THE BOYS: SEASON FOUR
Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Laz Alonso, Jessie T. Usher, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukahara, Chace Crawford, Claudia Doumit, Nathan Mitchell, Cameron Crovetti, Susan Heyward, Valorie Curry, Colby Minifie, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Creator: Eric Kripke
AMARÚ
The first few episodes of The Boys: Season Four lulls you into a sense of normalcy. The episodes move forward with new characters and continuing storylines, but nothing really feels astounding. However, just like the outstandingly nuanced and calculated Sister Sage, played by new series powerhouse Susan Heyward, they are slowly setting pieces on the table to knock you on your ass. Navigating full political commentary without sacrificing any bit of intelligent storytelling, Season Four is the best acted of the series, and it sets up a doozy of a fifth and final season for this modern TV masterpiece.
NICK
Season Four of The Boys feels like the calm before the storm that will be the final season. That's not to say it's boring, but it's a lot of setup only to scramble everything together in the finale. There are clear highlights (A-Train's (Jessie T. Usher) and Butcher’s (Karl Urban) storylines), but there are other parts that don't quite hit (I struggled to care about Hughie (Jack Quaid) and Annie (Erin Moriarty), and the Gen V connection happens too late). I think creator Eric Kripke is ending things at the right time because I'm starting to see a world where things run out of steam.
QUENTIN
I think it’s a blessing that The Boys will end with next season. It’s not that Season Four is bad at all; in fact, it’s quite good. It boasts the same violent carnage, dark humor, gory subversiveness, and worthwhile character development that has successfully driven this show to this point. That said, the political satire is getting to be a little too on the nose, and there is some subtle wheel-spinning that feels like light filler at times. All in all, though? Those are minor complaints, and I’m amped for an explosive final go-round that (hopefully) sees the show go out on top.
PAIGE
For me, The Boys: Season Four is full of highs and lows. On one hand, it lacks story advancement due to unnecessary subplots, which makes the pacing feel a bit off. On the other hand, the superhero series' trademark bloody violence and diabolical what-the-fuck moments are still prominent throughout, keeping it an entertaining watch. However, what really sticks out this season is the commentary on today’s politics and real-world events that ring true in our society. Overall, this season just seemed to be a slow build-up to the insane mayhem that will ensue in the show's final season.
ADRIANO
The Boys: Season Four is a step down from the beasts of the previous seasons, but it's still an invigorating television season, nonetheless. While some of its shock moments sometimes felt purposeless this time around, and there was maybe too much going on, the show's insanity mixed with its grounded character work and commentary on the current political state is still in full force. The cast is still excellent (Antony Starr is MVP again, but shoutout to Jessie T. Usher), and there were moments when I was genuinely scared, especially with the bleak ending, getting me shaken for what's to come.
SHADAN
This season of The Boys is the weakest of the four because it’s overstuffed and meandering. I found myself less invested in what is clearly a transitional season before the finale. Still, I had a blast with the shock and awe of it all. The signature style, violence, and gore are plentiful as always, and it kept me engaged enough to anticipate the next surprise. Karl Urban and Antony Starr remain the MVPs of one of the strongest and most underappreciated ensembles on TV, and even when not in top form, you could do much worse than spending time with The Boys.
KATIE
Although this season of The Boys lacks the momentum and meticulous storytelling of previous seasons, it still manages to showcase bloody, shocking, morbidly funny, carnage-fueled entertainment. Despite its flaws, this season is the tensest yet, with moments that had me fearing for my favourite characters and terrified for what would happen next, which is only exacerbated by the timely political commentary. Plus, the entire cast is incredible, in particular Antony Starr’s phenomenally unnerving performance as Homelander. With this solid setup, I’m looking forward to all this character development and attention to subplots paying off next season.
