The Boys Season 4 Ending, Explained

The Boys Season 4 Ending, Explained

As a long-time fan of The Boys, I must confess that the ending of season four left me reeling with a mix of emotions. Having witnessed the gruesome consequences of power corruption and moral decay throughout the series, I had hoped for a glimmer of redemption or at least some semblance of a happy ending. Alas, it seems that the darkness has only intensified.


In just a few short seasons, The Boys has gone from a more realistic storyline to an explosive narrative filled with gods-like supers. It’s astonishing to reflect on the early stages of the series, which presented Vought’s supes as mere celebrities, and contrast it with their current roles as politicians and enraged deities. The upcoming finale promises an intense climax, but the journey to reach this point has been far from straightforward. As we approach the end of season four, let’s explore potential directions for Butcher and his team.

Listening to Eric Krippe, the creator of “The Boys,” share that he had a clear ending planned for the show brought great reassurance. So many series lose steam when they extend beyond multiple seasons and grapple to keep audience engagement with recurring storylines. Although some aspects of “The Boys” appeared worn in its near-conclusion, the anticipation of witnessing the grand scheme makes it all worthwhile.

What happens in The Boys season four?

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

Stars

Jack Quaid, Karl Urban, Anthony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jesse T. Usher, Laz Alonso, and many more

Episodes

8

Release Date

June 13, 2024–July 18, 2024

In the fourth season of “The Boys,” the team, now led by Marvin “Mother’s” Milk, initiates an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Victoria Neuman, a secret supes’ leader and VP candidate. Frenchie and Kimiko stumble upon Neuman’s supe daughter, Zoe. When Butcher intervenes, they learn that Neuman is nearly indestructible. Butcher comes face to face with Homelander and his son, Ryan, who discovers Homelander’s terminal illness – cancer consuming him. Determined to keep his promise to his deceased wife, Butcher seeks help from an old friend named Joe Kessler in taking down supes. Simultaneously, Homelander is frustrated by the constant flattery around him and recruits Sister Sage into the Seven. Sister Sage devises a plan for Homelander to rule over a new world order. During Homelander’s trial for killing a protestor, which results in an acquittal, Starlight supporters become enraged. In the chaos, A-Train, Black Noir (II), and the Deep eliminate three Homelander fanatics and toss their bodies into the crowd. The media portrays the anti-Homelander movement as a violent mob.

In the fourth installment of “The Boys,” several time bombs are ticking. Butcher’s health is deteriorating, pushing him to resist Homelander’s manipulations towards Ryan. Hughie learns his father has had a stroke and lies in a coma. A-Train momentarily turns against the Seven, and M.M. convinces him to become a reliable informant. Sage recruits Firecracker, an emerging alt-right supervillain, for their propaganda machine. Hughie makes amends with his estranged mother. Neuman joins forces with Homelander to bring Robert Singer into the White House, only to eliminate him and seize power. Their scheme faces numerous obstacles, yet Homelander is the true threat. Despite his intelligence and abilities, Homelander is growing older and losing grip on his remaining sanity. At the midpoint of the season, Homelander attacks the lab that raised him, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Upon returning to the Seven, he adopts a new ideology.

In “The Boys” season four, the looming crisis may revolve around the Gen V supe virus. Butcher’s team stumbles upon a secluded farm where they find numerous animals infected with Compound V. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Sameer, the scientist responsible for creating the virus, goes missing. Desperate to create a lethal version of the pathogen capable of killing Homelander, Butcher and Joe capture Sameer, only for Butcher to later discover that Joe is merely a figment of his own hatred. With heavy hearts, The Boys enlist Frenchie, fresh out of prison, to help enhance the virus. As details about Homelander’s plan to eliminate Singer surface, tensions rise and forces converge, threatening the president’s life. Meanwhile, A-Train flees with his family, Ryan gains newfound confidence on live television, and Sister Sage is dismissed by Homelander due to their failed attempts to locate the leak in his ranks.

How does The Boys season four end?

The Boys Season 4 Ending, Explained

As Butcher bids farewell to Hughie, Grace Mallory appears with a last-minute assignment. An unidentified shifter assumes Annie’s appearance, binding her to the floor in a concealed apartment. Deception ensues as “Annie” proposes to Hughie and accepts his mother’s ring following their reconciliation. In the hospital, Butcher encounters Ryan, who is cautious around Homelander but distrustful of Butcher. Mallory reveals Homelander’s atrocities to Ryan, who refuses to believe her and suspects a manipulation. Infuriated, Ryan slays Mallory, leaving a despondent Butcher behind. In despair, Butcher embraces Kessler’s offer, disregarding his previous reluctance. The truth about Annie’s identity is uncovered by Hughie, resulting in a heated encounter. Annie manages to escape and saves the president just in time. With their current strategy failing, The Boys urgently seek a new approach.

Victoria Neuman feels the urgent need to escape from Homelander’s rule. She reaches out to Hughie, seeking forgiveness and asking for help. Convinced that only humans have the power to combat the monstrous villains they face, Hughie manages to win over M.M., Frenchie, Annie, and Kimiko. In return for their assistance, The Boys offer Victoria and Zoe a safe exit from Homelander’s grasp, with all the necessary intel to defeat Vought. As they prepare to part ways, Butcher unexpectedly appears. His tumors, fueled by the Compound V he tried to use as a last resort, emerge as lethal black tentacles from his chest. Butcher disregards Victoria and brutally tears her apart, seizing the anti-supers virus from Frenchie. Now fully prepared to wage genocidal biological warfare, Butcher departs into the night with Kessler in pursuit.

Homelander seems defeated as his manipulated president meets an untimely end. Just as he’s feeling down, Sage reappears with good news – Singer will take the blame for Neuman’s death, and the Speaker of the House swears loyalty to Homelander. Everything has gone smoothly according to plan. A new president, Steven Calhoun, enforces martial law and designates every superhero in the US as Homelander’s subordinates. The Boys, except for Butcher, receive new passports and part ways. However, Hughie, M.M., Frenchie, and Kimiko are apprehended by Supes and soldiers. Annie manages to evade capture by reactivating her dormant abilities and soaring into the heavens. In the closing scene, Homelander makes a shocking discovery: his father, Soldier Boy, lies unconscious in a capsule.

As a passionate gamer, I’m deeply immersed in the world of “The Boys.” Right now, Homelander holds the reins, with supes dominating the streets under his command. The Boys have been taken captive, and Butcher is determined to put things right by taking drastic measures, which could cost millions their lives. It’s hard for me to fathom a more dismal conclusion to this season.

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2024-07-18 23:04