The Boys Season 4 Episode 4 Review: Wisdom of the Ages

The Boys Season 4 Episode 4, “Wisdom of the Ages,” is the season’s strongest episode thus far (eclipsing the stellar triple-episode opener), with Antony Starr delivering a tour de force performance. If Starr’s work in this outing doesn’t garner an Emmy nomination, there’s no justice in the acting world. 

Wisdom of the Ages

This episode wrestles with relevant, timely issues as only The Boys can — in an unflinching, no-holds-barred manner. There’s an emotional heft to “Wisdom of the Ages” as it digs deep into these nuanced, morally complex characters. 

One standout storyline in the overarching narrative is Hughie and his dying father. It’s pretty compelling and starkly contrasts the superpowered deaths the show usually inundates us with. It grounds us in this larger-than-life universe. 

Seeing someone pass naturally shows that even this series can’t escape the fragility of human mortality. Of course, based on how “Wisdom of the Ages” ends, we might see a new direction for Hugh Campbell, Sr. 

Sensitive Topics 

This week’s episode also addresses abortion, with Firecracker sharing Annie/Starlight’s medical records with the world. The Boys thoughtfully yet gracefully tackles this subject, reminding audiences that women deserve bodily autonomy and that abortion is a personal decision. 

Annie tells Hughie that she agonized over her decision to get an abortion. Most people don’t take it lightly. Regardless, it’s a personal choice, and everyone’s feelings are unique to them. Naturally, Firecracker and her far-right cohort vilify Annie for something that’s none of their business. 

Homelander also commits sexual assault in “Wisdom of the Ages” by forcing Marty to masturbate openly. Thankfully, The Boys never excuses his actions. We’ve seen this series address SA before, namely when The Deep exposed himself to Annie at the very beginning. 

If anything, the show reminds us that there are multiple types of sexual assault. As a survivor, I appreciate its candor and fearless storytelling regarding this topic. 

Trauma

You’ve undoubtedly heard the statement, “Hurt people hurt people.” Homelander’s dive into his past reminds us how broken he really is. The writers and Starr do an excellent job of adding this human element to Homelander without brushing his actions under the rug. We see this supe with a god complex who’s more human than he wants to admit. 

Poor Kimiko also confronts her past. To move forward, she considers going through speech therapy. However, after encountering Tala, Kmiko discards the speech therapy literature on her desk. This moment is heartbreaking — it shows us that Kimiko doesn’t feel she deserves healing. 

Really, “trauma” is the name of the game this season. So many characters are reckoning with their trauma and grief and navigating it in their respective ways. The Boys never shies away from tackling this head-on in its trademark style. 

Another example of this is Hughie. He’s bracing himself for his father’s inevitable passing, but you can’t truly prepare for death. We see him in the bargaining and denial stages as he tries to score Compound V to save his dad. He selfishly wants to fulfill his wishes instead of honoring his father’s, which is how any of us would act in that situation. 

Performances 

Starr delivers a chilling, calculating, yet wholly unhinged performance. His ability to communicate so much without uttering a word, whether with a look, a hand placement, or a toothy grin, truly draws us in. We can’t help but sit on the edge of our seats whenever Starr is onscreen, waiting with bated breath to see what he’ll do next. 

Karen Fukuhara offers heartbreaking work. Like Starr, she, too, can convey paragraphs without saying a syllable. One hundred percent of her performance is physical. The silent tears streaking her cheeks when Tala reminds her of their shared past speak volumes. Fukuhara always knocks it out of the park on The Boys. 

Sage continues to be a fascinating character, and much of that is due to Susan Heyward’s performance. She fires on all cylinders in “Wisdom of the Ages.” Sage’s deft manipulation and ability to keep her cards close to the vest are so fun to watch. 

Jack Quaid effortlessly taps into Hughie’s conflicted emotions, bouncing between his desire to do what it takes to save his father and the realization of how essential it is to honor Hugh Sr.’s wishes. Quaid’s vulnerability is beautiful. 

Bloody Diabolical 

“Wisdom of the Ages” boasts a nice balance of The Boys‘ cheeky, mercilessly dark humor, satirization of our political landscape, heartfelt character beats, and emotionally resonant moments. It does all this while propelling the story. 

Now, things are kicking into high gear as we barrel toward the second half of the season. Bring it on. 

Stray Observations: 

• Antony Starr’s maniacal laugh will live on in my nightmares in perpetuity. 
• Daphne 100 percent gave Hughie’s dad the Compound V. Now, how she managed to nick it from his pocket is another story. That’s next-level theft. 
• Poor Colin will need therapy for life after learning he had sex with the killer of his family. Oof. 
• I’m usually not a squeamish person, but that frontal lobotomy scene with Sage and Deep did me in — the sounds alone.
• I love that “Wisdom of the Ages” addresses the Godolkin University massacre from Gen V, especially since it’s via a commercial for Tek Knight‘s show. If you watched Gen V, you’ll remember that we learned about Tek’s disturbing fascination with holes…

What did you think of this episode of The Boys? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Boys drops new episodes every Thursday on Prime Video. 

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