The Boys: Wisdom of the Ages
June 22, 2024 3:50 PM - Season 4, Episode 4 - Subscribe
Homelander pays some scientists a visit. Firecracker broadcasts the first episode of her new show. Hughie asks A-Train for help.
Apparently Homelander's maniacal laugh was unscripted!
I enjoyed this short YouTube interview with Colby Minifie (Ashley), Susan Heyward (Sage), and Valorie Curry (Firecracker), mainly for the bit at the end where Valorie talks about playing Firecracker from an LGBTQ+ perspective:
I enjoyed this short YouTube interview with Colby Minifie (Ashley), Susan Heyward (Sage), and Valorie Curry (Firecracker), mainly for the bit at the end where Valorie talks about playing Firecracker from an LGBTQ+ perspective:
I love that I get to play her because I think it should be one of our own that gets to make an ass out of herposted by simonw at 7:22 PM on June 22 [4 favorites]
I didn't think the Starlight fight was disappointing. As a woman, Starlight's rage at having her abortion made public absolutely made sense to me even though it's obvious bait. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and think people should take the high road, but when it's your medical history being put on blast like that? Fuck that. Plus Starlight had to know once that became public the supes bill was toast. No way the repubs would sign on that no matter what she did. I absolutely enjoyed that beatdown. Might as well enjoy beating the crap out of Firecracker. I know I enjoyed watching it.
To me the real shame of that whole situation was sending Frenchie of all people to toss Firecracker's trailer. He's good at a lot of things, but that isn't one of them. But he's also very clearly off his game so sending him without backup? It was just a dumb desperate decision all around, but I guess necessary for the Butcher reveal.
I did not have lobotomy play on my bingo card, but I'm impressed that the creativity pervisity of the show continues.
posted by miss-lapin at 7:45 PM on June 22 [5 favorites]
To me the real shame of that whole situation was sending Frenchie of all people to toss Firecracker's trailer. He's good at a lot of things, but that isn't one of them. But he's also very clearly off his game so sending him without backup? It was just a dumb desperate decision all around, but I guess necessary for the Butcher reveal.
I did not have lobotomy play on my bingo card, but I'm impressed that the creativity pervisity of the show continues.
posted by miss-lapin at 7:45 PM on June 22 [5 favorites]
What are you talking about, simonw, Simon Pegg has been knocking it out of the park this season! :D
Loved how Homelander thought he could leave his humanity behind by settling the scores that have plagued him for decades only to find out his need for love and approval was burned into him as a child and he’ll never be able to surmount it. Also, I always love a Carvel callout! I had to rewind that final shot of the decimated Fudgie the Whale because at first glance I thought it was mashed up human bodies… Turns out that shot came just a few seconds later.
Feeling a little iffy about Kimiko and Frenchie’s B-plots. The brilliant thing about Breaking Bad was its focus—almost everything that happened in that show was either a direct result of the central premise, or had a significant bearing on it. The one exception was the Marie shoplifting side story, which had nothing to do with anything, never went anywhere, and wound up being uninteresting. The Frenchie/Colin story might be dramatic and deepen Frenchie’s character, but it feels like a detour. Kimiko’s Shining Light sidebar does as well, but at least it resulted in closure for the original inciting incident of the series. Hughie having that moment of understanding with A-Train was super understated while being super powerful.
Despite what I said above, I’m cool with these side stories if they were necessary just to keep Frenchie and Kimiko in the mix. I love the characters and the actors and wouldn’t want to see less of them. The whole cast is great but I alway give Karen Fukuhara extra props since she doesn’t get to voice her dialogue in a dialogue-focused show. The brief running gag in the TruthCon episode of Kimiko admitting to drinking more and more beers was just as hilarious in sign language as it would have been spoken, thanks to her.
Finally, as someone who grew up reading the original Lee/Kirby issues of Fantastic Four, props to this show for making stretching powers actually impressive and scary and not just goofy.
posted by ejs at 9:30 PM on June 22 [4 favorites]
Loved how Homelander thought he could leave his humanity behind by settling the scores that have plagued him for decades only to find out his need for love and approval was burned into him as a child and he’ll never be able to surmount it. Also, I always love a Carvel callout! I had to rewind that final shot of the decimated Fudgie the Whale because at first glance I thought it was mashed up human bodies… Turns out that shot came just a few seconds later.
