‘The Boys’ Recap: ‘Season Four Finale’

7/19/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jack Quaid and Erin Moriarty as Hugh ‘Hughie’ Campbell Jr. and Annie ‘Starlight’ January in Episode 408 of ‘The Boys’ – ‘Season Four Finale’. (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Four Finale of ‘The Boys’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Often times, stories where the future is at stake because evil is making a grand push to ruin it, end in a happy manner. Where somehow, someway, the heroes find the right path forward to defeat evil and bring the world together. Which is especially true in superhero stories since they are indeed about heroes who are the best version of us, and it also gives the audience or reader faith in tomorrow and faith in humanity. As though we will indeed overcome and always triumph over evil. But that is also, escapist in nature since we know deep down… that good doesn’t always win. For reasons we don’t always fully understand since it is superior to evil in every sense of the word.

Which is why the season four finale of The Boys on Prime Video is of note. Simply because this episode opted to buck the norms and provide us with a devastating tale… where evil won. Through means that made sense, and it accomplished such a feat via a mad dash to the finish line to stop Homelander through desperate means. One of which involved Butcher’s last-ditch effort to get Ryan to try and turn upon his father. Which wasn’t a terrible idea since Ryan was getting the Nth degree from dear old dad. But all that did, was deeply confound a young Supe even more, to the point where a life was lost and so was he. So, any hopes of stopping Homelander through blood were wasted in that moment, and of course… the Boys weren’t exactly winning either on their end.

Since the Annie-Shifter wiped every bit of evidence needed to bring Vicky to accountability, and chaos was put into motion with the Vice President-Elect anyways since Homelander decided to just out her on live television. Which bought forth rioting in the streets and set the groundwork for failure. Granted there was A win for the team, since Annie got free, and the Shifter paid the piper. But alas, despite defeating the Shifter, the Boys were left in tatters since they still had no options for success and no hope of stopping the Supes from taking over. They were just floating about listless here while chaos reigned supreme, even at Vought HQ. Wherein Homelander decided it was time for a cleansing to keep the loyal in play, a move that forced Ashely to pump a little V into her veins.

Claudia Doumit and Antony Starr as Victoria Neuman and Homelander in Episode 408 of ‘The Boys’ – ‘Season Four Finale’. (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video.)

All of which, allowed for the worst-case scenario to come to fruition. Because eventually, a vulnerable Vicky was ripped to shreds by a mentally shattered, and V mutated Butcher, and her death and the subsequent leaked footage of the President-Elect ordering her termination, led to his arrest and a near constitutional crisis. One that was a product of Sage’s forward thinking. Because she returned to reveal this was all part of her sloppy plan to help a loyal Speaker of the House, ascend to the presidency per the constitution. So that he would put Homelander in charge of the police state he dreamed of, and once that was done… ugliness ensued. Since the Boys were captured, minus Annie, and the nation was plunged into darkness.

Because evil won, and that made for a powerful and sobering finale. One that in between those big and tense and uncomfortable moments, explored how evil wins and how that is relevant to the show’s commentary this year regarding Trumpism and the MAGA movement and its attempts to be Homelander, and what it is hoping will happen so it can win. As it turns out, evil wins because good is rarely unified and rarely understanding. Sure, collectively good people mean well, but there are different ideas present on how to win and truly, an eye for an eye is an edict for both sides and evil knows this and is eager to divide us and conquer us and bring us down to its level. But if we showed unity and grace, and poise and determination… maybe things would go different.

Which means that is perhaps the message that Showrunner Eric Kripke is eager to leave us with. To ignore the fear, the noise, and the constant pundit gibberish and unify. Unify and stand up and say enough to ol’ Cheeto von Tweeto and his brand of crazy and put an end to this on Election Day, so we don’t have to think about what horrors his minions are salivating over if they win. Which makes this, a poignant and cautionary finale, one that also sets up a powerhouse showdown. Because now the stage is set for a battle for the ages, as what’s left of the Boys try to stand tall and save America from a true menace and a true madman, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out when this bold series returns for its fifth and final season. Until next time.

Watch ‘The Boys’

0 Comments