A fresh trailer for season 4 of “The Boys” is out, and it’s signaling an impending supe-pocalypse. Following the shocking events of season 3, where Homelander’s public murder sparked cheers instead of outrage, he’s no longer satisfied with mere celebrity status. Now, he’s bent on transforming the Seven into “wrathful gods.” Adding to the chaos is Congresswoman Victoria Neuman, a supe with head-popping abilities and a bid for Vice Presidency, under Homelander’s influence.
Fans familiar with “The Boys” comics can likely see the trajectory. In the comics’ volume 11, “Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men,” Homelander stages a coup against the U.S. government, prompting the Boys to engage in an all-out war to overthrow him. This sets the stage for a showdown that’s been brewing since the series’ inception.
However, comic aficionados know that this is only the beginning of the end. Volume 12, “The Bloody Doors Off,” sees the team facing their ultimate adversary: Butcher himself. Driven by a conviction that all supes must be eradicated, Butcher orchestrates a targeted attack using a deadly virus. While he meets his demise at the hands of Hughie, the fallout is catastrophic.
The season 4 trailer, coupled with hints from the spin-off “Gen V,” suggests that Karl Urban’s Butcher is headed down a similar path. Following a failed attempt to kill Homelander using Compound V, Butcher is now battling terminal brain cancer, his revenge against the supes racing against time. Meanwhile, investigations into a virus targeting supes lead him to a chilling discovery: a weapon he dubs “The answer to all our prayers.”
With Homelander gearing up for war and new allies pushing Butcher towards drastic action, the stage is set for unprecedented chaos. The show’s creator, Eric Kripke, has hinted at a five-season arc, suggesting that season 4 will mark the march towards an inevitable conflict, with season 5 adapting the comic’s climactic arcs.
Thematically, Butcher emerges as the story’s final antagonist, embodying toxic masculinity in its purest form. While the show has deviated from its source material in significant ways, Butcher’s arc remains central to its narrative. His complex relationship with characters like Starlight/Annie and his own son Ryan adds layers of depth to his character, setting the stage for a gut-wrenching finale.
As “The Boys” gears up for its fourth season, the stakes have never been higher. With tensions escalating and loyalties tested, the show promises to deliver its trademark blend of dark humor and social commentary when it returns on June 13, 2024.
