The Boys Unleash Shocking Twists in Season 4 Episode 4

The Boys Season 4 Episode 4 Delivers Explosive Reveals and Dark Twists

Get ready, fans, because The Boys just dropped another bombshell episode. Season 4, episode 4, titled ‘Glorious Five Year Plan,’ is a wild ride packed with shocking betrayals, unexpected alliances, and a deep dive into the dark history of Vought International. This installment continues the season’s strong momentum, leaving viewers breathless and hungry for more.

Ryan’s Dangerous New Path

Last season, young Ryan was caught between his father, Homelander, and Billy Butcher. We learned he’s not at boarding school as Vought claimed. Instead, he’s on the run after accidentally killing Mallory.

This happened after Mallory revealed that Homelander had assaulted his mother and planned to use Ryan to defeat him. Ryan felt manipulated, just like when Homelander pushed him into Vought’s marketing schemes. Now, he’s living a life that mirrors a ‘what if’ scenario where Homelander himself went into hiding.

This mirrors a storyline from the spin-off series Gen V, where a character also went into hiding. Ryan is currently hiding in an abandoned house in Russia, and despite authorities tracking him down, he brutally takes them out. The Russian setting adds a layer of dark humor as Vought later promotes Russia over Ukraine.

The soldiers sent to find Ryan are part of a Spetsnaz unit, and their encounter with Ryan is brutal. They step on ‘firecracker freedom sticks,’ a product previously seen in Gen V and promoted by Jetstreak.

This scene is reminiscent of intense action sequences in films like X2 and Batman v Superman. Ryan shows no mercy, ensuring no one can trace him, though the trail of destruction might make that difficult.

Vought’s Propaganda Machine in Overdrive

With Soldier Boy back in the spotlight, Vought needs to control the narrative. After being labeled a traitor, his statue was toppled by the public. However, a recent pardon from the president means Vought must explain his reappearance.

A propaganda video claims Soldier Boy was branded a traitor by ‘legacy media,’ using a fictional network similar to CNN. The video package features Soldier Boy with historical figures like JFK and President Nixon, highlighting his longevity and the appeal of his immortality. It paints him as an undercover agent who worked with Kremlin allies to root out Ukrainian traitors.

This narrative mirrors real-world political tensions and controversies surrounding foreign interference. The episode also touches on contemporary political talking points, like the debate around ‘trans bathrooms,’ suggesting Vought is positioning itself as anti-woke, a stance Russia has also adopted.

The announcement that Soldier Boy is rejoining The Seven is made, a move likely to cause more problems than it solves. In the comics, Soldier Boy was tricked into joining The Seven, and his potential to turn against Homelander, much like A-Train did, is a strong possibility.

Homelander’s Descent and Soldier Boy’s Legacy

Homelander, meanwhile, seems to be experiencing a religious epiphany, hearing the voice of his former mentor, Malory Stillwell. This vision pushes him to act irrationally. He reveals Soldier Boy’s father’s secret, much like he exposed Victoria Neuman’s status, a move that shocked the world.

This echoes the ‘I am Iron Man’ moment from Marvel. Soldier Boy’s sperm was used by Vogelbaum to create Homelander, who was intended to be a more controllable replacement. Homelander’s own upbringing was traumatic, filled with cruelty and a lack of affection, leading him to kill his artificial mother.

Homelander, like his father, is a bully who leads with an iron fist. The episode suggests history is repeating itself, with Billy Butcher also becoming violent due to his father’s actions. Ryan is caught in the middle, potentially immune to the virus that targets V, as he’s a naturally born supe.

Homelander is clearly blindsided by this revelation and confronts his father. He pleads that he told Soldier Boy not to engage with the virus, but Soldier Boy was unaware of its existence.

Soldier Boy’s position towers over Homelander, symbolizing his dominance, yet a monument to Homelander in the background shows whose opinion he truly values. The episode also features a sponsor break for ‘SY,’ an eSIM provider offering international data plans.