Feeling a little iffy about Kimiko and Frenchie’s B-plots. The brilliant thing about Breaking Bad was its focus—almost everything that happened in that show was either a direct result of the central premise, or had a significant bearing on it. The one exception was the Marie shoplifting side story, which had nothing to do with anything, never went anywhere, and wound up being uninteresting. The Frenchie/Colin story might be dramatic and deepen Frenchie’s character, but it feels like a detour. Kimiko’s Shining Light sidebar does as well, but at least it resulted in closure for the original inciting incident of the series. Hughie having that moment of understanding with A-Train was super understated while being super powerful.
Despite what I said above, I’m cool with these side stories if they were necessary just to keep Frenchie and Kimiko in the mix. I love the characters and the actors and wouldn’t want to see less of them. The whole cast is great but I alway give Karen Fukuhara extra props since she doesn’t get to voice her dialogue in a dialogue-focused show. The brief running gag in the TruthCon episode of Kimiko admitting to drinking more and more beers was just as hilarious in sign language as it would have been spoken, thanks to her.
Finally, as someone who grew up reading the original Lee/Kirby issues of Fantastic Four, props to this show for making stretching powers actually impressive and scary and not just goofy.
posted by ejs at 9:30 PM on June 22 [4 favorites]
Some dudes will brutally murder the entire team of scientists who raised them in a secret lab rather than seek therapy.
posted by whir at 10:43 AM on June 23 [11 favorites]
posted by whir at 10:43 AM on June 23 [11 favorites]
There is an interesting question, if you know psychology has been used against you by unethical therapists in the past, can you ever build the necessary trust with a legit doctor later in life? 🤔
posted by funkaspuck at 12:11 PM on June 23 [2 favorites]
posted by funkaspuck at 12:11 PM on June 23 [2 favorites]
I can nazi that happening.
posted by fairmettle at 6:18 PM on June 23 [1 favorite]
posted by fairmettle at 6:18 PM on June 23 [1 favorite]
A-Train is not going to make it out of this show alive, but he's going to die a hero.
I was a smidge confused, though, but someone else doped Simon Pegg up with the V, right? It wasn't Hughie? Was it somehow his mom? (I remember she has some connection to Vaught.) Anyways, I hope it's more of a case of Pegg having some funny/incredible power, and less being some kind of horrible monster like what's her name's daughter with the mouth snakes.
The fact that Frenchie accidentally has a cute meet and falls for the guy who's family he brutally murdered years ago is what's undermining this whole subplot for me. I think it would have been fine if it was more of a case of the person learning the truth about Frenchie's past as a killer and what not, instead of having to make it directly personal. But, The Boys doesn't miss it's chance to be a bit soap opera, either.
Kimiko I don't mind as much as it's possible that one who travels in disreputable circles (as one does when one is killing supes or working for the CIA), that they might be in a part of one of the big international cities and see an international gang operating out of it. That makes more sense, at least to me. Though, still interested in seeing where they go with it.
posted by Atreides at 6:41 AM on June 24 [5 favorites]
I was a smidge confused, though, but someone else doped Simon Pegg up with the V, right? It wasn't Hughie? Was it somehow his mom? (I remember she has some connection to Vaught.) Anyways, I hope it's more of a case of Pegg having some funny/incredible power, and less being some kind of horrible monster like what's her name's daughter with the mouth snakes.
The fact that Frenchie accidentally has a cute meet and falls for the guy who's family he brutally murdered years ago is what's undermining this whole subplot for me. I think it would have been fine if it was more of a case of the person learning the truth about Frenchie's past as a killer and what not, instead of having to make it directly personal. But, The Boys doesn't miss it's chance to be a bit soap opera, either.
Kimiko I don't mind as much as it's possible that one who travels in disreputable circles (as one does when one is killing supes or working for the CIA), that they might be in a part of one of the big international cities and see an international gang operating out of it. That makes more sense, at least to me. Though, still interested in seeing where they go with it.
posted by Atreides at 6:41 AM on June 24 [5 favorites]
I was confused about the Starlight supes bill plot. I thought it was about putting a bunch of restrictions on supes—no supes in the military, regulatory oversight of Vaught, etc.
