The season four of The Boys returns with a explosive, unapologetic approach with its graphic show of violence and ironic narrative while exploring the possibilities of a superhero story. Using imperfect "heroes," Eric Kripke's series, which picks up where Garth Ennis' comic left off, peels back the layers of celebrity, power, and corruption to reveal society's darkest corners. The hero the audience sometimes enjoys and frequently dislikes Homelander (Antony Starr), is at the center.
Homelander himself is fascinating as a character who strikes a balance between heavenly authority and immature instability, in fact. The main plot point of this season is the growing division between The Boys, led by Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and the corrupt superheroes they desire to burn down. However, Butcher's retribution storyline remains unchanged, and his complexity is increased by his moral dilemmas and the ghosts of his past.
Meanwhile, the fourth season is stronger than ever in power, abuse and exploitation themes. Often revealing in extreme violence and shock value, the show seems equally to provide sharp commentary on media, politics and just how easily those in power can sway society. New characters that add to the chaos of the show, especially with the introduction of extreme and violent ideals and big corporations who are willing the manipulate the public in exchange of profits. A standout new character is Firecracker(Valorie Curry) , a volatile superhero with firecracker-like powers who rises from a conspiracy theorist to join The Seven. Her role as a Homelander supporter adds tension and chaos, while her past rivalry with Starlight intensifies the personal stakes.
The most striking element about this season of The Boys is the study and exploration of what a hero or villain is in a world where everything can be ambiguous or blurry. Through sarcastic dialogue, the show forces the harsh truths about who holds the power and gives the audience the cost that the characters go through to hold that power, while showing the extremely intense action scenes. Although the fourth season may not be for everyone, it is still one of the most fascinating and cognitively demanding television shows. The show deserves a rating of 4.0/5.0