THE BOYS – Season 2 Episode 4 – Where’s the Love?

After the first batch of season 2 episodes featured some big time deaths, a boat driving through a whale, and a major focus on Kimiko, the fourth installment slows things down and shifts the focus to and exploration of relationships. This episode lacks the action and special effects that characterized the three episode mini arc that opened the season. While there weren’t any big set piece chase or fight sequences, this isn’t to say the episode was boring. Sometimes it makes sense to throttle back to explore the characters, which really helps add an attachment to them when the big action sequences do happen.

Annie and Hughie have been the focal point of the series so far, and they are unsurprisingly a major focus of this episode. My opinion of Hughie as a character shifts from awesome to kind of annoying from episode to episode, but Jack Quaid and Erin Moriarty (Annie/Starlight) really flashed some chemistry in this episode. Continuing the episode’s theme of relationships, we also get some updates into the relationships between the other characters in the show. Perhaps the most interesting (and creepy) thread in this episode is an in depth examination of the relationships in Homelander’s life. While I don’t always like these types of ‘talky’ episodes, this one was done particularly well, because in addition to building the characters, the plot was moved forward methodically.

If character development episodes aren’t your thing, the episode had at least two “wait, did that just happen?” scenes that were fairly shocking and a pretty big reveal. As a reminder, this is a superhero show for adults. Even without the blood that is customary to this series, this episode has plenty to warrant parental discretion.

The beauty of streaming services is you can easily start from the beginning and binge your way to catch up with the rest of us.  THE BOYS is an interesting deconstruction of the superhero genre. I highly recommend this show for adults who are interested in a world where the all powerful superheroes are flawed. Start from the beginning!

Random Non Spoiler Musings:

1. Seriously, what’s the deal with Stormfront?
2. This show is one of the best I have watched at making me hate characters and then feel like of bad for them.
3. Black Noir is awesome, and I realize I am saying that knowing literally nothing about him.
4. I’m not sure where The Deep’s plot line is going, but I’m willing to be patient.
5. There’s creepster, and then there’s Homelander creepster, which is next level creepsterosity.

The fourth episode of THE BOYS is now available.

Check back soon for my thoughts on the fifth episode.

What are your thoughts on the season so far? Feel free to chat with me on Twitter or leave a comment below!