So wouldn't Starlight going berserk violent make legislation to restrict scary supes more politically popular?
posted by straight at 8:15 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
So wouldn't Starlight going berserk violent make legislation to restrict scary supes more politically popular?
posted by straight at 8:15 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
So, Butcher has taken V to try to cure his cancer. What if the V has given his cancer super-powers ? And Becca is a manifestation of that ?
Which gives me a further thought ... Have we seen Hughie's mom interact with anyone else ? What if she is also somehow a manifestation of Hughie having taken temp-V ?
And ... now I'm seeing hallucinations everywhere :-) How sure are we that Kessler is real ?
posted by Pendragon at 9:13 AM on June 24 [6 favorites]
Which gives me a further thought ... Have we seen Hughie's mom interact with anyone else ? What if she is also somehow a manifestation of Hughie having taken temp-V ?
And ... now I'm seeing hallucinations everywhere :-) How sure are we that Kessler is real ?
posted by Pendragon at 9:13 AM on June 24 [6 favorites]
And ... now I'm seeing hallucinations everywhere :-) How sure are we that Kessler is real ?
This would be both horrible and amazing if it were true. We did see Hughie's mom interact with the nurse/doctor. Unless it was designed to create that impression.
So, Butcher has taken V to try to cure his cancer. What if the V has given his cancer super-powers ? And Becca is a manifestation of that ?
This, though, is a really good theory! That or it somehow jacked into his subconscious and adopted it as its consciousness.
So wouldn't Starlight going berserk violent make legislation to restrict scary supes more politically popular?
This was confusing. The only way I can make sense of it is that somehow Starlight's association with abortion overrides the contents of the bill to make it rejected.
One thing I forgot to add, I have a strong feeling that Sister Sage is out there working to completely bring down Vaught/The Seven. Hence her lobotomies, making it easier to exist in the very thing she detests, long enough to fool Homelander (and everyone else) into taking the steps necesssary to engineer their self destruction.
posted by Atreides at 9:44 AM on June 24 [4 favorites]
This would be both horrible and amazing if it were true. We did see Hughie's mom interact with the nurse/doctor. Unless it was designed to create that impression.
So, Butcher has taken V to try to cure his cancer. What if the V has given his cancer super-powers ? And Becca is a manifestation of that ?
This, though, is a really good theory! That or it somehow jacked into his subconscious and adopted it as its consciousness.
So wouldn't Starlight going berserk violent make legislation to restrict scary supes more politically popular?
This was confusing. The only way I can make sense of it is that somehow Starlight's association with abortion overrides the contents of the bill to make it rejected.
One thing I forgot to add, I have a strong feeling that Sister Sage is out there working to completely bring down Vaught/The Seven. Hence her lobotomies, making it easier to exist in the very thing she detests, long enough to fool Homelander (and everyone else) into taking the steps necesssary to engineer their self destruction.
posted by Atreides at 9:44 AM on June 24 [4 favorites]
I have a similar hunch about Sage. Either she's in it to bring them down or (and I am leaning more in this direction) replace them all with herself.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 10:04 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 10:04 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
Sage seems legit in her beliefs about humans being untermenschen. She just also seems to consider most other supes the same (while using them for her own ends).
If this season ends with the same formula as the last one (Butcher has a shot at Homelander, doesn't take it because they're forced to temporarily unite against Sage), I might cry. Sometimes it's hard to tell my memories of seasons 2-3 apart with the one-season-only big bad plot (Stormfront and Soldier Boy) superimposed on the overall series arc.
posted by supercres at 11:55 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
If this season ends with the same formula as the last one (Butcher has a shot at Homelander, doesn't take it because they're forced to temporarily unite against Sage), I might cry. Sometimes it's hard to tell my memories of seasons 2-3 apart with the one-season-only big bad plot (Stormfront and Soldier Boy) superimposed on the overall series arc.
posted by supercres at 11:55 AM on June 24 [3 favorites]
In the animated episode The Boys Presents: Diabolical: John and Sun-Hee (oddly enough written by Andy Samberg) an injection of V interacts with cancer in a particularly unpleasant way. I've seen fan theories that this is what's happening to Butcher, hence the weird worms under his skin.
