The Boys Just Made a HUGE Mistake with Starlight! Will They Regret It?

While the gruff Butcher (Karl Urban) might be a fan favorite, the show's emotional core rests on the transformations of Hughie (Jack Quaid) and Annie (Erin Moriarty). Thrust into a world-altering encounter in the pilot, they became the audience's surrogates. Unlike Butcher, who remains his delightfully crass self, Hughie and Annie have undergone dramatic journeys, evolving from wide-eyed innocents into hardened individuals forced to confront the show's brutal realities.

Despite Hughie's dominant screen presence, season 1 belonged to Annie's captivating narrative. While Hughie found solace in a shared disdain for Supes with Butcher, Annie was thrust into a den of vipers. Forced to navigate a team riddled with darkness, escape was a distant dream and public exposure, a death wish. Her journey to reclaim her identity amidst such moral decay held far more intrigue than Hughie's initial rage. Annie has always been a tightrope walker, navigating factions with murky motives. However, season 1 masterfully portrayed this balancing act. Unfortunately, season 4 seems to have fumbled this intricate dance, leaving Annie's trajectory shrouded in uncertainty.

Initially, the show defied online stereotypes by making Annie, a central female character, a fan favourite. However, audience perception shifted in season 2, particularly after a controversial scene in the mid-season episode. In this scene, Annie takes an innocent life, a bystander forced to defend himself in a terrifying situation.

While intended to build a connection between Annie and another character who previously distrusted her, the scene sparked debate. Annie's hardened reflection afterwards, questioning the victim's actions rather than her own, left a sour taste. Some interpreted it as callous indifference, while others saw regret masked by cynicism. Regardless of interpretation, the gravity of the situation wasn't fully explored. The show seemed to miss the parallels with another character's earlier actions, a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the moral complexities of their world.

A pivotal scene in season 2 left a lasting impression on fans, casting a shadow on Annie's role as the moral compass. This perception intensified in season 3 with a conflict regarding a risky power-up. While Annie's concern for the potential dangers and her friend's well-being were valid, she struggled to fully grasp the constant threats faced by those without superpowers. The issue, however, became that Annie's character arc stagnated. The narrative presented her perspective as inherently correct, with the significant growth and change occurring for the other character. The season's conclusion further dampened any exploration of ethical complexity by introducing a clear-cut negative consequence for the power-up, effectively shutting the door on any potential lessons learned from Annie's perspective.

Season 3 seemed less interested in exploring the motivations behind the heroine's actions. While her conflict with one character was well-developed, her decision to prioritize a different antagonist felt unexplained. Throughout the narrative, the heroine had compelling personal reasons to target the main villain, and the threat of his escalating violence was undeniable. However, her shift towards opposing the character seemingly capable of defeating the main villain lacked a strong emotional foundation. This plot point felt driven by a need to maintain the main villain's presence, rather than a natural progression of the heroine's journey as established in the earlier seasons.

The heroine's trajectory in season 4's early episodes mirrors the lack of direction in season 3. After a pivotal decision in the previous season, she seems to be reversing course. Her initial focus on the main antagonist has also shifted towards a new secondary villain. This new adversary seeks revenge for a past incident, a humiliating prank the heroine committed during their teenage years. "Everyone sees you as flawless," the villain accuses. "But I see the truth - a manipulative bully underneath. And soon, everyone else will too."

Luckily, the champion in the program is a much better person than she was in the first novel, where she was a one-layered love interest. It's difficult to criticize the show's portrayal when considering how poorly written she could have been. Season 4 hints at a deeper connection with her powers, suggesting she's becoming more formidable. Hopefully, future action sequences won't leave her feeling like an afterthought (like a similar scene in the previous season's finale that drew criticism).

The first three episodes of The Boys season 4 are now streaming on Prime Video. New episodes are released every Thursday.

However, frustration remains when considering her potential. The heroine's journey over the past two seasons has felt unfocused, failing to capitalize on her engaging qualities when she actively drives the narrative. In contrast, season 1 presented her as a pivotal character, her scenes brimming with tension and intrigue. It's unclear if the show can recapture that magic, but hopefully, they'll soon give her a purpose that truly matters.

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