Season 4 of The Boys has fallen flat compared to its previous seasons, struggling to maintain the innovative and engaging satire that once set it apart.
While episodes 4 and 8 are notable standouts, the overall narrative feels stagnant, with significant plot movement only starting to occur in episode 7.
One of the main issues this season is the repetitive humor. The frequent use of “character is revealed to be a sexual deviant,” as a joke setup has become predictable and stale, causing the tone to lose its edge. The show, which initially excelled at parodying the commoditization of political and social causes, now seems to have become a part of what it once mocked. The biting commentary that made the first few seasons a brilliant parody of the superhero genre is now overshadowed by a sense of irrelevance, as superheroes themselves have waned in popularity.
The introduction of new characters has not helped to rejuvenate the series. Sister Sage, touted as “the most intelligent person in the world,” lacks convincing characterization beyond being repeatedly described as such. Additionally, characters like Homelander and Neuman, once terrifying villains, have become almost chummy with the protagonists, diminishing the tension that once drove the show. However, Neuman’s daughter does bring a new level of fright that adds some much-needed intensity.
The season suffers from a formulaic structure, with the plot taking too long to introduce new elements. The first three episodes are slow to establish the season’s direction, mirroring earlier episodes where Homelander repeatedly fails to catch members of The Boys. This redundancy makes the series feel as though it is reestablishing the status quo rather than progressing forward. The decision to start the season months after the cliffhanger of Homelander murdering someone in broad daylight, rather than picking up immediately, has also contributed to this sense of missed momentum.
Despite these criticisms, the show remains entertaining, largely due to its strong cast. The humor, however, has dulled over time, with jokes about characters engaging in bizarre sexual activities becoming less amusing with each repetition. The dialogue is also starting to resemble a more snarky and overly sarcastic tone, with characters being rude to one another. Additionally, Butcher’s use of terms like “incel” and “friendzone” feels out of character.
This season of The Boys must have had a good marketing revenue because it is plastered with product placements from brands like Target, Outback Steakhouse, Nathan’s, Transformers, Carvel, and Flavortown, among others. These placements are very in-your-face and excessive, breaking the immersion of certain scenes and detracting from the overall narrative.
The Boys is facing a problem similar to that of The Walking Dead in its later seasons, with an overabundance of characters and subplots that lack the engagement of the main storylines. While Homelander and Butcher continue to be compelling, the rest of The Boys are not as interesting, at least for now. The show’s political stance remains the same but becomes increasingly overbearing each season, losing the subtlety that once made it clever and impactful.
In summary, while The BoysSeason 4 still has its moments of brilliance, particularly in episodes 4 and 8, it largely suffers from repetitive humor, slow plot development, and a dilution of the satirical edge that once made it a standout series.