I really love Ashley’s character this season especially- her will to live and doing anything to survive clashing with her want to be a good person makes her one of the most compelling and interesting secondary characters I’ve seen in a while… she got Coleman killed and covered up some really horrible things but also saved Maeve and A-Train.
@@harvest44492I feel that scene distinctly showing leaning more towards being uncomfortable then thinking it’s an act rather than her knowing and not caring
It says something important that Ashley (like Stan Edgar before her) didn't risk a Compound V injection despite having to spend every day around said "Gods".
@@Grizabeebles i'm still not entirely sure Stan isn't a supe, my theory currently is he has the power to turn off other powers which is really the only reason i can think of as to why Starlight wasn't able to use her powers the moment he said "don't" at the farm and why he was always so damn confident with Homelander.
Ngl they seriously have to or else I'd go so far as to say that's a point against the show, no l way a character goes through ALL that and is unchanged
Homelander's relationship with Ryan reminded me of Cerseri Lannister with her children, she doesn't love them for who they really are, she loves them because they are an extension of her, and a way to feed her ego.
@@marveldc9997 Meh. He got some of it right in that she sees them as an extension of herself (I mean why do we as parents go out of our way to protect our children if not for that?) but to say that she didn't love them for who they are is straight up wrong. In many ways, having all her children pass left her broken and pushed her down the path toward what she did in the culmination of the series. The only thing she had left was the throne and at that point, she had zero f**** to give as to how she attained it as everything else she cared for was gone.
People tend to write off supernatural as just 2000s cable tv schlock that ran on for far too long (which it is don’t get me wrong) but it’s also interesting to see how Kripke’s favored ideas and themes follow through into the boys
@@MarianelaAyelenlourdesSajama I think the first five seasons (which were the seasons that kripke was show runner for before he left) were the most coherent because iirc it was, especially with season 3-5, one of the only times the show was given he space to pursue a storyline that spanned multiple seasons. Kripke was given the grace to complete a whole multi season arc as the shows creator, whereas later seasons fell into a pretty predictable finale set up where the season long A-plot was wrapped up in the penultimate or final episode, and then the plot hook for the next season was introduced. IMO, there is some genuinely good tv sprinkled throughout the shows 15 seasons, as well as some absolute duds, but such is the nature of long running cable tv. There are some very interesting character concepts introduced in the later seasons, when the brothers get to be more middle aged rather than just in their 20s.
The its over section of this video is pretty gut wrenching because you're reminded that the light at the end of the tunnel can easily be blocked by a sudden avalanche. You're left with two options, give up and accept the bad end or believe something good will happen and turn everything will be alright.
It sucks how Hughie was treated this season. With his dad I can understand, that was some of the most emotionally impactful stuff in the series. But my man gets assaulted and it's either played for laughs or he gets victim blamed. I think this season was still great even if weaker than the others, but its lows were a hell of a lot lower imo.
@@orbboom6119 he didn't really. It switched back to being about his dad which is what he comforted for ultimately. The reason ye wasn't comforted after SA is because the writers said it was hilarious .
@@orbboom6119Oh please, you guys are overthinking it. Starlight was understandably upset that he couldn't tell it was her, and thought about it for like one scene and moved on. Now if what you're saying is that the writers should focus more on Hughie that's fine, but being a b**ch? Relax
Grace, does jack the whole season and just comes in, tilts the poor kid asking him to commit patricide like is just a walk in the park, when both Butcher and Ryan had this mutual understanding about their situation, and Grace comes in as subtle as a brick to the face making this point of no return where everything got screwed over, man that sucked, but I still loved the season finale, is not what I expected yet I believe it worked well, hopefully the final season is great as well.
Seriously that pissed me off so much. Was it that hard to give Ryan a choice? That's all they needed to do, and seemed to be what Butcher was leaning towards before Grace barreled straight threw with the subtlety of a bulldozer.