The V1 Immunity and The Boys’ New Mission

The Boys are baffled by Soldier Boy’s survival of the virus. It’s revealed he has V1, an unstable, original form of V that only a select few, including Soldier Boy, Crimson Countess, Torpedo, and Stormfront, survived. This ties into the upcoming spin-off V Rising, which will explore the origins of V in the 1950s and feature Soldier Boy and Stormfront (then known as Liberty).

Soldier Boy doesn’t recognize Stormfront’s name, as he knew her as Liberty, and they co-founded Hero Management. The V1 compound made Gud Kunkun immortal but left him severely burned, trapping him in that state for decades. His plan was to be healed by Marie Moreau, restoring his youth.

V1 has a different molecular structure, making it immune to the virus. This raises questions about Ryan’s own V status and potential immunity. Marvin’s struggles with alcohol are also evident as he deals with the stress of recent events.

The race is now on to find V1, as Homelander also seeks it to achieve true immortality. The episode draws parallels between Homelander, created from Project Odessa, and Marie Moreau, who are seen as opposites – the antichrist and the messiah. The Boys have two chances to stop Homelander: use the virus or acquire V1.

Stan Edgar’s Influence and The Bunker’s Secrets

The Starlight crew heads to Stan Edgar’s hideout, the same location featured in Gen V. Frenchie notes the irony of the elite hiding in bunkers while others suffer the consequences of their actions. Stan Edgar, the former CEO of Vought, is responsible for much of the chaos and has faced few repercussions.

The team enters a bunker, immediately hit by a smell that gives away Maverick, Translucent’s son, who has joined Edgar’s team. This creates an awkward reunion, as Huey killed Maverick’s father in Season 1. Maverick is clearly still grieving his father, wearing his movie merchandise.

Huey feels immense guilt, and Mother’s Milk questions Edgar’s motives. Edgar lies to Maverick about who killed his father, a deceit revealed by The Deep. Edgar quotes Whitney Houston’s ‘Greatest Love of All,’ highlighting a theme of self-preservation.

Edgar experimented on people at the DA hospital, mirroring real-world unethical experiments. The use of Nazi scientists by the US, like in Operation Paperclip, is referenced, explaining how they continued their work in the US post-WWII. In this universe, information about the DA hospital and V1 was covered up, making it difficult to find.

Huey tries to apologize to Victoria Neuman, who reveals she was sent to Red River, an orphanage where supes prove their worth or face prison. She feels betrayed when she learns her father is alive. Meanwhile, Homelander is plagued by visions of everyone who has belittled him, including Stan, Soldier Boy, Vogelbaum, and A-Train.

The return of Mallory Stillwell, in a vision, offers him a path to immortality and universal love if he eradicates the wicked. This vision, brought on by Oather’s power, fuels his delusion and justifies his actions. He believes he’s becoming a higher form of life, craving love over obedience.

Ryan’s Destiny and Butcher’s Manipulation

Zoe leaves the bunker and meets Ryan, both victims of the ongoing conflict, forced into the role of child soldiers. Ryan is torn between his father figures, and Billy Butcher has been watching them, manipulating Ryan’s feelings. Butcher appeals to their shared love for Becca, pushing for a ‘grown-up conversation’ that involves luring Homelander out.

Ryan feels his existence is solely to kill his father, echoing Butcher’s own past trauma. Butcher’s advice mirrors the terrible guidance he received from his own father, leading to violence. Butcher believes it’s Ryan’s destiny to kill Homelander, a wish that goes against Becca’s desires.

Butcher’s obsession with revenge may lead to Ryan’s death. Becca never told Ryan about Homelander’s assault to prevent him from seeking revenge. Butcher, consumed by his own quest for vengeance, is now pushing Ryan towards a similar fate.

Butcher then shares a toast from his father, and a tracker is placed on Ryan, ensuring Butcher knows his location. The episode ends with a hint that Butcher is losing himself to his darker impulses, mirroring the violence he despises.

Source: THE BOYS Season 5 Episode 3 Breakdown & Ending Explained | Review, Comic Easter Eggs And More (YouTube)