The Boys: Final season review

I have really enjoyed The Boys over the last five years. It started out like a breath of fresh air, sharply satirical and boundary pushing. The gross-out giblet gags were appropriately shocking. The undercutting of celebrity culture was bang on. 

Unfortunately, shock and vulgarity yield diminishing returns, and by season five what had once been fresh was turning, well, a little gamey. 

One interview I saw had Jensen Ackles mention that he objected to some of his dialogue, which made Kripke cackle and double down on giving Ackles vile dialogue. Kind of gave me an 'ew' feeling about the brain behind the show. That side of it I could have done with less of, although I did enjoy Kripke's satirical humour a lot.

Don't get me wrong: the show is still incredibly well made, the actors are superb, the humour (generally) sharp, and the action scenes cinematic. 

But five seasons is enough. 

So how was season four? It was... fine. There were lots of great moments and plenty cutting comments. I liked the prison camp stuff. The authoritarian elements Homelander imposed felt suitably oppressive (when they were shown), and the unctuous genuflecting before him properly stomach churning. 

But the season didn't build to a climax so much as... meander.

Homelander declaring himself a god was drawn out and anticlimactic. Our main villain spent the season hanging out with his dad, having meetings, and getting pissy when he wasn't worshipped suffiicently. But he killed only a few people. 

Not what I was expecting for the final season.

My own foolish expectations? I kinda wish they'd had Homelander visit destruction on America's enemies, garnering acclaim at home even as he commits atrocities abroad. Have him kill foreign leaders, annex countries, etcetera. 

Raise the dramatic temperature, and hint that this outward destruction could easily be directed inward. That would presage him going Full Mass-Murderer when he ultimately turns on not just the American people, but humanity itself. 

They could cover his overseas destruction with brief clips on TV, or just have characters discuss it, if budget was an issue. 

Have him put his face on Mount Rushmore, erect giant gold statues of himself, organize supers into a formal personal army to establish a new hierarchy over humanity. 

Have him demand great worship ceremonies as a saviour (on pain of death) even before he decides he's actually a god.  

Something!

That rising tide of horror and grandiosity would build to the climax where he goes Full Monster. 

Everything with Homelander's dad, Soldier Boy, was superfluous to the main plot, only there to connect to the upcoming prequel series. Ugh. 

Many of the characters felt locked in repetitive conflict loops, rehashing endlessly the same points without advancing anything. 

I wouldn't say that was bad, the actors sell their scenes, the show's still solid, but it didn't escalate the way I was hoping. 

The final episode isn't perfect, but it worked (for me) well enough.

Homelander's switch from domineering to grovelling didn't quite ring true, though: Homelander is, emotionally, a five year old. If he lost his powers and was so thwarted, I'd expect a full blown, all consuming tantrum, wailing, shrieking, the works. Lashing out in pure rage. My understanding of his character (obviously not as good as that of the real writers) is that he'd be just too frustrated and panicked (and furious) to argue or even beg intelligibly. His downfall didn't show the all consuming inner rage that I feel is in his core.

But what they did worked on an emotional level, and it's what I'd expect after (if) Homelander was ever able to regain control of his faculties. Although he'd probably try to hide behind the law and his followers (any who were left) if he could.

That he finally got his comeuppance was satisfying. 

Anthony Starr's performance as Homelander has been one of the stand outs of the entire series. He's been phenomenal. The other actors say he's the most like his character, which is both deeply disturbing (Homelander is a vile, despicable monster) and illuminating (cast to type, man!). 

The happy endings, for most of the good-guy cast, landed well. Butcher's fate was sealed given all the horrible things he'd done. I wasn't keen on Vought still existing, or Stan Edgar being back in control, as it diminished the victory over Homelander, but hey, they probably are hoping for more spinoff series.

Will I be watching?

Probably not. The gross-out stuff really wore out it's welcome, and show's point has been made. 

Recommend watching for the closure.