@@ItsButterBean1020 They set it up correctly, Sage is the only one who ever interacted with the shapeshifter. Neumann was gonna be kicked out for being superpowered (and inevitably exposed by Homelander) one way or the other, whilst getting Singer to admit he ordered her assassination was just a matter of prompting him, using the Starlight disguise. Sage was also in the same place as the replacement president, at the mansion party. This is called show-dont-tell, specifically in the sense that they have _shown_ us how she assembled the puzzle, we just didn't get to hear any dialogue with the involved parties.
I was also a bit disappointed about the ending of this season, but as you said, it may have just been because I thought the ending was going in a different direction. Overall though, I did enjoy this season though. A-Train's arc was a particular stand out, that scene where he saves MM and the one kid sees him? Perfection.
Hughie with his dad is extra worse when his mom ultimately failed the hard choice too and by actually doing what she thought Hughie would, made his final moments so much worse. But Hughie had to doubt his fathers trust in him.
@@MrYac-ie8ieThey meant in reality. Kimiko finally speaks outside of any fantasy sequences, when Frenchie is mind controlled to walk away as she’s held back by Sam in the final sequence
@@POOKESEE Screen Actor's Guild. In order to to be eligible for a SAG card you need a speaking role in a union production, even if it's just a single line, you qualify
The thing I know won’t happen but wish would in the boys is that sister sage understands home lander’s psychological issues and is taking advantage of him and leading him down a path of self destruction until she take complete control once he is out of the picture. She is the smartest person she only lacked the motivation to take control.
yeah, i think it’s almost always a bad idea to establish a character as a super-genius. because the audience will always find a million solutions to their problems they didn’t think of, and the power starts to feel like nonsense.
Thank you for reminding me that this season was so much more complicated and well-crafted than I had thought on first watch. Watching this video essay after finishing the season feels like it adds value to many s4 moments I took for granted before, by showing how the different perspectives of each character affects their decisions they make. And you showed each character's thought process, which provides context for why they did what they end up doing..
I just finished the season before watching this video, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But My biggest complaint is how Hughie got SAed 2 episodes in a row, and over 20 times and they barely mentioned it. I fully understand Annie’s perspective and pain around the shifter situation but Hughie is also a victim here.
Bro Homaelanders police state, as a functional response of the oligarchical neo liberal state, is far more realistic and terrifying than anything in the comics. That's what the show has been doing.
I think that next season once they all get together Hughie will be the leader. He almost single handily subverted Sages plan just by showing kindness and I think that part of him will be what beats the odds and saves the world
I’ll be honest my confidence in the show faltered with season 3’s finale (it wasn’t bad, but I had a few criticisms like many others had when it aired), but the season won me over with A-train, Homelander and Butcher’s journeys in the season. The finale leaves me excited for season 5 to come out, and I’ll have to occupy my time so I don’t overfixate on when it finally releases.
Truly enjoy your take on shows without just random opinions or deep dives into Easter Eggs that are no more important than somebody noticed a production staff's joke. 👍🍻
@KingNerdius And you shouldn't just use that as an excuse to abandon them without a word and then come back without any apology. She just went "you should forgive me because I was depressed and acted horribly"
Wasn’t as good as season 3 but season 4 was still amazing. Great deep dives into the characters we’ve grown to understand and giving us more to think about.
