, but Ep1-4 is less focused on the main plot than the episodes of Season 3 were. I feel that this makes the episodes longer than they should be. At first, I liked the season more, but by Ep4, it started to get tedious. Ep5-8 made me like the season a lot better, with Ep8 exceptionally good.

The cinematography is good. The action scenes are clear, easy to follow. They are bloody enough to show that they don't shy away from brutality, but they are not so gory that would make the scenes distateful. Visually it was probably made with people viewing this on a small screen, but some scenes are cinematic enough that they would probably look good even in a movie.

The characters are good and interesting enough. In the first episode, we even get some introductions for the main cast, showing personalities though their actions. The acting is great.

The music (by Christopher Lennertz) is good. The choice of pop-music is great.

This series is strictly for adults. There's violence and gore, explicit showing of genitals, and constant swearing. I don't think any cutting around could make this series to work for kids.

The The Boys: Season 4 is an interesting contemporary fantasy action / thriller, that I think fans of the genre will enjoy.

My experience

I was mostly satisfied with the individual episodes of The Boys: Season 4 (2024). I happen to like stories with well-thought, logical and interesting plots, and The Boys: Season 4 delivers that. (Although by Ep4, I've had my doubts.)

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points). The Boys: Season 4 is a well-made TV series.

Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points). The Boys: Season 4 is interesting, with plenty of twists, I liked it. I would have given it a Great (3 out of 3 points) rating if the first half would have been better.

Rewatchability: High. I think even if you've watched this season once, there's enough content within that you might enjoy watching it multiple times.

Chance of watching it again: There's a chance. I liked this season enough that I might watch it in the right circumstances, especially if I'd like to refresh my memory before Season 5 comes out.

Chance of watching a sequel: High. I'd sure watch it.

The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)
image © Sony Pictures Television & Amazon Content Services

Will you enjoy this?

If you like superhero movies, you'll either love or hate this series.

If you like comedy, especially black comedy, you might live The Boys Season 4.

If you hate subtitles, you are in bad luck, unless you are able to understand American Sign Language. Otherwise, you'll need to read the subtitles when Kimiko communicates.

If you prefer visuals over story, although the visuals are good, there's probably too much story in the series for your to stay focused on the visuals.

If you hate comedy, there are plenty of humorous moments, so you might not enjoy this series as much.

If you hate depictions of sexual abuse, don't watch this series.

If you hate depictions of drug addiction, avoid this series.

If you hate violence and gore, you should stay clear away from The Boys series. Any of the seasons and spin-offs, not just this one.

Things you are required to know to enjoy this

While not a requirement, if you happen to live in the USA, you probably catch a lot more references to your local politics, celebrities and pop-culture. As someone, who had no clue what most references were about, I still appreciated their comedic value, or their sudden and unexplained appearance, so don't think this knowledge is required to enjoy the series.

Things you are required to avoid to enjoy this

Don't watch or read interviews with the creators about this season. As I consciously try to avoid everything that might add unnecessary information about the story, spoiling it for me, it took some time for these interview headlines to reach me. After delving a bit more into these behind the scenes materials, I was less enthusiastic about the creators, even though I appreciate their work. So, in order to maintain a more neutral stance, I recommend that you stick to watching all of the episodes, and only after that should you read more about the creation of the season.

Do you need to read the original graphic novels to enjoy this?

No, you don't. Actually, you are probably better off avoiding the comics altogether.

The story of the TV series is only very loosely based on the graphic novels, and the TV series is better in every aspect.

Do you need to see the previous three seasons of The Boys to enjoy this?

That's a good question. Although I assume you'll get most of the required information in the episodes themselves, I might be biased because I've already watched the previous seasons.

Do you need to see Gen V: Season 1 to enjoy this?

No, you are not required to watch Gen V. However, if you intend to watch Gen V, do that before watching The Boys: Season 4, because some episodes contain major spoilers for Gen V: Season 1.

As Gen V: Season 1 was pretty good, I recommend you to watch it if you like stories about super-powered people.

Do you need to watch the The Boys: Season 5 to enjoy this?

Although The Boys: Season 4 provides an easy starting point for new audiences, it won't give you a full story in itself. As there are plenty of open plotlines by the end of the final episode, if you require closure, you'll probably need to wait for Season 5 to come out.

Watching for plot points

If you are interested in stories about super-powered people, I think it's worth watching the The Boys: Season 4 for the plot points.

* * *

Episode review with no spoilers - The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

Episode 1: Department of Dirty Tricks

Written by David Reed. Directed by Phil Sgriccia.

The episode starts with a couple of glimpses into the events of The Boys: Season 3. The episode includes some introduction to the main characters, showing their personalities.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a plot-line that starts in the beginning, and gets resolved by the end.

The episode ends with a reveal, and a kind of resolution.

Release: 2024.06.13

Watched: very recent (2024.06), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 2: Life Among the Septics

Written by Jessica Chou. Directed by Karen Gaviola.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a plot-line that starts in the beginning, and gets resolved by the end.

The episode ends with some kind of resolution.

Release: 2024.06.13

Watched: very recent (2024.06), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 3: We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here

Written by Ellie Monahan. Directed by Fred Toye.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a plot-line that starts in the beginning, and gets resolved by the end.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger, foreshadowing the plot of the next episode.

Release: 2024.06.13

Watched: very recent (2024.06), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 4: Wisdom of the Ages

Written by Geoff Aull. Directed by Phil Sgriccia.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a plot-line that starts in the beginning, and mostly gets resolved by the end.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger.

Release: 2024.06.20

Watched: very recent (2024.06), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 5: Beware the Jabberwock, My Son

Written by Judalina Neira. Directed by Shana Stein.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a plot-line that starts in the beginning, and mostly gets resolved by the end.

As far as the first 5 episodes, this was the most fun for me.

The episode ends with a reveal / cliffhanger.

Release: 2024.06.27

Watched: very recent (2024.06), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 6: Dirty Business

Written by Anslem Richardson. Directed by Karen Gaviola.

This episode was just perfect.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a plot-line that starts in the beginning, and mostly gets resolved by the end.

The episode ends with a reveal / shocker.

Release: 2024.07.04

Watched: very recent (2024.07), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 7: The Insider

Written by Paul Grellong. Directed by Catriona McKenzie.

Among the many plot-threads, there's a secondary plot-line that starts in the beginning, and gets resolved by the end.

The episode ends with a reveal / shocker.

Release: 2024.07.11

Watched: very recent (2024.07), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Good (2+ out of 3 points)

Episode 8: Assassination Run

Written by Jessica Chou & David Reed. Directed by Eric Kripke.

The episode was very intensive, it felt like a two-hour movie. It closed most of the plot lines from this season, but opened plenty of others.

The episode ends with multiple shockers and cliffhangers, setting up a new season.

Release: 2024.07.18

Watched: very recent (2024.07), first time

Rating: Good (2+ out of 3 points), Enjoyment: Great (3 out of 3 points). Although there were some points that I didn't like as much, overall, I was very satisfied with this episode.

* * *

Review with spoilers - The Boys: Season 4, TV series (2024)

Up to Ep6, I mostly liked the The Boys: Season 4, although Ep2-3 were slightly worse.

Cover

 

The trailer

I didn't watch the trailer yet, as I don't want it to spoil my experience.

Promise of the first scene

Neuman is telling an audience that a politician just won the election in some states. If the politician wins, than Neuman will be vice president. As it's soon made clear, she has superhuman powers, and she is probably invulnerable. Getting into the White House would make her immensely powerful. The previous season ended with Butcher making it his priority to get rid of Neuman, so he'll probably try to do something about this.

Execution: Well, she didn't get into the White House, and said politician was arrested for evidence indicating that he ordered Neuman's assassination. I have to admit that the ending of this season surprised me. Even though I was prepared for Butcher to continue hounding Neuman, that plotline seemed to practically end in the beginning of the first episode of this season, and it hasn't been picked up until the last episode. While I'm not entirely sure that the episodes between these two were consistently chasing the promise, in the end, I think I'm still satisfied with the execution.

* * *

The episodes - The Boys: Season 4, TV series (2024)

Episode 1: Department of Dirty Tricks

Promise of the first scene

Neuman is telling an audience that a politician just won the election in some states. If the politician wins, than Neuman will be vice president. As it's soon made clear, she has superhuman powers, and she is probably invulnerable. Getting into the White House would make her immensely powerful.

Execution: In the first episode, the election is not resolved. However, Neuman makes a pact both with Homelander and Butcher. Although it seems at the end of the episode that Butcher might renege from their deal.

Episode 2: Life Among the Septics

Promise of the first scene

We see a movie being shot about A-Trains origins, how he left the ghetto, got out of a drug-dealer family to join the Seven. A-Train is embarassed about doing it. Black Noir hangs out, having no clue what to do. I have no idea where will they take this plot.

Execution: I was positively surprised that the issue got resolved by the end of the episode. A-Train got so embarrassed first by the movie team, then by his family, that he decided to help The Boys to atone for the murders he allowed to be made.

Episode 3: We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here

Promise of the first scene

Homelander introduces new team members to the Seven, but leaves an empty seat for his son, Ryan. Although I assume the storyline will go towards this, I don't think this will be resolved in this episode.

Execution: Although the promise really didn't get resolved, it seems to prepare the plot of the next episode.

