WARNING! This article contains The Boys Season 4, episode 4 spoilers.
The BoysshowrunnerEric Kripkerecently revealed some riveting insights into a specific scene that might have left fans talking about its raw intensity. Season 4 of the series follows a progressively unraveled Homelander, played with chilling precision by Antony Starr. This season, the character confronts his dark past, believing it has transformed him.
During the episode titledWisdom of the Ages, viewers are drawn into a deeply personal subplotcentered around Homelander. The particular episode functions almost as a standalone exploration of his psyche, looking into his traumatic experiences at Vought Labs.
Within this narrative bubble, a notably disturbing scene unfolds where Homelander brutally humiliates a researcher from Vought—a figure from his past. This act of vengeance, while unsettling, becomes even more pronounced as Starr breaks into a maniacal laugh, a chilling departure from the scripted action.
Kripke, in an interview withTV Line, pointed out that this moment was completely unscripted. Starr’s spontaneous outburst of laughter wasn’t in the original script, which simply had Homelander attacking the researcher and then approaching him menacingly.
“To be clear, that was not scripted. In the script, he blasts the guy and then walks over to him. When Ant is playing that laugh, when I saw it in the dailies, I just was like, ‘Jesus Christ, that could be the scariest I’ve ever seen Homelander,’ and I’ve seen hundreds of hours of Homelander film.”
Homelander Faces His Illusions of Redemption in a Defining Season 4 Moment
Homelander’s story takes a turn inThe BoysSeason 4 when Antony Starr’s character goes into what he perceives as a redemptive exploration at Vought Labs. According to Starr, this episode represents a crucial moment for Homelander, believing he has undergone a transformative, almost therapeutic experience that rehabilitates him and positions him to be a better father. Yet, the climax of the episode shatters this illusion, showing that he remains as unstable as ever.
The contrast between self-perception and reality reveals the delusions that fuelHomelander’s actions. Starr’s portrayal allows viewers to momentarily glimpse what appears to be genuine introspection, only for it to dissolve into the familiar chaos that defines him.
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In a recent interview, Kripke expressed his bafflement over a segment of the show’s audience who view Homelander as an antihero, or worse, a character to rally behind. The creator humorously critiques the idea of empathizing with such a flawed character, emphasizing Homelander’s unsettling behaviors and glaring weaknesses.
Despite the brilliance of Antony Starr’s portrayal, which has undoubtedly contributed to Homelander’s popularity, Kripke remains firm in his stance that rooting for Homelander is misguided. He said:
“I have to believe that the “bad fans” are a very small minority. Because I don’t know how you root for Homelander. When the guy is slurping up breast milk, and being the weakest character in the show over and over and over again and being like — he’s not even particularly macho. He’s weird. He’s weird and thin-skinned, and I don’t know how you look at that guy and you’re like, “That’s my guy.””
Kripke states that this season, more than ever, embeds a potent socio-political commentary within its narrative. Kripke points out that the show’s approach to its themes is forthright, with a clear message that Homelander is far from a heroic figure.
“The show’s not subtle. It wears its politics on its sleeve. And it’s funny to rip on the madness on the right, and we get some shots in on the left of all the performative wokeness and everything. So I’m hoping that that’s the vast majority?”
