The Boys Season 4 Episodes 1-3 Review: As Sharply Funny and Relevant As Ever

The Boys Season 4 Episodes 1-3, “Department of Dirty Tricks,” “Life Among the Septics,” and “We’ll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here,” barrel full-steam ahead onto Prime Video as a strong, punchy triple-episode opener. 

The Boys Are Back in Town 

These first three episodes waste no time jumping into the action. They feel more singularly focused in that regard. The Boys try to kill Victoria Neuman while Butcher has his own objective: Free Ryan from the mercurial Homelander. 

Knowing that Season 5 will be the show’s last, it’s interesting to see the writers plant seeds for the inevitable end. For example, Butcher’s terminal diagnosis at the end of Season 3 sets the stage for Season 4 and beyond. “Department of Dirty Tricks” highlights Homelander’s insecurities as he faces mortality. This deep dive into his weaknesses will undoubtedly yield fruit on the “Destroy Homelander” front (perhaps in the final season). 

Performances 

It’s indisputable — Antony Starr is an absolute standout (as always) on The Boys. He commands attention in every scene. It’s mind-boggling how he hasn’t been nominated for an Emmy yet. Starr deftly navigates Homelander’s capricious nature.

He dances on a knife’s edge between stoicism equivalent to that of a marble statue and a fiery rage that consumes everything in its path. With Homelander, you seldom know which camp he’ll fall into at any given moment. That scene where he laughs maniacally and inches closer to Neuman? Utterly nightmare-inducing. 

Karl Urban’s Butcher is a bull in a china shop. He, too, is all razor-sharp edges and piss and vinegar. However, there’s a cheekiness to Urban’s performance. He’s having a blast with this character, and it’s equally fun for us to watch him mine the depths of what could easily be a one-dimensional player. 

As for the newcomers, Susan Heyward as Sister Sage can stand toe-to-toe with Starr’s Homelander any day of the week. Sage is already a compelling character, and Heyward injects her with nuance while delivering an understated performance. Sage’s calm demeanor, tinged with mild amusement and subtly manipulative tendencies, makes her a fun scene partner, especially with Homelander. 

The Satire of It All 

The Boys always nails its brand of satire on the head. This season is no exception. These first three episodes have their collective finger on the pulse of the cultural zeitgeist. Whether it’s the alt-right’s penchant for shit-stirring, the corrupt justice system, or the white supremacists falling prey to their inane conspiracy theories, this show feels more relevant than ever. 

Episode three, “We’ll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here,” zeroes in on the harm of spreading misinformation, especially on social media. The writers are incredibly aware of the state of our world, and they expertly reflect that back at us on The Boys. 

The satire never feels too heavy-handed, either. This series has never advertised itself as subtle or under the radar. It’s bold, bloody, and big. In that respect, the brilliant commentary is just as in-your-face as the ultraviolence. 

Don’t worry; these first three episodes haven’t quite eclipsed Herogasm, but Season 4 appears to be well on its way to accomplishing this. (That said, that Rob Benedict scene is mentally scarring.) However, the bursts of boisterous violence, overtly sexual imagery, and cheeky social commentary meld together to form a high-octane, entertaining start to the season. 

The Characters 

Additionally, Season 4 digs deeper into our core characters, from Kimiko’s venture into therapy to Hughie’s family drama and more. As usual, the acting and writing do justice to these characters’ stories. 

So far, Season 4 is off to a strong start, with plenty of laugh-out-loud and make-you-gasp moments in equal measure. Here’s hoping the f*cks, the action, and the over-the-top, sharp comedy are never in short supply in the coming episodes. 

Stray Observations: 

• Homelander being into Smash Mouth feels very on-brand for him. 
• If you look closely, you’ll see a nod to Gen V with a cardboard cutout of Polarity at Vought Video in “Department of Dirty Tricks.”
• Will Ferrell having a cameo on this show was not on my 2024 bingo card, but I love it. 
• Oh, Chuck. Is this what you have been up to since Supernatural ended?
• Also not on my 2024 bingo card: Tilda Swinton voicing a squid who’s in love with Chace Crawford. The delightful surprises never cease! 

What did you think of these episodes of The Boys? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Boys drops new episodes every Thursday on Prime Video. 

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