Episode 4: Wisdom of the Ages

Promise of the first scene

 

Execution: A

Episode 5: Beware the Jabberwock, My Son

Promise of the first scene

 

Execution: A

Episode 6: Dirty Business

Promise of the first scene

 

Execution: A

Episode 7: The Insider

Promise of the first scene

Ryan is seen starring in a commercial being filmed about reporting your parents if you suspect they do not support the goverment. Ryan feels uncomfortable about this. I'd assume this could lead to a confrontation with Homelander's new, aggressive direction.

Execution: A

Episode 8: Assassination Run

Promise of the first scene

We see news that the A-Train movie is cancelled. We see that Frenchie is close to retrieving the Supe-killing virus. We see Hughie gets proposed by the Fake Starlight. I'm not entirely sure which one counts as the basis for the promise, but I have no clue what will happen.

Execution: I don't think the ending had anything to do with the first scenes. I probably would have preferred a plot framing that would include a promise, but the episode was still fine, even without one.

Plot summary / Synopsis

6 months have passed since the end of The Boys: Season 3 (2022).

Butcher gets worse due to the side-effects of the V24 serum, including getting a brain tumour. In order to cure the side-effects, Butcher takes Compound V, but it doesn't give him any apparent abilities.

MM replaces Butcher as leader of the Boys. They reveal Neuman's Supe abilities to Robert Singer (Jim Beaver as Robert Singer), a president-elect of the Democratic party.

Homelander is on a trial for the murder he committed at the end of Season 3.

Episode 1: Department of Dirty Tricks

The Boys have planned to get rid of Neuman for a long time. They have come to the conclusion that acid might be able to take her out, so they plan to exchange her eye drops with acid at a voting campaign meeting. They send Butcher, Frenchie, Hughie, and Kimiko.

While Butcher (Karl Urban as Billy Butcher) stands guard, he gets distracted by seeing Ryan (Cameron Crovetti as Ryan Butcher), the son of his deceased wife, whom he sworn her to protect. Homelander (Antony Starr as Homelander), the father of Ryan, also appears, and mockingly reveals to Ryan that Butcher is dying in a couple of months, as he has a large brain tumour. Homelander leaves with Ryan.

When Frenchie (Tomer Capone as Frenchie) and Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko Miyashiro) enter Neuman's room, they are surprised by Neuman's daughter (Olivia Morandin as Zoe Neuman), who turns out to be a Supe with super-strength and tentacles. She attacks them, and they barely manage to escape.

Hughie (Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell) is confronted by Neuman (Claudia Doumit as Victoria Neuman). Surprised, he throws a vial of acid at Neuman, but it doesn't have any effect, besides ruining her dress. Butcher arrives and shoots Neuman point-blank in the head, but that is also ineffective.

MM (Laz Alonso as Mother's Milk) and the Boys return to the CIA to report their failure. Mallory (Laila Robins as Grace Mallory), the founder of the Boys, prevents Butcher from attending the meeting. While waiting for the Boys, Butcher meets a former associate, Kessler (Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Joe Kessler). Butcher confesses to Kessler that his real target is still Homelander, not Neuman.

Homelander is irritated by getting older. His hair is thinning, and it gets grayer. He starts to feel the weight of mortality, even though he is still invincible.

The Seven has a meeting, where Ashley (Colby Minifie as Ashley Barrett) shows them potential candidates to replace their missing members. During the meeting, Homelander gets irritated that everyone agrees to any of his whims due to their fear of him.

MM is asked by his ex-wife (Frances Turner as Monique Milk) to find her ex-boyfriend (Matthew Gorman as Todd).

Butcher meets with Neuman to negotiate a deal. Butcher needs help in getting Ryan away from Homelander, and offers his assistance in killing Homelander. He tells her that the Supe-killing virus she stole (in Gen V: Season 1) isn't strong enough to kill Homelander, so she'll need his help. She agrees if Butcher destroys the evidence about her childhood at Red River and her Supe abilities.

Hughie's father had a stroke, and had to be taken to a hospital. This makes Hughie upset that he hadn't spent enough time with him. While seemingly comforting Hughie, Butcher steals his security key.

While visiting the Starlight House, Frenchie meets with one of his acquaintances, Colin (Elliot Knight as Colin Hauser). When Kimiko sees that Frenchie and Colin share romantic interests, she urges Frenchie to go for it.

One of the potential candidates shown to Homelander was Sage (Susan Heyward as Sister Sage), who is said to be the most intelligent person. He visits her, and confesses to her that he can't find happiness, as it doesn't matter what he does, people seem to be cheering for him. He requests her to be his advisor in making the country a better place. Sage agrees.

As MM is tailing the ex-boyfriend of MM's ex-wife, he goes to a place where he meets Sage. It turns out, Sage called three of Homelander's greatest fans to a meeting. Once there, they meet the Seven. Homelander hands baseball bats to the other members, and orders them to kill these three, before he leaves to be present at the court. A-Train, Black Noir and The Deep are confused, but then they get to work, killing all three.

Homelander is decided to be not guilty by the jury. There are protesters outside the courthouse. One side, calling themselves the Starlighters are against uncontrolled Supe violence. The other side support Homelander, believing that his acts can be forgiven, as long as he defends the country. Sage, disguised as a Starlighter, attacks a member of the Homelander supporters, inciting a brawl between the two sides.

A-Train puts the bodies of the three people they have killed among the injured. When the bodies are found, it is evidence that the Starlighters are violent murderers.

The Deep talks to his octopus lover (Ambrosius).

Frenchie shares his bed with Colin.

While Hughie is waiting in the hospital, suddenly her mother (Rosemarie Dewitt as Daphne Campbell) appears.

Butcher contemplates on deleting the originals of the condemning Red River files, and sending them Neuman. He even talks about it with the hallucination of his deceased wife. Acting on a whim, he sends a photo of a male anus instead.

We later see there is a worm-like thing crawling under Butcher's skin.

Episode 2: Life Among the Septics

The Boys visit a conspiracy theorist meeting (TruthCon) to get some intel on Sage. Once there, it is revealed that Sage sat them up, and she intends to get them killed by two conspiracist supes - Firecracker and the multiplying Splinter. The team is almost defeated when Butcher arrives to save them. They kill Splinter, but let Firecracker go. 

* * *

At some time between Ep2 and Ep7, Sage initiated a sexual relationship with Black Noir 2.

Episode 3: We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here

The splintered personalities of Homelander urge him to visit his place of birth to get rid of his final shreds of humanity. Homelander agrees to this.

Episode 4: Wisdom of the Ages

Homelander visits the place where he grew up, and where he was being experimented on. He cuts off the cameras and communication, frightening the personnel. At first, he seems cheerful, but as he reminds the people working there of the cruel experiments he had to endure, things start to get darker. In the end, only one person (Barbara Finley) is left alive.

Butcher and MM pay a supe (Webweaver) a visit to get some dirt on Firecracker. Even though they are succesful, Firecracker quickly spins the story around, negating the effects. Frenchie is sent to Firecracker's home to find something to use against her, but he is confronted by Ezekiel, who kicks him out. Butcher arrives, and while Ezekiel is strangling him, he blacks out, and when he comes awake, he finds Ezekiel blown to bits.

Firecracker reveals that Starlight had an abortion. This enrages Starlight, and she flies to her, and punches Firecracker out on live television.

Rober Singer calls Starlight, and tells her that he'll cut all relation to Starlight.

Sage asks The Deep to lobotomy on her, so she could relax for a while, until her brain regenerates. She offers sex in exchange, convincing The Deep quickly.

As Hughie is desperate that his father is going to die, he asks A-Train to get him a dose of V24, so he could heal his father. He promises A-Train that this will make them even. 

Kimiko and Hughie get attacked by terrorists. During the fight, Hughie kills one of them. It is revealed that Kimiko was used as a bait to lure girls, then she made them fight against her.

Frenchie reveals to Colin that it was him who killed his whole family. Colin beats him up and leaves him.

When A-Train sneaks in to Homelander's flat to steal some V24, Ashley surprises him there. When A-Train finds it out that she was there to leave a dump in Homelander's toilet, they agree to keep this meeting to themselves. After A-Train gives the V24 to Hughie, he struggles to give it to his father, but in the end he decides that it would be too dangerous. However, while he gets out to clear his head, someone gave the V24 to his father, who starts to come awake.

Episode 5: Beware the Jabberwock, My Son

They hold a Vought Expo (V52). They show their superhero movie plans for the next couple of years.

Ashley is sent out permanently from the meetings of the Seven. Coleman tries to distance himself from Ashley, telling her that he needs someone more dominating to fulfil his fetish.

MM is called by his ex-wife to handle the aggressive tendencies of their daughter.

Hughie's father regenerates due to the Compound V in his bloodstream. Hughie's mother confesses it was she who gave him the dose, as she thought Hughie wanted this. Hughie's father seems to have problems with his memory. He also got the power of phasing through matter, and he starts to run around in panic. When he stops phasing in a human body, that body explodes. Hughie and her mother find Hughie's father, and they decide they euthanise him to give him final peace.

Homelander and Ryan meet with a film director, who wishes to make a movie (Super School) about Ryan. Ryan is not interested in starring in the film, so Homelander, trying to win his son, encourages him to say no. Ryan confides to Homelander that he wants to do good things. Ryan sees that the director as being unpolite to his assistant, so he lets the assistant beat the director, so he'd learn to be more respectful.