Somewhat long comment in coming! I'm hyped for s5! So many twist & turns this final. I wasn't expecting frenchi & kimiko to get together , Mms worst nightmare has returned, Butchers powers I really didn't know want to expect from it. I wonder what's Ashley's power is 🤔 seeing starlight fly off like that was pretty cool but unexpected, I wonder how they're going to do Soldier Boy
19:00 I’m with you on this, Kinda disappointed with the Final episode but oh well nothing to be done about that. Just gotta hope the Final season is good 🙏
I was literally just about to comment how pretentious and dramatic this video was and then I saw the name of the channel lmao. Hes giving us what he promised lol, I'm into it
I saw it is a reference that “I drink your milkshake” Line from There Will Be Blood. Homelander kid is his to exploit. It also kind of fits with the critique of capitalism that the show seems to be themed around to the point where I can’t just ignore it. 😅 maybe I’m reaching
I honestly didn’t mind Butcher killing Neuman in the finale. What exactly would she have brought to the table at that point that mattered? She wasn’t nearly as strong as Homelander. It wasn’t worth the risk of having to constantly look over your shoulder in the future; she was a liability to the team either way. It’s no different than in the Angel series finale when Angel had Lorne kill Lindsey because he “wasn’t part of the solution, and he never would be.” But yeah, Butcher going for full-on Supe Genocide is reprehensible and inexcusable. Although him having “made the choice on his own” was a bit undermined throughout the season by the Kessler hallucination consistently tormenting him into submitting and even (implicitly) worsening the cancer effects to weaken him further. I mean the comics were bad and all, but at least comic Butcher eventually made that reprehensible decision with a clear head and of his own free will.
But, show Butcher had to start in a better place. Having a passive death timer didn't do it to him, it didn't break him to such a stage where he would wholly embrace the final solution. Failing.... what must feel like everyone is what did Butcher in - and keep in mind, for all supe-genocide Kessler was hyping up, Butcher only killed Neuman and kept his tentacles away from Kimiko and Starlight - the latter of which has been a pain in his ass. I don't think he's approaching this mission with a personal vendetta as much as he's doing so out of a feeling of broader responsibility. If Ryan becomes Augustus to Homelander's Ceasar, then someone needs to tear down the establishment, and honestly - with what we see in the post credits with supes all over willing to do the dirty for Vought - it might be for the better to kill a fair number of supes and ask questions later, because I've barely seen one worth redeeming. I mean. Big Schlock took out a man just trying to live with his family in Belize! If ding-dong magic guy isn't a cool dude, then who is? If the Deep and Noir 2 can go on murder benders against employees - two guys, that if you took them in a different context would be rather pathetic socially - who can you trust? Even A-Train took a specialized journey to get where he is right now, across a multitude of years and atrocities. We can't spare the same for every supe. Butcher made the right call. Kessler didn't fuck him over - not truly. That credit goes to Grace. Butcher had it in the bag, 'til she ran her mouth and just made it all worse.
On the episode of Marvin. Can we really talk about how they offscreened his relationship with homegirl. Like he loves her so deeply in season 1 and 2 and season 3 just opens up with them being split and now theyre back. What happened there
This was a great breakdown, but I do wish it had come out later, or had a spoiler warning for the last episode. I've been seeing spoilers for episode 8 showing up all day, and it isn't even released in America yet.
Tbh if Grace had only been convinced to let Ryan leave, we would be in such a different place. Ryan would know the truth about his father, and be able to do his own digging. He would feel that Butcher has his back. Butcher wouldn’t be in rampage mode. Neuman would still be alive. Kimiko would become the cool big sister of Zoey. I can dream.
I just do not understand the hate this season has received online. I will agree it's weaker than season 3, but man does this season have so many great character moments.
Watch the end of season 3 they explained that he had gotten a replacement heart from bluehawk after he killed him for his brother. He’s able to use his powers normally without juicing up on V
Where can I find the clip where franchie is quoting Jean Paul sartre and "men is condemned to be free because the moment he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does" I NEED to know
Forgot the ep number but the one where Starlight beats the shit out of Firecracker and Starlight, Frenchie & Kimiko are licking their wounds and having a drink in the office at the end of the ep
I think I similarly enjoyed the character work in this season, but I think it still weighs itself down with some dumb stuff and a little repetitive plotting.
The controversy is dumb tbh though I guess that's because I'm able to separate fictional events and real events that are only similar in 2 words. You were taking about the Trump assassination attempt, right? There's not another controversy?
I’ll be honest I love this show but did anyone else notice this season wasn’t as good and tried leaning to much to one political side? I mean the finale only took 0 days to age badly
I was so disappointed with the series finale that I'm not even willing to waste my time watching the fifth season, as it will just be more of the same old crap.
