Initially, a comic series published by Wildstrom, “The Boys,” created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, boldly dismantles the superhero mythos. Its first three seasons plunged viewers into a world where superheroes, or “supes,” bask in their own corruption, abusing their powers unchecked. The narrative centers on a gritty band of vigilantes led by Billy Butcher, who are determined to hold these flawed icons accountable. The series, rich with dark humor and graphic content, offers a scathing critique of celebrity culture and media spin.

The Boys (Season 4: Episodes 1-4)

The Boys are back in town… unfortunately. It’s been a year since Butcher and crew nearly defeated Homlander, only to be thwarted at the last minute (probably by a corporate exec’s desire to milk the series for more money instead of giving it a natural and satisfying ending). Mother’s Milk has taken over the crew, and The Boys find themselves with far less direction and a lot more free time to pursue side projects.

The Boys (Season 4: Episodes 1-4) Review

Despite its always strong performances (Erin Moriarty drunkenly slurring through her surgically butchered face notwithstanding) and a limited number of characteristically well-done action set pieces, The Boys is a narrative mess with no clear plot and far too much focus on individual characters and their relatively mundane life-hurdles.

                   

The almost never-ending tension from previous seasons only shows up occasionally as uninteresting secondary characters do uninteresting and/or telegraphed things. Homelander is a virtual nonentity as he defers to his new vastly superior strong black female advisor, and once fearsome male characters are dropped several pegs to become The Deep-level comic relief.

If you’re a fan of the series, do yourself a favor: stop at season three and pick up copies of the original comics. It would take a Compound V-like narrative serum to save this season from itself.

WOKE REPORT

You Name It

• I stopped taking notes before the first episode had concluded. With the exception of the Trans agenda, which they shoved down the audience’s throats in the spin-off series Gen-V, the first half of season 4 uses virtually every scene as a chance to shove woke BS down the audience’s throat. If someone isn’t whining about race and gender inequality, the show is busy emasculating EVERY male character, and $h!tting on Trump and his supporters specifically and the Right in general. It’s become boring and predictable and very little fun.