The Boys, helmed by the cinematic vision of Eric Kripke, was a one-stop success when it hit the Amazon Prime screens in 2019. Since then, the show has been on everyone’s mind, whether it be about the interesting storyline, or the plethora of superheroes involved.
While the first three seasons had the audience on the edge of their seats, the fourth season, despite an impactful start, failed to live up to the viewer’s expectations, which even Antony Starr’s wonderful portrayal of Homelander cannot conceal.
How did The Boys season 4 fail to meet the expectations of the viewers?
The fourth season of the American satirical superhero television series was met with much anticipation when it premiered on the streaming platform Amazon Prime Video on June 13, 2024. This anticipation stemmed from the fact that it was making a return to the screens after a hiatus of two long years following the impactful season 3 finale.
However, to everyone’s dismay, season 4 fell short of its popularity and what it promised, barely hanging on to a Rotten Tomatoes score of 48% (via Game Rant) in comparison to its 95% score for the first season. Now, with just two episodes remaining for the conclusion of season 4, the audience is listing out the things on X, that are most likely the reasons for its underwhelming performance. One user tweeted:
While the user liked the fourth season for its entertainment value, he also noted the season’s lack of depth and complexity. Furthermore, the show has delved deeply into the left-right conflict, infuriating a specific section of individuals. He also noted that, if they had achieved the correct balance with all of the aspects, season 4 would have surpassed everyone’s expectations.
While the fourth season had its ups and downs, fans are excited to see what the final episodes have in store for them, as well as the impending season 5.
Season 5 of The Boys sparking intrigue among spectators
While the fourth season had several dramatic moments, it lacked the viewer gratification that the previous three seasons provided. Many individuals have even commented that the creators are trying too hard by including numerous subplots without any character development.
However, even in the midst of this, fans cannot help but wonder what the fifth and final season of The Boys has in store for them. A fan pointed out the same thing when he tweeted on X:
While fans are delighted for the fifth season, there is also a sense of sadness given that it will be the satirical show’s final season.
The showrunner, Eric Kripke, surprised everyone when he revealed that The Boys would end after the fifth season. He announced it on X with the caption:
Season 5 will be the Final Season! Always my plan, I just had to be cagey till I got the final OK from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax. Watch Season 4 in 2 DAYS, cause the end has begun!
Furthermore, the director placed a major emphasis on developing a five-season plan, which he was unable to accomplish with another one of his shows, Supernatural, which ran for 15 seasons. For the five-season reasoning (via Entertainment Weekly), he stated:
Part of it is such a wonky stupid screenwriter thing but three and five are the big magical numbers for writing. Three is movie acts, TV acts are five. Jokes are a runner of three for five. Five just seems like a good round number. It’s enough to tell the story but also bring it to a climax without wearing out its welcome.
Only time will tell whether the final season brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. But it’s a fact that Eric Kripke has a dramatic exit planned, with new characters reportedly joining the cast, the most recent being Jared Padalecki.