The Boysseason 4 made headlines over one major complaint, butthat wasn’t the latest outing’s biggest sin. With its ruthless commentary on current events and gruesome action,The Boyshas always been a somewhat divisive series. However, it feels likeAmazon’s anti-superhero showhas been in the spotlight even more during recent seasons.The Boys’humor hasn’t changed much since its debut, so it’s likely the backlash stems from the series' growing popularity. But there are valid critiques to make about the show as well.
And one issue withThe Boysseason 4 was severely overshadowedby conversations about its political commentary.The Boysseason 4 premiered in June 2024, and it quickly became clear that it wasn’t as gripping as the previous outings. This was arguably season 4’s biggest issue, and it’s a shame it didn’t get talked about more. Hopefully,The Boysseason 5will find a way to overcome this challenge, even if it didn’t make headlines.
The Boys Season 4’s Biggest Problem Was Its Pacing
The Pacing Didn’t Pick Up Until The End Of The Season
There have been numerous criticisms ofThe Boysseason 4, butthis outing’s biggest sin was undeniably its pacing. Previous seasons ofThe Boyswere gripping from beginning to end, with very few lulls in the storytelling. By contrast,The Boysseason 4’s opening episodeswere full of character moments and setup, which felt like regression after season 3’s epic finale. For much of the fourth season, it felt as though the Amazon series was simply setting the stage for season 5. This lowered the stakes and slowed down the pace significantly.
Everything came together duringThe Boysseason 4’s ending, but it felt like certain storylines were meandering for several installments.
It didn’t help thatThe Boys’main characters were all grappling with personal dilemmasthroughout the fourth season, adding numerous subplots to the main story. Everything came together duringThe Boysseason 4’s ending, but it felt like these storylines were meandering for several installments. The subplots involving Hughie’s father and Frenchie’s backstory ensured these characters grew in season 4. Unfortunately, they also made the first few episodes move much slower than they should have.
The Boys Season 4’s Political Commentary Dominated Headlines
The Amazon Show’s Obvious References Got The Most Backlash
The Boys’pacing was its biggest problem in season 4, butthe show’s political commentary dominated headlines instead. This wasn’t all that surprising, asThe Boystruly didn’t hold back in its latest outing. The show has been poking fun at real-life political figures and events since day one. However, its references got even more obvious during season 4, and that made some viewers frustrated with this outing. It led toThe Boysseason 4 getting review bombed, and it overtook conversations surrounding the newest episodes.
Starlight grappling with the aftermath of an abortion, Frenchie’s LGBTQ+ storyline, and Homelander’s takeover of the White House all sparked criticisms ofThe Boysbeing “woke.” Of course, thisbacklash ignores whatThe Boysalways was: a satire that heavily targets rightwing ideology. With political tensions high in the present day, it’s not surprising the main discussions about the show focused on its commentary. But the pacing was the weakest aspect of season 4, and that’s something the writers must contend with in season 5.
The Boys Now Needs Season 5 To Pay Off Season 4’s Buildup
The Final Season Must Make It All Worthwhile
AfterThe Boysseason 4 spent much of its run resolving the characters' personal conflicts — and setting the stage for a bigger showdown — season 5 must pay off all the build-up. Although the pacing of season 4’s early episodes wasn’t great, the later ones did fix this problem. AndThe Boysseason 4’s bombshell ending left most viewers eager to see what comes next.The Amazon series can still go out on a high note, but season 5 needs to deliver on its promises. Homelander and Butcher must get their big face-off, and the Supe army must fully go off the rails.
This will all raise the stakes duringThe Boys’final season, setting it up for success when it finally debuts. The next outing can’t afford to continue the fourth season’s slower pacing, as it has a lot to resolve during the final episodes. The Boys team must defeatHomelander and his Supe army, but Butcher could also pose a problem. Additionally,The Boysseason 5 must decide whether Ryan chooses good or evil and connect the series toGen V.There’s a lot to cover in a limited number of episodes, so hopefully, the show will make a comeback on the pacing front.
The Boys
Cast
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