Homelander calls a meeting of the Seven, and he tells them that they should be more aggressive. Coleman is called to be the info leak by Sage, so they brutally beat him - possibly killing him.

Butcher and MM visit Stan Edgar in the prison, offering him presidental pardon and full custody of Neuman's daughter if he helps them get the Supe-killing virus from Neuman (who took it from the scientist she killed an the Gen V series). Edgar recommends to visit his old farm, where they find a secret laboratory Neuman set up. The scientists experimented with Compound V on animals, trying to kill them with the virus. Something went wrong, an animal got out, and killed one of the scientists. Flying sheep attack the team, and they close themselves in a building where the other scientist, Sameer, who was able to hide himself. He has the last dose of the virus. They inject one of the carcasses with the virus, and let the sheep eat it. The virus kills all the sheep. The last casualty was the Sameer, as only one of his legs is found.

During the incident, Starlight had a hard time using her powers.

They send Edgar back to the prison, as there's no more vial of the virus is left. However, after being en route to the prison, Neuman kills the guard keeping Edgar, and possibly frees Edgar.

Frenchie, riddled by guilt over Colin's family, he gives himself up to police, confessing that he committed several murders.

In the end it turns out that Butcher and Kessler abducted Sameer, and it was him who chopped off his leg, to make his death by sheep more convincing. Butcher demands that Sameer has to reverse engineer the virus from a sheep carcass.

Episode 6: Dirty Business

Kimiko tries to visit Frenchie in the prison, but Frenchie doesn't want to meet her.

As they suspect that bad things might happen to Hughie, Starlight, Kimiko and MM breaks into the mansion. Firecracker confronts Starlight. As Starlight still had a hard time using her powers, she uses an injection to make Firecracker fall asleep. Sage confronts MM and Kimiko. As Sage mocks MM, he shoots her in the head, but he also falls to the ground. Kimiko finds A-Train, and convinces him to get MM to a hospital, to which he reluctantly agrees to.

In the meantime, Sage gets up, but her headshot wound makes her act stupidly.

Kimiko and Starlight gets into the Tek Cave, where they capture Tek Knight and free Hughie. After trying to interrogate Tek Knight, they realise it's hard to use physical torture on a masochist. Luckily, Laddio helps them by pointing out that he is sensitive to his money. They start to make donations until Tek Knight gives in, and reveals that his company own the most private prisons in the country, and Homelander wants to use them as internment camps for those who'd oppose their regime. This feels too much for his butler, who strangles Tek Knight, and offers the team to make it look like an accident happened.

At the meeting, Homelander starts to make his great speech on how to improve the USA , telling them that he is ready for a coup in order to save the country. But the politicians make good questions he doesn't have answers for. As he can't rely on Sage due to her headshot wound, he almost has a meltdown, before Neuman steps in to handle the situation. She promises the politicians that their companies can act without federal restrictions if they get her elected.

Due to the presence of the Boys, Homelander deduces that even after getting rid of Coleman believing Sage's accusation, someone is still leaking information. He threatens Firecracker, but she convinces him that she wouldn't do that, as she adores him. Then she begins to lactate Homelander, much to his surprise, then delight.

When MM wakes up at the hospital, they tell him he had a panic attack, but he needs to slow down, otherwise he could die.

As Butcher tries to convince Sameer to work on the Anti-Supe virus, so they can take out Homelander, Sameer confesses that in order to be that strong, the virus would probably be airborne, possibly leading to a genocide of all those who have Compound V in their bodies. As Butcher is torn between this choice, it is revealed that Kessler is just a hallucination, just like Butcher's wife, as Kessler died.

Episode 7: The Insider

Ryan is seen starring in a commercial being filmed about reporting your parents if you suspect they do not support the goverment. Ryan feels uncomfortable about this.

Homelander - now relying more on Firecracker, than on Sage - starts a meeting earlier, without notifying Sage. Homelander confronts Sage about the unnecessary killing of Coleman.

Butcher confesses to the Boys that he captured Dr. Shah, who is now working for him on the Supe-killing virus. He also confesses that it might cause a global pandemic, killing all Supes. He got Frenchie out of the prison, so he could help Dr. Shah work on the virus. He hopes on finding a way to use it on only Homelander and Neuman.

As MM passed out during the confrontation with Sage, he resigns from his position of leading the Boys, giving it back to Butcher.

Starlight and MM ask their loved ones to leave the city, to be at a safe place, as they are afraid of what might happen. Starlight confesses that she had the abortion because she didn't want to bring a baby in a world that is ending. Ashley fires her assistant - even though she likes him - just so he'd be safe, away from Vought.

Hughie locks his confidental materials on Neuman in his safe.

A-Train sees Sage contacting a person. He suspects that it's a potential hitman, so he contacts the Boys.

Butcher, Starlight and Hughie visit the potential hitman's home. They find plans to kill the newly elected president so Neuman could take his place. They find a young woman there, who pretends to be kidnapped, but after surprising the Boys with her attack, she escapes. During the escape she tears off her skin, and changes her outlook, revealing her to be a shapeshifter.

Firecracker points Homelander to Webweaver that she thinks he is the info leak. Webweaver confesses to have worked with the Boys. Homelander tears him apart.

Kimiko tells Frenchie how she became mute. On her first night in the Shining Light terrorist training camp, she got paired with another girl. They had to be silent, otherwise they would have been killed. They had to hurt the other until the other cried out in pain. Kimiko killed the other girl, but even after she was allowed to speak, she couldn't.

After The Deep finished a trip to Sage's room, his octopus lover (Ambrosius) confronts him about this. In a fit of rage, he crashes her tank, leaving her to suffocate. After that, he declares to Homelander that he is ready to kill whomever he asks him to.

Hughie visits Neuman to talk her out of working with Homelander, all in vain.

The Deep and Black Noir visit the Boys HQ to kill them at Homelander's command. They meet Butcher and Starlight. During the fight, Black Noir is hit by his narcolepsia, falling asleep for a few moments. A-Train and MM arrives to help them knock The Deep out, but Black Noir flies away.

A-Train realises that this is his last chance to escape, so he visits Ashley to get away together. She refuses, but reminds A-Train to remove his tracker chip. A-Train does so, and disappears with his family.

Homelander confronts Sage about the leak. Sage confesses that she knew it was A-Train, but that he only leaked information to the Boys that Sage wanted them to know. Homelander is not convinced, and he fires her from the Seven. As she is leaving, it is revealed that she she not only slept with The Deep, but also with Black Noir, and she didn't require a lobotomy to be able to do that.

In order to get away, Dr. Shah injects Kimiko with the Supe-killing virus, and leaves the place. Frenchie cuts off the injected leg to save Kimiko.

During the live show, Ryan refuses to play his part in the "snitch on your parents" commercial, and tells the audience that they should love their family.

Watching this, Butcher is happy that he believed that Ryan will do the right thing. Then he falls unconscious.

At home, Hughie is surprised by Starlight initiating sex with him. After he falls asleep, it turns out that it wasn't Starlight, but the shapeshifter assassin, impersonating her. The Fake Starlight takes the confident materials from his safe.

Then we see Starlight, chained in a basement.

* * *

Before Ep8, Dr. Sameer Shah got back to Neuman.

Either before Ep8, or just before the final scenes, Cindy gets recruited by Vought.

Some times before Ep8, if Love Sausage lost his power due to Soldier Boy, he got it back.

Episode 8: Assassination Run

We see news that the A-Train movie is cancelled.

We see that Frenchie is close to retrieving the Supe-killing virus.

We see Hughie gets proposed by the Fake Starlight. He accepts. They then have sex, including fingering Hughie, that surprises him. (Especially in the light of what happened in the Tek Cave.)

Butcher is in bad condition, so he wakes up in the medical facility. The parasite offers his help in recovering, if Butcher accepts it, but he refuses. Mallory arrives, they plan to do something.

Homelander finds a hidden photo of Ryan's mom with Butcher. In a fit of rage, he destroys the place, frightening Ryan.

The shapeshifter visits the captured Starlight, so they could refresh their skin by touching the original's body. While the shapeshifter reads Starlight's mind, she calls her a hypocrite, who blames her own faults on others. She tells her that she proposed to Hughie, and they had great sex celebrating that.

Hughie calls Butcher. He feels he is about to die, and asks Hughie to tell the Boys he is sorry.

Ryan visits Butcher, who offers him that he should stay with Mallory. Ryan is undecided. They start to play board games.

During a live news show, Homelander decides to show the world that Neuman is a Supe, so he lasers her, that she withstands. This frightens Neuman, who wanted to keep this secret. People also have mixed reaction, some of them start protesting against Neuman. Homelander asks Ashley to write a list of people who have potentially harmful information on him and the Seven. When he gets this list, Homelander gives it to The Deep and Black Noir, to execute these people. He also calls out every Supe to surround important government buildings to protect president Neuman, after Singer is killed. The Deep adds Ashley's name on the list.

When Ashley hears this, she runs to Homelander's flat, and injects herself with V24.

The Boys decide they should release their dirt about Neuman, but it turns out that the hard drives are empty.

