The Boys season 4 could be the darkest yet for the show due to a variety of reasons. Prime Video’s series has stood out in the superhero content landscape thanks to its adult tone, violence, and satirical approach to superheroes. The Boys‘ setup of exploring what the world would be like if heroes were real, products of a business, and mostly all horrible individuals ethically has meant the show has gone to some dark places over the years. Viewers have seen plenty of deaths, disturbing moments, and more as The Boys and The Seven repeatedly come into conflict amid all the cynicism.
There is surprisingly room for The Boys season 4 to get even darker based on where the story is expected to go. The Boys season 3’s ending included plenty of teases about what will happen next for Billy Butcher, Hughie Campbell, Starlight, Homelander, and others. The series is not expected to suddenly shift its approach and tone to tell a happier and more optimistic story as The Boys attempt to take down Vought once again. Instead, there are reasons to believe that The Boys season 4 will be the darkest yet.
8 The Boys Season 4’s Homelander Can Be More Violent
Homelander’s more violent turn in The Boys season 4 will be one way that the show gets much darker than before. Vought’s poster boy and the leader of The Seven has previously had to straddle the line between being a good superhero in the public eye and letting his more violent tendencies out in private. Homelander experienced even greater love from his supporters in the season 3 finale when he killed a Starlight fan. Now that he has realized that his violence will not stop at least a section of the population from still loving him, The Boys season 4’s Homelander could be the darkest and most violent yet.
7 Starlight Makes The Boys More Dangerous
The Boys season 4 could also go darker thanks to Starlight joining The Boys team and making them more dangerous. Billy, Hughie, Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, and Kimiko have previously fought back against Vought and The Seven without many superpowers on their side. Starlight retiring from The Seven and officially joining The Boys in their quest to take down Homelander comes on the heels of her powers increasing. If Billy and Hughie’s powers remain, Starlight and The Boys will be more powerful and dangerous than ever before. That could lead them to push the limits of what they are willing to do to finally win.
6 The Seven’s New Team Will Be The Evilest Version Yet
The Seven has a new team under Homelander’s control too, and that could make The Boys season 4 the darkest yet as they will likely be the evilest version yet. In previous seasons, Homelander’s leadership of the team has been challenged by Starlight and Queen Maeve, while Vought’s leadership also created limits to what they could do. The Seven team now includes corruptible followers like A-Train and The Deep, while Black Noir is being rebooted in some fashion. Meanwhile, Firecracker and Sister Sage are likely to be willing to do whatever Homelander commands to prove they belong. That should make The Seven’s team in The Boys season 4 incredibly evil.
5 Butcher Is Dying In The Boys Season 4
The Boys season 4 is set up to be the darkest for reasons such as Billy Butcher’s deteriorating health. Season 3 saw Butcher gain powers by using Temp-V. The exposure to Vought’s drug did not immediately kill the show’s main character, but Butcher is dying in The Boys season 4. The show exploring how he copes with this fact and any complications that come from his Temp-V use could mean the tone and story get very dark as The Boys watch their leader potentially spiral. His limited time left on Earth could also leave Butcher with nothing to lose, making him more willing to go to darker places than before.
4 The Boys Season 4 Will Be Soldier Boy’s Revenge
Soldier Boy’s revenge plot in The Boys season 4 could be another reason why the show gets so dark. He was defeated in the season 3 finale after The Boys turned on him. While he might begin the new season as a prisoner of Grace Mallory, it should not be too long before he is freed somehow. Soldier Boy’s role in The Boys season 4 could see him use his powers to threaten members of The Boys or The Seven. Since season 3 already teased his darkness, season 4 could continue this in a major way by having Soldier Boy hunt down the show’s main characters.
3 Hughie’s Mother Returning Will Reveal Major The Boys Secrets
The Boys season 4 is also finally bringing Hughie’s mother into the picture, but her introduction could be tied to revealing several major and dark secrets. There have long been theories that Hughie’s mom is a Supe. If season 4 confirms this to be true, there are some big revelations that could come. Hughie could learn that his mother was just as evil of a superhero as Homelander or Soldier Boy. He could also learn the dark truth that Hughie’s mother left him after she became disappointed that her son did not have natural superpowers. In any case, Hughie’s mother returning will likely not result in a happy story.
2 Victoria Neuman’s Political Ambitions Could Take A Darker Turn
Victoria Neuman’s political ambitions could be another reason why The Boys season 4 is the darkest. The political landscape of The Boys has grown to a point where a Presidential race is going to be prominently featured in season 4. Neuman is set to run as Vice President, and this exploration of politics and voting could get very dark. However, it might also involve an assassination attempt, as The Boys season 4’s finale episode title teased. Neuman’s head-popping powers have already been used to horrifying degrees in the past, and if she uses them to make herself or Homelander America’s new President, that will be bad news for everyone else.
1 Ryan With Homelander In The Boys Season 4 May Be Disastrous
Ryan’s decision to stay with Homelander and his exposure to his dad’s worst tendencies could also make The Boys season 4 the darkest yet. The show has already set up the disastrous results that could come from this pairing. Ryan’s smile in the season 3 finale indicates that he likes the public appreciation Homelander got after killing a citizen. He could now want to be just like Homelander and become comfortable with using his powers to hurt regular people. Seeing Homelander’s powers used like that is one thing, but Ryan following in his footsteps would be incredibly dark, even for the Boys season 4.