I'm pretty sure Hughie's mother gave the V to Simon Pegg, though I think they could have made that a bit more clear.
posted by simonw at 12:28 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]
I'm pretty sure Hughie's mother gave the V to Simon Pegg, though I think they could have made that a bit more clear.
posted by simonw at 12:28 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]
Oh.. I know Hughie's mother gave the V.... But how did she know Hughie had it ? Did she see him holding it ?
posted by Pendragon at 3:11 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 3:11 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]
Right, and how did she even know it was V? The existence of V may be public as-of the end of season one, but that doesn't mean a random person would realize that a blue glass vial contains V if they saw one.
posted by simonw at 3:17 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]
posted by simonw at 3:17 PM on June 24 [3 favorites]
How do we know Hughie’s mom is a random person? She works for Vought. She might be more in on the main story than she lets on. Incidentally, I’m 50% positive Hughie’s dad’s stroke was caused by Neumann’s blood-bending power, in order to keep Hughie off the board and distracted…
posted by ejs at 10:28 PM on June 24 [5 favorites]
posted by ejs at 10:28 PM on June 24 [5 favorites]
Oooh, Neumann theory is good.
Are we determining that the V is the V that Hughie had with him or is it a vial that his mom procured?
posted by Atreides at 7:03 AM on June 25 [2 favorites]
Are we determining that the V is the V that Hughie had with him or is it a vial that his mom procured?
posted by Atreides at 7:03 AM on June 25 [2 favorites]
You know what else is blue and comes in a little glass vial? (a little glass vial?)
posted by Molesome at 7:50 AM on June 25 [3 favorites]
posted by Molesome at 7:50 AM on June 25 [3 favorites]
This season has taken a turn towards making the political commentary extremely explicit. I'm good with that - it's refreshing to see a TV show not shy away from just how unhinged reality is. The thing that's breaking my suspension of disbelief a bit is that this is mostly set in New York City. Really? A Manhattan jury acquits Homelander of murder? Homelander and Starlight have even crowds showing up to support them in Manhattan? Firecracker does a Fox News evangelical all-day rally across the street from Starlight's non-profit in Manhattan without there being tons of protesters? I know it's nitpicky, but it kills me.
posted by cosmic owl at 3:07 PM on June 25 [2 favorites]
posted by cosmic owl at 3:07 PM on June 25 [2 favorites]
It's not set in "our" Manhattan, but rather whatever Manhattan turned into after The Seven and Vought influencing the country for decades (including through subsidiaries like music, media, medical, food, etc). Vought International is headquartered in Manhattan, so you have offices for all their subsidiaries not to mention all the non-Vought industries that will grow up around them without belonging to them directly. All in all, probably a very different Manhattan!
posted by mikepop at 12:26 PM on June 26 [3 favorites]
posted by mikepop at 12:26 PM on June 26 [3 favorites]
wouldn't Starlight going berserk violent make legislation to restrict scary supes more politically popular?
posted by straight
Logic is not how politics works in the age of Television
posted by eustatic at 12:41 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
posted by straight
Logic is not how politics works in the age of Television
posted by eustatic at 12:41 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Was it somehow his mom? (I remember she has some connection to Vaught.)
She sells essential oils or something of the sort manufactured by Vought. Hmm, wonder if there might be something a little sus in one of those vials?!?!
posted by Saxon Kane at 9:43 AM on July 4
She sells essential oils or something of the sort manufactured by Vought. Hmm, wonder if there might be something a little sus in one of those vials?!?!
posted by Saxon Kane at 9:43 AM on July 4
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The scenes with Homelander really did cement him in my mind as a legendary villain. Antony Starr is mesmerizing.
The Starlight plot was disappointing. The trap set for her was so obvious it's hard to accept she fell for it.
The lobotomy scene was nasty!
Can't wait to see what happens next with Simon Pegg - it's about time he had something more interesting to do on the show!
posted by simonw at 3:55 PM on June 22 [7 favorites]