The Boys gets Singer and his bodyguards into a safe bunker. As MM is afraid that the shapeshifter still could have slipped in, he request a more thorough security. (As they've bought the Fake Starlight, he happens to be right.) The Fake Starlight uses a phrase the shapeshifter used, and Hughie realises that that Starlight has been swapped. He tells it to MM, but he can't decide how to handle the situation until Starlight realises that she's been made, and starts attacking them, killing most of the bodyguards.

Starlight manages to get herself out of the shackles, and arrives to the bunker just in time to intervene. She defeats the fake Starlight. However, when it turns out Hughie didn't realise that she has been replaced for ten says, Starlight doesn't forgive him.

Neuman tells Homelander that their plan to kill Singer failed. Homelander gets angry, and threatens Neuman to stay on the planned path. Neuman calls Hughie to help her, by getting her daughter. She tells him that Sameer got back to her.

The Boys decide to help Neuman, as they don't have anything to lose. Hughie tells them they should learn to forgive people. However, just in case, MM orders Frenchie to create an injector that could get the virus in Neuman's body.

Frenchie and Kimiko finally get together.

At the Vought Tower, the Seven starts murdering the people on their kill list.

While Butcher and Ryan are playing, Mallory intervenes, and tells Ryan that Homelander tried to get the president killed. Also, he didn't have an affair with his mother, but raped her. They offer to train him, so he'll be able to kill Homelander. When Ryan refuses, and wants to leave, it is revealed that they are in a safe house the CIA built to hold Supes, so he won't be able to leave unless they let him. Mallory confesses that after her grandkids were killed, it was only Ryan whom she truely loved. Ryan kills Mallory, and gets out before they could switch on the safety measures. Butcher, now disappointed by his judgement of Ryan, turns to the parasite, accepting its offer.

When Neuman and her daughter get to the Boys office, they start negotiating. Suddenly, Butcher arrives, and kills Neuman with tentacles growing out of his body, and knocks out her daughter, who tried to attack him. Butcher takes the virus, then leaves.

Neuman's daughter gets taken by Vought to the same Red River institute where Neuman grew up.

Homelander has a meltdown, as the plan is seeminlgy falling apart around him. Sage returns to the Vought Tower, and she tells him that her plan actually worked, and they have won their first round. She arranged evidence to be sent to implicate that Rober Singer ordered the Boys to execute the assassination of Neuman. She also arranged that the new president will be Homelander's puppet. On her way out, she thanks Homelander for the opportunity to change the world, as it was a fun mental excercise for her.

The new president pledges allegiance to Homelander. As his first act, he declares martial law, and deputises Supes all around the country to keep America safe.

Due to the leaked security record, where Singer talks about ordering the assassination of Neuman, he gets arrested. The Boys are wanted for being accomplices in the muder. Now being fugitives, the Boys scatter, trying to get away.

Frenchie and Kimiko get caught by the Guardians of Godolkin. As they take Frenchie away, Kimiko is able to cry out.

MM gets caught by Love Sausage (Derek Johns as Love Sausage).

When Starlight and Hughie get captured by the bald girl (Ess Hödlmoser as Cindy), Starlight is able to use her powers again, and she flies away. (It's not clear if the bald girl let her go, or if she was just too surprised to act before she left.)

We see Butcher getting away, holding the virus, but in the mirror, he sees Kessler, the parasite.

The new president (David Andrews as Steven Calhoun) calls Homelander to show him the body of Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy), held in a cryo tube.

The setting

The story is set on a contemporary alternate / fantasy Earth, in 2024.

There are people in this universe with super-human powers, created through the use of Compound V.

Homelander: He was experimented on while he was young. Despite him being invulnerable, he felt the pain of those tortures. He was also humiliated by the research team, although most of them just didn't care about him as a person. He was conditioned by the best psychologists Vought could find for the need of love and approval, so he'd be easier controlled.

Black Noir 2: He is able to withstand a barrage from a minigun at close range. The bullets didn't even seem to penetrate his armour. He is able to fly.

Shapeshifter: The shapeshifter needs to peel their skin to be able to grow a new skin. They also need to have physical contanct with the person they try to impersonate. They even took a photo before impersonating Starlight, so having a picture might also help to create the face. They are also able to mimic the voice but for that they might need some voice sample.

The shapeshifter confesses that they have a hard time remembering their own original looks.

When the shapeshifter holds the head of their victim, they can read their mind.

The shapeshifter seems to feel themselves uncomfortably hot, causing them to sweat, even in seemingly cold places. This might be caused by the additional layer of skin.

 

 

Butcher's parasite: The parasite is an organism that was created by an injection of Compound V. It has a distinct personality, and lives in the host. It is probably able to offer enhanced healing to its host. It can grow tentacles out of the body of the host, that are strong enough to tear a seemingly invincible Supe (Neuman) apart.

In this season, we've seen that a similar parasite was growing inside one of the lab animals at the farm, so there might be more than one specimen.

In the Diabolical series, there was a similar parasite, that was created when a human who was dying of cancer was injected with Compound V. There, the parasite was able to split from the host, to act independently.

 

The Supe-killing virus: When Neuman gets it (in Gen V Season 1), it's not strong enough to take down Homelander. Neuman gives the virus to Sameer to experiment on it. The virus in its current form only infects through bodily fluids. However, he comes to the realisation that the version that could kill Homelander would be airborne, possibly leading to a genocide of all those who have Compound V in their bodies.

The version concocted by Dr. Shah in Butcher's lab, that was injected in Kimiko, spread slowly enough that Frenchie was able to cut her leg off to stop it.

Another version was created by Frenchie from the leg of Kimiko.

Changes to characters

Calhoun: After the murder of Neuman, and the inprisonment of Singer, he becomes the president.

Ryan Butcher: He starts to get used to being a supreme being, above the average humans. At the start of the season, he was horrified when he killed someone, by the final episode, he killed someone he liked, and who loved him. Even though he still seems to be horrified by the actions of Homelander.

Robert Singer: Gets voted to be the president. Then gets imprisoned by accusing him of ordering the murder of Victoria Neuman.

Changes to characters - Vought

Ashley: She gave herself Compound V to be able to escape getting killed by the Seven.

Cindy: Last time we've seen her, she was trying to get away from Vought. Last time we've heard about her, was when Black Noir was sent to capture her. Either she was succesfully captured by Black Noir, or she was given a pardon by the new president, but she is now in the employ of Vought.

Love Sausage: If he lost his power due to Soldier Boy, by Ep8, he got it back.

Changes to characters - The Boys

Billie Butcher: He gives himself Compound V to cure himself of the side-effects of taking V24. He gets a super-powered parasite instead. He hallucinates about his deceased wife, Becca, and his deceased buddy, Joe Kessler.

Hughie: In the end, he gets accused of the murder of Victoria Neuman. Gets captured by Vought (Cindy).

Frenchie: We learn that previously, he murdered a huge number of people, working for the mob. In the end, he gets accused of the murder of Victoria Neuman. Gets captured by Vought (Guardians of Godolkin).

Kimiko: We learn that previously she lured a lot people to be captured by the terrorist group she was working for, and also injured or killed many of the captives. In the end, she gets accused of the murder of Victoria Neuman. Gets captured by Vought (Guardians of Godolkin). She is finally able to yell.

MM: During the season, the stress gets so much for him, that he has to relax, otherwise, he might die. In the end, he gets accused of the murder of Victoria Neuman. Gets captured by Vought (Love Sausage).

Starlight: At the beginning of the season, she was barely able to fly. By the end of the last episode, she seems to be able to fly effortlessly. She also did that in the middle of nowhere, so she couldn't have used electricity to power up her ability to fly. We learn that previously she was rude and manipulative.

Characters killed

Cameron Coleman: Beaten to death by the Seven.

Grace Mallory: Killed by Ryan.

Tek Knight: Probably strangled by his own butler.

Victoria Neuman: Ripped apart by Butcher's parasite.

Webweaver: Torn apart by Homelander.

* * *

 

Analysis of the story - The Boys: Season 4, TV series (2024)

Up to the episodes I've seen, I liked the story, I didn't find problems that would have prevented me from enjoying The Boys: Season 4.

The message of the story

"People should face their own past, and repent their sins." "People should try to forgive others and forgive themselves."

"Forgiving someone is better than murdering them"? This was told by Hughie in Ep8.

"People are hypocrites, blaming others for their own faults"? As told by the shapeshifter in Ep8.

The structure of the story

In Ep1-8, the scenes of the The Boys: Season 4 film are played in sequence, following the same storyline, with some occasional flashbacks to previous events.

Ep1-8 starts with a short summary of the events happened earlier.

There's no single viewpoint character.

Ep1-6 has multiple plot-lines, but there's at least one plot-line that gets resolved by the end of the episode. Ep7-8 did that to a somewhat lesser degree. The season has a trunkated arc, the resolution of the last episode is very brief, and then they start to open plotlines to act as cliffhangers.

Parallels to other stories

Scenes and elements from other stories:

Marvel Universe

• Ep1-8: The parasite of Butcher is similar to the Venom parasite. It lives in the body of the host, has a distinct (and evil) personality, and can grow tentacles. It gives superhuman abilities to its host (including enhanced healing).
• Ep8: The Supes getting deputised by the government is similar to the Civil War story arc from the Marvel Universe.

