Beware the Jabberwock, My Son

Just like I thought from last week's episode, it looks like a main arc this season will be Sister Sage's smarts vs Ashley's cockroach-like survival instincts. My quatloos are on Ashley.

This episode has so many interesting conflicts. Will Homelander succeed in corrupting Ryan? Will Butcher demonstrate that he has anything to offer The Boys in his remaining days on this planet besides entertaining, outlandish chaos? Will Frenchie finally come to grips with his past? Will Stan somehow save poor little Zoe from her demented mom? Will Starlight stop crying and go back to butt-kicking?

The story of Hughie and his parents was tragic in contrast to the horrifying/funny plotline on the Frankenfarm. Nice seeing the Gen V crossover even just briefly.

And of course the brilliant MU parody with 1000 superhero movie logos, all iterations of each other. Plenty of awkward comedy. "Black At It," good lord.

This episode was quite funny and mostly entertaining. Those animal scene was topnotch. Feels like the OG Boys with that crazy atmosphere and silly action, which kinda reminds you how excellent the show was back in the day. But for love of God ... Starlight is absolutely pointless character. Every single scene is just her complaining about everything. Crying about Butcher, crying about Neuman, crying about everybody's plan. She literally has nothing to offer for the sake of the plot. Maybe (and again - just maybe) it's time for her to leave the series cause she literally meaningless at this point.

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.

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.

To be honest, even though I did like the first three episodes of this season, they definitely weren't as good as what you would expect from this show. But these last two episodes have confirmed that this show has still got it.

All of the main plots and side plots are getting really interesting except maybe Frenchies. There are some returning characters from previous seasons in this one and it's glorious. The actors are also all doing pretty great.

There's some crazy action, good humor, and an intriguing sort of mystery here. Even though last weeks episode was a little better because of the Homelander stuff, this episode had me more invested in all of the plot lines. Standouts in this one are Butcher, Neuman, and a returning character who I wont spoil. I hope this season continues this quality to the end.