Beware the Jabberwock, My Son

A show is only as good as its villains. "The Boys" demonstrated this perfectly in Season 3, which was arguably the best season so far. This success was largely due to the development of several characters into stronger and darker versions of themselves, alongside the introduction of the formidable Soldier Boy. Multiple well-developed villains added depth and intensity to the storyline, enhancing the overall quality of the season.

The makers of "The Boys" seem to have remembered and applied this formula in the latest episode of Season 4. Characters are being rapidly developed, becoming stronger and more complex. This has injected new life into the series, making it feel more action-packed and well-rounded. The eventual payoff this season promises to be epic.

This episode was filled with gore and manic action, staying true to the original brand of "The Boys." It's a delight to watch after a period of slower development. Homelander and Butcher, the opposite sides of a coin, have found their groove, reclaiming control of the narrative. Their interactions and the use of their shadow-selves make for compelling viewing.

The supporting characters have their intriguing side quests, but the show has skillfully ensured that the main plot remains at the forefront. Subplots involving A-Train, Ashley, Hughie, and Stan Edgar are the most compelling, hinting at exciting developments ahead. However, Kimiko and Frenchie's storyline seems to falter due to its over-reliance on past trauma. The show would benefit from adopting the 'show, not tell' approach for these characters.

The addition of returning characters is a cherry on top, though the Godolkin graduates could have been used more effectively. Nevertheless, the episode's high-energy action and humor make it a standout. The song choice at the end was top-notch, deserving full credit to the director.

Overall, this episode of "The Boys" is a return to form, delivering the intense, darkly humorous content that fans love. It's a promising indicator of an epic season ahead.

"Mind. Blown. 'Beware of the Jabberwocky, My Son' is a masterclass in storytelling, character development, and pure, unadulterated chaos. The Boys takes a deep dive into Butcher's troubled past, expertly weaving together complex themes of trauma, morality, and the blurred lines between good and evil. The tension is palpable, the humor is razor-sharp, and the action scenes are bloody brilliant. Aya Cash shines as Stormfront, delivering a chilling performance that's both captivating and terrifying. The Boys continue to push boundaries, tackling tough topics with wit and style. 10/10" definitely one of the best episodes of the boys this season.

This episode is so good. The plot gave serious character development to both heroes, villains and everyone in between.

Homelander's evil arc continues to be captivating and Antony's presence on screen commands attention with all brand new little changes last episode kicked into motion. Both him and Jack Quaid are showing some solid acting throughout the whole episode.

Homelander's new attitude affects Ryan's view on good and evil and throws him back into the greys.

Beloved characters make a comeback.

There a dramatic scene which I won't spoil, and it is done so tastefully that changed my whole opinion on the writers and made me realise that, even if having several misses with a couple of the new characters, really are working towards something for both the present and the next seasons.

And one more thing. The humor and character interactions are so exquisite this whole episode! This feels like a much needed throw back to the first two seasons in terms of dialogue and the way characters play off each other.

My only complaint... Kimiko's arc this season continues to feel aimless and has nothing to do this whole episode.

Seasons 1 & 2 were good and compelling, season 3 was mostly good other than the finale. Now it feels like it has nowhere to go. I really hope they don't drag this show on past season 5. I think they built up too much in season 3 about getting rid of Homelander, and it all led to nothing. It's as if it lost it's direction. It's still alright, but it feels, as I read someone else put it, an empty shell of its former self.

I cannot pin it down exactly what it is, but it is just slipping in quality and objective. I have to write more for the character limit, so: this Sage character-they simply say she is the smartest person in the world without doing much to prove it. Nothing she has done has felt impressively smart.

Ok, met the character limit.

Show over all is quality and at least *most* of the plot lines are going somewhere.

It's becoming a bit too obvious with some of the random "loss of powers" during certain scenes though.

The farm suddenly kimiko is not a super human anymore and can't fight off the animals? Nueman can pop a chicken mid flight but when the plot calls for it cannot deal with the sheep? The driver was no problem so I do not understand her powers and the writers just use it when convenient (like the driver). This happened before with homelander not detecting Hughie when he was practically on top of him. The man has super hearing and smell and xray vision. Again kimiko has super healing so why is she ever worried about being hurt?

Starlight and frenchie could just not exist in this season and I don't think it would have any impact to this point. Kimiko likely as well. What is their purpose? At least with hughie it's resolving something and...well...sad stuff for sure.

I think this show is starting to suffer the GoT problem with far too many plot lines running simultaneously and it's barely scratching any one story. There's just not enough episodes in this season for how many characters it's trying to cover.