Ultimate Marvel Universe

• Ep1-8: The parasite of Butcher is similar to the sentient brain tumour of Tony Stark. It is located in the brain of the host, has a distinct personality, the host sees the personality as a hallucination. It gives superhuman abilities to its host.

Twin Peaks, TV series (1990-1991)

• Ep8: When the protagonist was taken over by an evil, parasitic personality, the evil parasite was shown in mirrors. The same happened in the last episode of the original Twin Peaks series, with Dale Cooper.

Men in Black, movie (1997)

• Ep7: The shapeshifter can be distinguished from the regular humans by their double eyelids. The first alien Will Smith meets looks like a regular human, but it has double eyelids.

Fight Club, movie (1999)

• Ep6: The way they show how Kessler is just an "imaginary friend", they show it in a similar way they did it in Fight Club.

X-Men, movie (2000)

• Ep7: The shapeshifters can be distinguished from regular humans due to their eyes. In X-Men, Mystique has glowing yellow eyes, while in The Boys, the shapeshifter has double eyelids.

X-Men: Days of Future Past, movie (2014)

• Ep8: They hide the president from a shapeshifter assassin in a bunker, but the shapeshifter is already there among the security guards.

Fan-service

Scenes and elements from previous stories:

The Boys graphic novels

• Ep1-8: The personality of the parasite of Butcher is similar to the personality of Butcher in the graphic novels. He is ruthless, and obsessed with killing Supes.
• Ep1: The Boys disguise themselves as members of the "Mr. Marathon Catering" as a cover. Mr. Marathon was a member of the Seven in the comics, before he was replaced by A-Train as their speedster.
• Ep5: His father calls Hughie "Wee Hughie". In the comics, the Boys called Hughie "Wee Hughie".
• Ep5: Homelander starting to organise the Seven into his own Supe army. He did so in the Herogasm storyline in the comics.
• Ep6: Neuman, as a Vice President, plans to get the current president ("Dakota Bob") killed, so Neuman would become the President of the USA instead.
• Ep6: Homelander prepares for a coup against the president. Although in the comics, by that time, it was Neuman, who was the president.
• Ep6: As mentioned by Heavy Spoilers in this video:
  • Black Noir was also able to fly in the comics, but he was forbiddent to do so, to be consistent with his character.
• Ep7: A photo of Butcher's dog, Terror, his constant companion in the comics.
• Ep8: Homelander demands to get the president killed, he says that he'll do it himself if the others are unable to do it. In the comics, it was Homelander who got in the White House, and killed the president (Neuman).

The Boys TV series

• Ep1: Mention of Soldier Boy, as Homelander's father.
• Ep1: Mention of the Red River institute. Vought used the place to train Supe children.
• Ep1: Showing an empty building, that was used by the Church of the Collective. The church had an influential part in Season 2.
• Ep6: Homelander's breastfeeding fetish is a callback to The Boys Season 1.
• Ep6, Ep8: MM gets in contact with something disgusting (Ep6: covered in Webweaver's web fluid, Ep8: knocked out by Love Sausage's penis). This habitually happens in the series.
• Ep4, Ep8: Hughie get's covered in blood (Ep4: a terrorist, Ep8: Neuman). This habitually happens in the series.
• Ep8: The residents from the Sage Grove Center institute (Cindy, Love Sausage) take part in capturing the Boys.
• Ep8: Soldier Boy is shown in a cryo tube.

The Boys Presents: Diabolical

• Ep1-8: In Diabolical Ep7: John and Sun-Hee, we see a cancer patient receiving Compound V, creating a super-powered cancer, with malicious consciousness. Something similar is happening to Butcher.

Gen V TV series

• Ep1: The Godolkin Institute incident, and the virus gets mentioned.
• Ep4: The Godolkin Institute incident gets mentioned.
• Ep5: The Guardians of Godolkin are shown.
• Ep5-6: Tek Knight is featured.
• Ep6: Tek Knight's fetish for orifices was foreshadowed in Gen V Season 1.
• Ep8: The Guardians of Godolkin take part in capturing the Boys.

Supernatural TV series

• Ep1-8: Both shows have the same actor (Jim Beaver) play a character named Robert Singer.
• Ep8: As noticed by the New Rockstars in this video:
  • Robert Singer says "Idjit!", and "Balls!", just like Robert Singer's catchphrases in Supernatural.

Super heroes

• Ep6: Hughie tries to guess Webweaver's (a parody of Spider-Man) safe word, so he comes up with phrases related to Spider-Man - uncle, spider-web, tarantula. However, it was actually Zendaya, who plays's MJ in the latest Spider-Man series, and the girlfriend of Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man.
• Ep6: Tek Knight is a Batman analogue. He is a white billionaire, living in a mansion, coming from a rich family. We see Tek Knight's Tek Cave, a reference to Batman's Bat Cave. It is hidden behind a book case, just like in the TV show, and movies. Tek Knight has a butler, who brought him up since his childhood.

Real life

• Ep2: Multiple real life conspiracy theories are shown at the convention.
• Ep3: A guy with a gun walks in the rescue the children supposedly imprisoned in the basement.
• Ep3: Debate about "Happy Holidays" vs "Merry Christmas".
• Ep3: Vought on Ice is an analogue of Disney on Ice.
• Ep5: The V54 Expo showing us Phase 7 to 10 of the Vought Cinematic Universe, a reference to Disney's MCU.
  • They show a movie referring the Multiverse, alluding to the Multiverse movies of the MCU and the DCEU.
• Ep5: Tek Knight telling that it's been a year since his last movie, so it's time for a reboot - referencing Warner's Batman movies, getting constantly rebooted.
• Ep5: As referenced by Think Story in this video:
  • The V54 Expo is an allusion to Disney's D23 Expo.
  • The three Seven movies (The Seven Reborn, The Seven Returns, The Seven Forever) is probably an allusion to the Dark Knight movies.
• Ep6: A senator talks about ability of women being able to resist getting pregnant if they wish.
• Ep6: Cirque de Vought is a reference to Cirque de Soleil.
• Ep6: Black Lives Matter is mentioned.
• Ep6: As referenced by Screen Crush in this video:
  • A politician who refuses to be in a room with another woman if his wife is not there.
• Ep6: As referenced by Think Story in this video:
  • Red "Keep America Safe" hat is a reference to the red "Make America Great Again" hats.
  • "Jewish space laser" conspiracy theory is mentioned.
  • The Tek Knight painting looks like the painting (The Visionary) of Donald Trump.
• Ep6: As mentioned by Heavy Spoilers in this video:
  • • Ashey says "I am 100% a cannibal.", referencing Armie Hammer.
• Ep7: A death supposedly caused by a flu vaccine.
• Ep7: Antifa is mentioned, as something evil.
• Ep7: As referenced by Screen Crush in this video:
  • The Avenue V with the muppets, is a reference to Sesame Street.
  • Mike Lindell, owner of the My Pillow is mentioned, pulling his pillow advertisements due to the absence of Coleman.
• Ep7: As referenced by the Heavy Spoilers in this video:
  • NFT images of the Seven are sold, similarly to the NFTs of Donald Trump
• Ep8: "Release the Burke Cut!", referencing the Snyder Cut of the Justice League.
• Ep8: The Vought Studios logo is a reference to the Marvel Studios logo. The water tower with the logo is a reference to the Warner Brothers water tower logo.
• Ep8: The 6th of January is when they count the certificates in the president election in the USA. The same date is used in this universe.
• Ep8: Sage tells Homelander "Get ready for Phase 2", probably a reference to the phases Marvel use for their MCU movies.
• Ep8: As referenced by the Heavy Spoilers in this video:
  • VNN Today is a parody of Good Morning America.
  • The fact that they have already filmed the A-Train movie, but they won't release it, only use it as a tax write-off, probably references the Batgirl movie, that suffered a similar fate.
  • The "I Take Responsibility" video of the Seven for the All Lives Matter is a reference to a similar video, made by celebrities for the Black Lives Matter movement.
  • On the Lean Lad box, there's a mention of Vought Land, a reference to Disneyland.
• Ep8: As referenced by the New Rockstars in this video:
  • The Lean Lad lunch boxes are references to the Lunchables boxes.

Things I liked

• Ep1: They included a brief introduction to the main cast. They've shown us the powers of the main super-hero characters.
• Ep1-3: Although the series is a continuous narrative, each episode has a plotline that is concluded by the end of the episode.
  • Ep1: Mother's Milk is trying to find the ex-boyfriend of his ex-wife, until he finds him murdered.
  • Ep2: A-train is embarrassed, and decides to help the Boys. Kimiko finds and fights the terrorist ring (although I don't consider this strongly connected to the main plot).
  • Ep3: Butcher trying to poison Ryan, so the CIA can take him to a secret prison, but in the end, he refuses.
  • Ep4: Homelander visits his childhood home. Hughie gets a vial of V24 for his father.
  • Ep5: Even if Butcher couldn't get the vial of virus, but at least he got the guy who researched it.
  • Ep6: The team gets into a meeting, and place surveillance bugs around the place.
  • Ep7: Ryan refusing to take part in the advertisement.
• Ep3: It's nice touch to inform people about the effects of postpartum depression.
• Ep4: It was nice to see the place of Homelander's upbringing. It was also a good idea that the company managed to condition him for the need of approval and love.
• Ep5: The super-powered animals were cute.
• Ep5: It was nice too see Butcher covering his kidnapping of the scientist guy.
• Ep6: The effect of headshot on Sage was perfectly prepared with the lobotomy scenes of Ep4-5.

