Season 4 of The Boys is nearing its conclusion, and things are taking a darker turn. Episode 6, titled Dirty Business, features the group infiltrating an alt-right meetup where a government coup is being planned by Homelander and Victoria Neuman. The episode is criticized for its ham-handed political commentary and excessive gross-out moments, particularly a scene where Hughie is sexually tortured by Tek-Knight and Ashley. This aspect of the episode is uncomfortable to watch and fails to add any depth to the storyline.
Comparisons are drawn to the first season of The Boys, which is seen as superior due to its coherent storyline and characters that viewers can root for. The current season focuses too heavily on shock value and graphic content, overshadowing plot development. The show’s attempt to redeem A-Train is met with skepticism, as it appears he may meet a violent end soon. The politics in the show are described as heavy-handed and too closely paralleled to real-life events, leading to a lack of cleverness in the storytelling.
As the season progresses, it becomes clear that The Boys has lost its way in terms of character development and narrative depth. The central cast members are given disjointed and undeveloped storylines, with Butcher being isolated with his brain tumor hallucinations. The overarching plot centers around Homelander’s desire for power and control, but lacks any compelling twists or turns. With only one more season left before the series moves to spin-offs, viewers are left feeling disappointed with the direction the show has taken.
Despite the disappointing current season, fans are looking forward to the upcoming second season of Gen V, noting that the show strikes a better balance between gore, sex, and storytelling. The desire to shock viewers with outrageous scenes has overtaken any meaningful character growth or plot development in The Boys. As the series approaches its final season with the current cast, there is a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead in the future spin-off series. Viewers are left hoping for a return to the engaging storytelling and character dynamics that made the earlier seasons of the show so compelling.