Life Among the Septics

The scenes with the nude duplicator clone dudes were absolute cinema and will definitely be on the list of top iconic scenes from The Boys.

This episode pretty much has everything you'd expect from this show; a fight between The Boys and a supe with a weird power, Homelander's training scenes going unsurprisingly wrong, Homelander being petty and talking about normal people as if they're pets, nudity, violence, gore, and all the things you want from the show.

And although the fight scene was pretty good, I found the green screen to be really noticeable which is unlike this show, because the CGI work looked pretty good in previous seasons, but that scene looked like a low-budget green screen work.

Also gotta say Ryan's voice is really funny and I can't take him seriously when seeing sounds like an 8-year-old girl and an 80-year-old woman at the same time. No disrespect to the actor obviously, I just think it's funny that they decided to go with the voice.

And as I guessed from the first episode, we now know a lot about Frenchie's past with Colin's family. I mean they outright say what you're thinking about, they don't seem to be subtle with the dialogue this season. But I guess it's nice that they don't seem to stretch at least this plotline and don't reveal what actually happened. Nevertheless, I am still not sure why we need this Colin character here and his backstory when they literally can give that runtime to Kimiko's past (which they seem to be doing now) after 4 seasons.

And like I said in my last episode's review, the only reason I'm giving these a little lower score is because the writing and the scenarios this season feel off a bit. The dialogue doesn't seem to be as subtle and well-written as before and some scenes seem to be suddenly cut off and we jump to the next scene, when they feel like they need more dialogue.

And the scenarios aren't as unique and creative as before. It feels like they ran out of creative juice and they should've ended the show with this season. I'm still not sure what the plot of this season is and it seems to be setting up for the final fifth season, which is a shame because season 3 felt energetic and alive from its very first episode because you didn't know if they're actually gonna kill Homelander or not. That, and Soldier Boy. This season doesn't have that energy, at least yet, and it feels like a filler setup for the final season. So I hope it gets better from here on out, because the previous seasons peaked at the middle to end episodes, so I'm not gonna say this season is disappointing and bad until we get the whole picture.

So so far, this is the better of the first two episodes elevated by the clone fight, but still suffers from weak dialogue and weird plot progression. But I have hope this is gonna get better as the season goes on.

The first three episodes of Season 4 pack a punch: the references are edgier, the writing is crisper, and the action is better choreographed and more gory than ever.

The music is exceptional, surpassing all previous seasons. Amazon has clearly pulled out all the stops to make this a blockbuster.

These episodes are parody at its finest, exploring the dark side of several social structures and playing it excellently for gags. The actors are all in their groove.

However, I have two minor nitpicks. Mother's Milk and Annie seem to have aged noticeably, whereas the others look as they did in Season 3. The first 10-15 minutes of the season are slightly disorienting because, while we are asked to jump right into the world of "The Boys," it has changed a lot.

Apart from these small issues, the show is smooth sailing and fun viewing.

Initially, I thought "The Boys" was about anti-fascism and the perils of hyper-capitalism. Then I saw it as a commentary on the current American political landscape, mixed with loads of parodies (which I personally loved).

But watching the three episodes today, I realized that this is a show about coming of age and childhood trauma, with the other layers added for cinematic appeal.

The show's core focus is on the past of all characters, with the underlying message that our past completely determines who we are. This is made clear in the interaction between Annie and Firecracker.

I expect this season and the subsequent ones to delve into the past trauma of all the main characters, with the groundwork already laid in these episodes. However, focusing on everyone's past may not be very exciting after a few episodes and could slow down the development of the main story.

There can only be so much exposition before it hampers the narrative.

Which Episode Will the Deep "Jump the Shark"?

Not in the Fonzie style, The Boys series did that early this season.

I mean in the twisted way The Boys always deal with pescaphillia.

The first two seasons of this show were amazing. I have watched the first 3 and fallen asleep each time.

I'm not alone.

This show used to be a "must see" series like GoT or Ozark. Now, it is more like a chore. I'm hoping it is like the 5th season of GOT.

I'm not holding my breath.

The worst part is I live in Toronto and the inconvenience with traffic, is no longer worth the end product.

If the show must continue, can you please use another city for filming.

This is shaping up to be the best season yet. The current events satire is strong but stuff like TruthCon has got to be the easiest satirical target ever. Makes me wonder why this hasn't been tried more often. Is The Boys the only series with the guts to do it?

Adding a character like Sister Sage could have backfired because it's easy to come up with a new character who is super strong or can melt you from the inside out or whatever. You just hand the work off to the CGI folks.

But the smartest woman, sorry, person, in the world is not so easy. The writers have given themselves the challenge of writing a person who actually IS smart, says smart things, does smart things. And you know what, I think they're pulling it off.

This episode strikes an impressive balance between sharp satirical writing and committed ensemble performances, delivering one of the season's most technically accomplished outings. The cinematography employs a mockumentary-style approach that feels authentic to real conspiracy conventions, with handheld cameras capturing the chaotic energy of true believers in their natural habitat. The lighting design cleverly shifts between harsh fluorescents during the convention scenes and warmer, more intimate tones during character moments, creating visual distinction between public spectacle and private revelation.

The editing rhythm deserves particular praise, maintaining a brisk pace that mirrors the rapid-fire nature of conspiracy theorizing while allowing breathing room for the more absurd moments to land. Quick cuts between speakers at the fictional TruthCon create a sense of overwhelming information overload that perfectly mirrors the real-world experience of diving into conspiracy rabbit holes. The sound design enhances this effect, layering multiple voices and ambient convention noise to create an authentically overwhelming atmosphere.

Performance-wise, the ensemble demonstrates remarkable commitment to their roles without descending into pure caricature. The actors playing conspiracy theorists walk a delicate line, finding the humanity within the absurdity while still highlighting the genuine dangers of misinformation. Their delivery feels naturalistic rather than broad, which makes the more outlandish theories land with greater comedic impact.

The production design shows meticulous attention to detail in recreating the aesthetic of real conspiracy conventions - from the hastily printed banners to the makeshift booth displays. These visual elements ground the satire in recognizable reality, making the commentary feel more pointed rather than dismissive.

The episode's structure builds momentum effectively, starting with seemingly harmless oddball theories before escalating to more concerning territory. This progression feels organic rather than forced, allowing viewers to experience the same gradual descent that often characterizes real conspiracy thinking.

While the satirical targets are broad, the writing demonstrates enough specificity and research to avoid feeling lazy. The dialogue captures the particular cadences and terminology of conspiracy discourse without relying solely on stereotypes. However, some moments push close to the line between satire and potentially reinforcing harmful ideas, requiring viewers to engage actively with the material.

The technical execution elevates what could have been simple mockery into more thoughtful commentary about information literacy and social media echo chambers. The episode succeeds in being both entertaining and uncomfortable, which feels appropriate for the subject matter.