Problematic elements

Intruding references: There were plenty of clever references to superhero stories and real world happenings alike, that were fun. However, in this season, I feel the references were not creative enough. The objects of the reference weren't changed enough to blend smoothly into the setting. They've used red MAGA hats instead of coming up with something similar, but original. They've used some weird conspiracy theories word for word, instead of coming up with their own weird ideas. That way, the audience could have understood the point of the creators, but it wouldn't have felt lazy for those who find the references funny, or offensive for those who find the references representing their truth.

Preaching to the target audience: The creators admitted they have intentionally chosen supporters of a specific political view as their target audience, and they intentionally reinforce the opinions of said audience. In interviews they have disregarded criticism from reviewers of other views as "this series is not made for them". I find this problematic on multiple levels.

• As someone who is not invested in either side, I find these elements intrusive, and either confusing or unrelated to the actual plot.
• It is often unhealthy to reinforce the views of someone with a strong political stance. This could lead to getting a limited view of the real world, a so called echo chamber.
• My opinion is that a creator should educate. In this case, it would have been preferable to make the story accessible and digestible to people of different views, so they would get a chance to understand other views beyond their own.

Ep1

Sage inciting the fight: While Sage is intelligent, she doesn't look like the heroic type. During the protest, she could have hurt herself. It would have been a lot more efficient if they had used telepathic suggestions instead of going there personally.

Also, at most protests, people constantly run their cameras, in case they manage to capture something compromising. Even though at the time nobody knew Sage, a few days later she became an official member of the Seven. So, it would have been pretty easy to identify her as the one beginning the fight.

Ep1-2

Lack of conclusion: The episode just ends, without properly concluding an arc, providing a punch to the story, or introducing a cliffhanger. Based on the more episodic approach of this season, I don't miss the cliffhangers, but they could have emphasised the story arc of the episode in the endings.

Ep1-8

The pacing of the season: Although I really appreciate all those additional details about the characters and the world, Season 3 really amped up the tension by the end, and now we are back to somewhat pedestrian problems. These additional plots could have been included in some kind of web-series, between episodes, or in an expanded DVD version. However, there are some plotlines that don't have the same weight as fighting for the survival of humankind.

• Hughies's father: It's good that we get to still get to see a caring, human side of Hughie. And also an uncaring side revealing how did he avoid his father in the past months. It's also good that we get to know his mother, and their backstory. But I don't feel it fits the rest. At last in Ep4 in looks like they'll do something interesting with this side-plot. In Ep5, it was handled properly, and it probably should have ended there, but they stretched it into Ep6, with the sprinkling of his ashes.
• Deep's octopus: I get it that they want us to be reminded about Deep's love life, but we get to spend too much time with them. In Ep7, the first scene was short, and it was finally setting up something interesting - a love triangle. The second scene was probably a little too long, and for me it didn't really prepare the change in The Deep.
• Frenchie and Colin: It's nice to get a view into Frenchie's past and love life, but - as far as Ep3 - it's so unrelated to the main plot, it's annoying. In Ep3-4 it is used to reveal how bad Frenchie really is, At last, in Ep5, this seems to be resolved, and Frenchie gives himself up to the police.
• Kimiko's quest: At first I liked it for a quick side-quest, but it seems to take too long to finish. In Ep4 it is used to reveal how savage Kimiko was as a kid, In Ep7 it's at least a very short scene, that is used to reunite with Frenchie.
• Frenchie and Kimiko: In Ep6, it feels like padding time to see Kimiko waiting for Frenchie. In Ep7-8, it was given more weight, especially at the very end of Ep8.
• Webweaver: We spend a lot of time watching Webweaver, a relatively minor character, only for him to be killed by Homelander. His introduction and presence in this season was unnecessary, we could have learnt his fate in a dialogue.

Starlighters: While it's nice that we see the dumb redneck lunatics among Homelander's followers, but I miss the deranged social justice maniacs among Starlighter's group. The more screen time we get on Homelander's band, the more unbalanced this issue gets.

Ep2-3

Black Noir as comic relief: They teased that the new Black Noir will be hillarious. At first, it might have been true. Then it started to get tedious. I get it that it's a good contrast with the original character, and the actor probably had a great time playing it, but I don't feel it fits the rest of the narrative.

Ep1

Butcher vs Neuman: Season 3 ends with Butcher swearing he'll do everything to take Neuman down. In the first scene of the first episode, they try, they fail, so Butcher gives up, and starts bargaining with Neuman. This was somewhat anticlimactic.

Butcher refusing Neuman: It's not entirely clear whether he refuses her deal in the end, or if he sent those files, but also added the photo just to mess with Neuman.

Missing information: As I try to watch the season as a stand-alone series, I try to find information that could be clear to regular viewers, but newscomers might be confused by the lack of it.

• Butcher's hatred towards Homelander: Butcher gathered the Boys due to his hatred towards Homelander. He thought that Homelander killed her wife, Becca. By the end of Season 1 it turned out that it's not true. Yet, he still hates Homelander, because he is a psychopatic serial killer with superhuman abilities.
• Hughie's hatred towards A-Train: It's not only not mentioned, it seems to be forgotten that Hughie got into the Boys to take revenge on A-Train. He didn't just think she was killed by him, he was holding her hands when A-Train tore her to pieces. Yet, it seems like Hughie is the one to calm down Starlighter when she wants to confront A-Train. Why?
• Becca: We see Butcher speaking to Becca. It's probably clear that it's her wife, and that it's a hallucination, but I don't think they've mentioned that Becca has died, and more importantly, by the power use of Ryan.
• Mallory: We see Mallory as someone important, and that would be enough for Ep1. However, by Ep8, it would have been required to build her up as a grandmother figure for Ryan, something that was built up previously, but missing from this season. Her scene in Ep8 was a pretty crucial part of the story, yet, we didn't get to know her during this season.

 

Ep2

Leaving Firecracker alive: It's not the Boys habit that they'd leave Supes alive, especially after they've tried to kill them. Especially as this was right after they've found out that they should have killed Sage when they had the chance. I get it that the creators wanted to keep the character alive, but it's against the inner logic of the series.

Ep3

The skating incident: The whole thing went too over-the-top. The first accident of cutting the fingers would be okay, things like that happen. The rest of the bloodbath felt like there's a superpower at work that brings bad luck to the area. (If it turns out that was the case, then it's justified.)

Ep4

Making the protagonists dirty: My main problem with Season 1 and 2 was that I've found the protagonists unlikeable, especially compared to the graphic novels, where they were a bit more acceptable. It's hard to enjoy (and continue watching) a series with unlikeable protagonists, that's why I didn't like the first two seasons that much. Season 3 was slightly better in this regard, as they've focused more on the plot. Yet, it this season, they started to make things worse, revealing bad stuff after bad stuff about the main characters. This makes me start to care less and less about their adventures, leaving the series altogether. I don't mean that I want them to be saints - I just don't want to get constantly confronted by their dark sides.

I have to admit that one of the reasons I disliked the graphic novels that it was nothing, but constantly smearing dirt on superhero parodies. (The same applies to most of Garth Ennis's work regarding superheros, I also disliked his handling of Marvel superheroes in his Punisher run.)

Starlight attacking Firecracker: I don't think Starlight would get so full of rage, and even if she would be, there are other members around her who could have stopped her. After Ep6, I feel that the whole thing is just there so Starlight could have a harder time saving Robert Singer. After Ep7, it might even be that Starlight would be the assassin, who'd kill Singer in retaliation for their break-up.

Ep5

Neuman vs sheep: She seems to be invulnerable. She is also able to pop heads of creatures. I'd assume she could have just stood her ground, and popped those sheep. If I'm missing something, then it could have been shown us in the story why didn't she do just that.

Ep6

Webweaver's uniform: It looks to me that Webweaver's uniform leaves his web hole uncovered. So, some closer inspection would reveal that it's not Webweaver who is under the mask. I'd assume, he get a pretty close inspection during his ordeal in the Tek Cave, yet, it took a while to get revealed.

Ep7-8

The shapeshifter: I feel that in order to maintain a world that feels eerily close to our own, shapeshifters should be excluded. In a world where shapeshifters exist, camera recordings of a person mean nothing. This is especially problematic, as in Ep8, such a record was the condemning evidence against Robert Singer and the Boys. Once you include shapeshifters, time travel, teleport, the whole world changes into a fantasy setting. Even telepathy is problematic, as it also makes any police investigation questionable, due to controlled minds and changed memories, but luckily, they've only used telepathy sparingly.

The presence of Doppelganger was acceptable, as he was a single character, whose nature was kept secret by Vought. If Vought would have had two shapeshifters, they wouldn't even need the blackmailed person involved to create photographic evidence against them, they could have just used the two shapeshifters.

The existence of this Shapeshifter is not even required for the plot to work.

• Escaping from the Boys: Even a regular human could have hidden themselves in a closet, and run away.
• Deleting Hughie's files: Any Vought operative could have done that, just by getting inside his home. And they have people who can reduce their height, pass through walls, or just run super fast.
• Attacking the president: As the president was not harmed, the whole attack could be dismissed.

