Gross, hard action and unpredictable as always with The Boys. Slightly less catchy than previous seasons, but still pure enjoyment. The fourth season of The Boys was largely as you would expect. Lots of action, unexpected events, incredibly rude, lots of humor but also with enough emotion. In my opinion, this season had a less round story and was largely a build-up to the big climax. That climax hasn't happened yet in this season, but will happen in the fifth season, which will be the final season in the storyline of The Boys. This season consists of eight episodes, each lasting between 59 and 68 minutes.
The Boys is about a world with superheroes. These superheroes did not arise from evolution, but because a large commercial organization Vought started experimenting on (mainly) children. Vought will try to exploit the (most popular) superheroes in every way and try to make money from it. Normally superheroes fight crime or villains (with powers), but in this world that practically only happens in the films and series that Vought makes about superheroes. These are also completely staged. That provides a large part of the humor since you also see the recordings of films and the accompanying trailers. These kinds of elements ensure that it is a unique series that does not fit within the standard comic book formula.
This season is mainly about the conflict between the superheroes who want to seize power over the people and a group that wants to end the superheroes - and specifically a superhero - forever. This isn't people versus superheroes. Both parties work together in both camps. The superheroes are led by Homelander (Anthony Starr: Banshee) who likes to be in the spotlight and is, to say the least, completely insane, and it keeps getting worse. He is supported by a group of elite superheroes, “The Seven”, which includes two new superheroes this season.
This season sees Starlight/Annie January (Erin Moriarty: Jessica Jones) on the other side. So she wants to act against Homelander. There is also a group ("The Boys") who are usually led by Butcher (Karl Urban: Almost Human) and would prefer to get rid of all superheroes completely. Butcher is the most radical of the group and others who have the same goal are more moderate. The cast is very strong and brings the series to a high level. The actors who play Homelander and Butcher know how to make it seem twisted, while also adding emotion to The Boys.
The Boys is one of the grossest series I know. Almost every episode someone dies in an unexpected and unique way and there is no shortage of blood splatter on the screen and in the field of view. Sometimes The Boys actually goes too far and becomes vulgar. But the story is also well put together and the makers really know how to create something unique.
Almost every episode someone dies in an unexpected and unique way and there is no shortage of blood splatter on the screen and in the field of view
Just because the next season is the last doesn't mean that (the world of) The Boys will end after that. Rather the opposite. The second season of the spin-off Gen V is in production, a prequel series about Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles: Supernatural) has been announced and there are also rumors of a spin-off set in Mexico. I will most likely watch all of those series myself.
In short: even though this season felt less impactful than the previous seasons, it is still pure enjoyment of The Boys. Gross action, bizarre storylines, good cast and lots of humor. Certainly one of the better and consistently strong superhero series.
Based on the foregoing, the fourth season of The Boys receives a well-deserved 8.5.