Ep8

Lack of promise: There was no established promise in the beginning of the episode. It's not a crucial thing, but I still missed it.

Lack of closure: The episode didn't give us a closure. Even though the main goal they've set up for the Boys was achieved, and Neuman was killed, things were rushed, and after that, we got a clip-show instead, setting up the next season. The Boys: Season 3 and Gen V: Season 1 did that better - both gave us a closure, and still gave us plenty of hooks to be interested in watching the next season.

MM's sweater: While I appreciate the Dead Prez reference, I think it would be insensitive to wear it while trying to protect the president from assassination. Even if he took it randomly, while still sleepy, to get dressed, by the time they went to the bunker of the president, he should have realised what is he wearing, and should have changed. Or at least covered it up with his jacket, that he was also wearing.

Unanswered questions

• Ep1: How did Black Noir get back to life? [Update: It's confirmed the guy in Black Noir's suit is just a stand-in, trying to act like the original.]
• Ep2: After refusing Neuman, how come Butcher didn't suspect it was her who messed with the brain of Hughie's father?
• Ep1-8: What's up with Maeve?
• Ep1-7: What's up with Soldier Boy? (Update: In Ep8, we see him in a cryo tube.)
• Ep1-7: What's up with the bald girl from Season 2? (Update: In Ep8, we see her in Vought's employ.)
• Ep4-7: What's up with Butcher's parasite? (Update: In Ep8, it looks like it took over Butcher's body.)
• Ep5: What happened to Stan Edgar after Neuman stopped the car?
• Ep7-8: What's up with A-Train?
• Ep8: What happened to Ashley Barrett?
• Ep8: Where did Ryan go?
• Ep8: What happened to Sameer Shah? Why did he let his daughter get into Red River?
• Ep8: Why did the bald girl let Starlight go?

* * *

Possibilities of improvement

Ep1-3

• Pacing for the season: Make these plot-lines into separate, one-off specials. Something like "Dear Becky" was for the comics. I'd be interested in Hughie's and Frenchie's personal life, and it would be fun to watch a romantic story about the Deep, that wouldn't burden the current season.

Ep1

• Butcher refusing Neuman: Add dialogue (or visual clues) that Butcher refused their deal, and not just simply messing with Neuman.

Ep3

• The skating incident: Cut most of the bloody wounds after the first fingers get cut off. Keep the frantic escape shots.

Ep6

• Webweaver's uniform: Cover the hole in those seconds when it's visible.

Ep7-8

The Shapeshifter: Cut some of the scenes to remove the Shapeshifter from the story.

• Escaping from the Boys: When she runs away, cut the parts where she changes her shape.
• Capturing Starlight : Cut this part.
• Fake Starlight with Hughie: Cut most of these parts.
• Deleting Hughie's files: Add footage of somebody getting through a door. Hide the person taking Hughie's computer.
• Visiting Starlight : Cut this part.
• Attacking the president: Keep the parts when Singer tells them they should have killed Neuman. Either cut the whole attack, and just switch to the meeting with Neuman, or make it look like an attacker came from the outside, and hide the attacker.
  
• Starlight and Hughie talking about the Shapeshifter: Cut this part.

How it could have been better?

Ep1

• Butcher vs Neuman: As the previous season ended with Butcher declaring war on Neuman, this episode could have focused on this premise. In the beginning, they should have given us more background on the importance of getting rid of Neuman, and how much did they plan their assassination act. Then we should have seen Butcher trying to find other ways to get rid of her. It should have been felt like a defeat when he was forced to talk to her, and agree to a truce. We should have seen how he was trying to get used to this truce, fighting against it, while trying to follow her terms before he decided to refuse her.

Ep1+

Swapping some roles of Homelander fans with Starlighter fans: It's getting boring that we only see fun scenes with Homelander fans, while Starlighter fans are just standing there like sheep. It could have been more interesting if MM had to visit a Starlighter convention and get confronted by some leftist conspiracy theories. Or while Sage were preparing to get the fight incited, some Starlighter fans would have really assaulted Homelander fans. Sage could have just walk away after that.

* * *

How does it compare to the other works of the creators?

Ep1 & Ep8: From the writer (David Reed,) I have seen some other The Boys episode, that were probably fine. His recent episodes were good.

Ep2 & Ep8: From the writer (Jessica Chou), I have seen some other The Boys and Gen V episodes, that were probably good. Her recent episodes were good.

Ep3: From the writer (Ellie Monahan), I've seen some The Boys episodes that were probably good enough. I didn't like Ep3 as much.

Ep4: From the writer (Geoff Aull), I've seen a The Boys episode (S3 E3: Barbary Coast) that was good. This Ep4 was probably worse.

Ep5: From the writer (Judalina Neira), I've seen some Gen V episodes that were good. This Ep5 was just as fine.

Ep6: From the writer (Anslem Richardson), I've seen some The Boys episodes that were good. He also worked on Timeless, that was also good. His Ep6 was almost perfect. I'd love to see more of his scripts made into reality.

Ep7: From the writer (Paul Grellong), I haven't seen anything else. Ep7 was good, though.

Ep1 & Ep4: From the director (Philip Sgriccia), I have seen some other The Boys and Gen V episodes, that were probably fine.

Ep2 & Ep6: From the the director (Karen Gaviola), I have seen some TV episodes, that were probably okay. Ep6 was great.

Ep3: From the director (Fred Toye), I've seen some episodes of Falling Skies (2011), Person of Interest (2011-2016), Westworld (2016) and The Boys. They were probably acceptable.

Ep5: From the the director (Shana Stein), I have seen a Gen V episode, that were probably just as fine as Ep5.

Ep7: Despite having a long list of works, I haven't seen anything the the director (Catriona McKenzie), Ep7 was fine, though, so it was convincing enough for me.

Ep8: From the the director (Eric Kripke), I have seen a The Boys episode, that was fine. I was not entirely satisfied with the direction of Ep8, even though the story was good enough to compensate for that.

How does it compare to the original source?

As far as I've seen, I prefer the TV series to the original comics. Those were just mostly mean, with some funny scenes occasionally.

How does it compare to the other seasons in the series?

As far as I've seen, I still prefer Season 4 to Season 1 and Season 2, but it's getting worse than The Boys: Season 3 and Gen V.

* * *

Behind the scenes

According to the creators, Erik Kripke based the idea of Firecracker on Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican politician.

They decided to include Sage, as an advisor to Homelander, as he previously didn't have intelligent people to rely on. The help of Sage makes Homelander much more formidable.

Thoughts about the reviews of others

Political stance: Some reviewers were instantly repulsed by the statements of the creators, even before the show aired. Watching those interviews later, I can relate to their feelings, and I also don't think those were a good way to represent and advertise the season.

Sage: Some reviewers consider the depiction of Sage as flawed, and think that her seemingly lacking intelligence is a mistake on the creators' part. However, we only know that she is the most clever person due to her own words, and we never see anything clever on her part during this season. She claims to have solved some serious problems, but we never see those in actuality. So, at the moment I consider her to be somewhat intelligent, but not even close to the level she claims to have. If we'll see evidence to the contrary, I might reevaluate this point.

* * *

Uses for the film - The Boys: Season 3, TV series (2022)

Plot

• Set in a contemporary fantasy setting.
• Super-powers given permanently by a chemical (injected drug). / Super-powers given permanently to unborn children by a chemical (drug given to their pregnant mothers). / Super-powers given temporarily by a chemical (injected drug).
  • A company managed to come up with a serum that will give super-human powers to the recipients.
• Scientists come up with a virus that can kill humans enhanced with the serum that gives super-human powers.
• A super-human starts to get being tired of the inefficiency of regular human beings.
• Main characters hallucinate multiple alternate personalities.
  • For one character, one personality is caring, protective (show as a female), the other is an agressive, destructive (shown as a male).
  • For another character, the personalities manifest as their reflection in the mirror. They tell the character what is the right thing to do.

Scenes

Ep1-2

• The street protests could be used to show street protests, although you might easily find footage of those elsewhere.

Ep2

• The conspiracy theory convention could be used to depict a similar convention.

Ep3

• The skating incident is a good way to show what can go wrong in a dark comedy way.
  

Ep8

• The scenes when the Boys are captured, is a good way to show how a group of people are captured by super-human police, after a failed escape attempt.

Designs

 

Scenario ideas - Role-playing game scenario ideas

Ep1

Assassination attempt: The characters are tasked with poisoning an important person at a social event. They need to get the right poison, they need to get access to the place, and they need to make sure the poison gets to the target.

Poison immunity (harder for the players): Their target has some immunity to poisons, so they need to find out what kind of poison will they have to use. If they are not succesful, their poisoning attempt could be found out by the target, and they might start looking for the assassins.

Swapping in secret: The characters are tasked to exchange an item that is being used by their target. They have an very close replica of that item, so the target won't notice the change. They need to find a place where they can get close to the target, or manage to get into a place where the target stores this item.

Why do they need to exchange the original item to the replica (d6):

1-2: The original item has no further value. The replica is slightly poisonous, so every time the item is used, it will slowly kill the target. If they were employed, the characters might not even know about this.

3-4: The original item has a hidden compartment (probably unknown to the target) that contains something the characters (or their employer) need. The replica lacks this compartment - as the maker have no idea about the details of it -, so it will be obvious that the item has been exchanged if the target wants to use the compartment.

5-6: The original item is required for identification to access a place. The replica lacks its identifying properties. When the target wants to use it, it will become clear that it has been swapped.

Crafting the replica (harder for the players): The characters don't have a replica of the item. They need to acquire the original item for a while, or get a real good look of it, so they can get a replica made. If they are not successful, the target might realise what had been done, and start looking for the original item, and the people who took that away.

Scenario ideas - Wargame scenario ideas

 

Ep2

Fighting a multiplying enemy: One side has a model that is able to create a duplicate by spending an action. Every time they dispose of one of the units, roll a d6. On a 1, they've found the original, and all of the others get knocked out. If it's the last unit, you don't need to roll.

Ep8

Escape from the infiltrator (solo game): The player commands a group of bodyguards trying to protect a VIP. Randomly set up an indoors area, with some opened bulkhead doors. Deploy the VIP in the middle of the playing area, and place the bodyguard anywhere on the playing area. The bodyguards have been infiltrated by an assassin - randomly choose one of the bodyguards, and swap the model to an assassin. The bodyguards have weapons and good training. The assassin has better much combat abilities, but it's not invincible. The first action belongs to the assassin, due to the surprise, who uses Random aggressive movement, attacking the VIP if it's in attack range, attacking a bodyguard if one is in attack range, closing up to the VIP. Then the bodyguards can start reacting. The bulkhead doors can be closed, but it takes d3 turns for a door to be fully close. (If this is a low-tech setting, it takes d3 action for one model to force the door closed.) These bulkheads can only be opened or closed by the real bodyguards or the VIP, as the assassin doesn't have the right codes / keys. The game ends if the assassin is killed, the VIP is killed, or all of the doors between the assassin and the VIP are closed.

Victory conditions: The player wins, if the VIP is alive, while more than half of the bodyguards survive. It's a draw if the VIP is alive, but less than half of the bodyguards survive. It's a loss, if the VIP is killed.

Surprise attack (solo game): Sort your team into two evenly matched groups - team A and team B. Set up the playing area as the base of your team. Deploy the members of one of the groups anywhere on the playing area. Roll d6: 1-3: team A, 4-6: team B. Then deploy a group of attackers at the entrance. The attackers would provide an even chance for the whole team. The first action belongs to the attackers, who use Random aggressive movement, attacking, or closing up to the defenders. After the first turn, roll a d6 at the beginning of every turn. On a 1, deploy a random model from the missing team, until every team member is on board.

Victory conditions: The player wins if they defeat the attackers, while more than half of the defenders are alive. It's a draw if they defeat the attackers, but they lose more than half of the defenders. It's a loss, if they can't defeat the attackers.

Escape the hunters (solo game): The player has a small team of operatives, who try to get away from their hunters. However, they are surprised by a team of hunters. Randomly set up a playing area, representing the place where they were caught. Deploy the operatives in the middle. They have weapons ready, and they have good combat skills. Deploy a team of hunters at a random edge of the playing area. They have better equipment than the operatives, and they have higher numbers. The first action belongs to the operatives. Then, the hunters use Random aggressive movement, attacking, or closing up to the operatives.

Victory conditions: The player wins, if more than half of the operatives leave the playing area. It's a draw, if some operatives leave the playing area, but less than half of them. It's a loss, if all of the operatives are taken out.

Super hunters (harder for the player): Among the hunters, there are super-powered units. The operatives don't have a chance against these super hunters, so they have to avoid them during the escape.

Scattered team (multiple games): The original team of operatives were split up into three groups. The player plays three games, with all three of the teams being attacked by a group of hunters. The player wins by gaining more victories than losses.

Miniatures - 1/50-1/60 (28-32mm scale)

Civilians: Human-sized (S3) modern (advanced) human female / male civilian. Find a model!

Super-heroes: Human-sized (S3) modern (advanced) looking super-heroes. Find a model!

* * *

Similar stories - The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

Novels like The Boys: Season 4

Gérald Bronner: How I Became a Superhero (2007): In a similar contemporary setting, the protagonists are police officers, who work against super-powered criminals. Super-powers can be given by a drug.

Graphic novels like The Boys: Season 4

Powers (2000-2020, Image Comics 2000-2004, Marvel 2004-2018, DC Comics 2018-2021, Dark Horse Comics 2021-): In a similar contemporary setting, the protagonists are police officers, who work against super-powered criminals. Super-powers can be given by a drug.

The Boys (Dynamite Comics, 2006-2012, 2020): In a similar contemporary setting, the protagonists are police officers, who work against super-powered criminals. Super-powers given permanently by a chemical (injected drug). Super-powers given permanently to unborn children by a chemical (drug given to their pregnant mothers).

Movies like The Boys: Season 4

Comment je suis devenu super-héros / How I Became a Superhero (2020): In a similar contemporary setting, the protagonists are police officers, who work against super-powered criminals. Super-powers can be given by a drug.

Project Power (2020): In a similar contemporary setting, the protagonists are police officers, who work against super-powered criminals. Super-powers given temporarily by a chemical (ingested drug).

Super-power giving drugs

Scanners (1981): Set in a contemporary setting, Super-powers given permanently to unborn children by a chemical (experimental medicine given to their pregnant mothers). The protagonists are super-powered people recruited by the company responsible for the experiment, who work against super-powered criminals.

Super-powered parasite

Sputnik (2020): In a contemporary setting, the protagonist is infected by a parasite with an aggressive and malicious personality, that gives them superhuman-powers.

Venom (2018): In a contemporary setting, the protagonist is infected by a parasite with an aggressive and malicious personality, that gives them superhuman-powers.

TV series & episodes like The Boys: Season 4

Powers (2015-2016): In a similar contemporary setting, the protagonists are police officers, who work against super-powered criminals.

The Boys: Season 1 (2019): The first season of the The Boys series.

The Boys: Season 2 (2020): The second season of the The Boys series.

The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022): Animated series based on the The Boys TV series.

The Boys: Season 3, TV series (2022): The third season of the The Boys series.

GEN V (2023): A series, that's running as a prequel to The Boys: Season 4.

Games like The Boys: Season 4

* * *

Frequently asked questions - The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

Is the The Boys: Season 4 film based on a book or comics?

Yes, The Boys TV series is based on the The Boys graphic novel series. As far as I can tell, the story is not based on any specific storylines from the original comics. The only similar plotline is that Homelander wants to take over the USA.

Is the The Boys: Season 4 film a remake or reboot?

No, the The Boys: Season 4 film is neither a remake nor a reboot.

Is there a post credit scene in The Boys: Season 4? Does The Boys: Season 4 have end credit scenes? Does The Boys: Season 4 have a post credit scene?

There's no post credit scene in The Boys: Season 4 Ep1-7.

There's a mid-credit scene in The Boys: Season 4 Ep8.

Where can I see The Boys: Season 4? What is The Boys: Season 4 playing on? What streaming service is The Boys: Season 4 on? Where can I watch The Boys: Season 4 online? Is The Boys: Season 4 available on Netflix? Is The Boys: Season 4 on Amazon?

After 2024.06.13, The Boys: Season 4 is available online on Amazon Prime Video.

* * *

Resources - The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

Official

Amazon Prime Video: The Boys: Season 4: Official article.

Information

IMDB: The Boys (TV Series 2019–) Season 4: Database article.

Ep1 - Ep2 - Ep3 - Ep4 - Ep5 - Ep6 - Ep7 - Ep8

WikiPedia: The Boys season 4: Database article.

Rotten Tomatoes: Season 4 – The Boys 2024: Database article.

TVTropes: Series / The Boys (2019): Database article.

The Boys Wiki: Season Four: Database article.

Ep1 - Ep2 - Ep3 - Ep4 - Ep5 - Ep6 - Ep7 - Ep8

Creation

: Concept art article / video.¤

Reviews with no spoilers - The Boys: Season 4 film (2024)

: Review article / video about the The Boys: Season 4 film with no spoilers.¤

Reviews with spoilers - The Boys: Season 4 film (2024)

: Review article / video of the The Boys: Season 4 movie, with spoilers. Includes a very detailed plot summary.¤

Analysis - The Boys: Season 4 movie (2024)

: Analysis article / video, explaining the finale of The Boys: Season 4.¤

MediaRetrospective:  The Problem With Smart Characters | Writing Tips: Analysis video, explaining the problems with the depiction of super-intelligence of Sage in The Boys: Season 4.¤
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Ha6ivZono

 

Heavy Spoilers

Ep6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUcd_tKze0

Ep7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqKB7L91I8Y

Ep8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUmlFeSDfYk

Think Story

Ep1-3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxGE1asKdWk

Ep4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C96S8I2DR0

Ep5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x1z_lk2YXo

Ep6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAxIeCgJ6i0

Screen Crush:

Ep6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBkVebB81Qs

Ep8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDinR1PW3vQ

New Rockstars

Ep8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OznJrw5gsZ8

The Critical Drinker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1ubB8tjL04

Alteori:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9OK9c9pmc

* * *

Buying the product - The Boys: Season 4, TV series for The Boys series (2024)

* * *

Have you seen the The Boys: Season 4 for The Boys series? How do you like the episodes? Would you recommend it to others? Do you know reviews or resources you'd like to add? What further thoughts do you have about it? Tell your opinion in the comments!