Recall the days when indulging in "The Boys" was a sheer delight? Mostly kidding aside, but "Wisdom of the Ages" pushed me through an emotional wringer quite unlike any other in this series' history. "The Boys" has always veered into the extreme, yet even amidst grossness, there has often lingered a mischievous joy. This episode, however, is devoid of such mirth; it stands as one of the darkest chapters etched in my memory.
When a narrative spans multiple hours, it's all too easy to descend into a morose spectacle, particularly when characters like Homelander are involved. Unchallenged by any significant external force, Homelander is a loose cannon, free to wield his whims with a near-constant effect of inflicting suffering upon others. Witnessing affluent, celebrity superheroes abuse their powers forms the bedrock of this show, perhaps even more so than seeing vigilantes bring them to justice. It's as much about unraveling the mechanics and repercussions of corruption as it is about combating that very system.
Nonetheless, despite Antony Starr's stellar portrayal, watching Homelander torment and terminate lives isn't inherently captivating, especially at this juncture of the series. We know the story's trajectory from the moment Homelander descends into the basement lab where Vought scientists subjected him to Experiments during his youth: The fates of these individuals are sealed with death.
To a certain extent, the episode toys with this inevitability in a grimly entertaining manner. I've grown rather jaded to the show's shocks, even something as stunning as the Splinter rimming scene. Yet, there's something uniquely grotesque and novel about the manner in which Homelander claims his first victim in this episode. Frank once amused himself by playing wastepaper basketball while Homelander, confined in a nearby oven, endured constant agony as Frank tested the limits of his skin's resilience to flame. Thus, Homelander now commands Frank into the oven, returning the favor with a chilling, "I forgive you."
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It is unmistakably characteristic of Homelander to contemplate this as the quintessential avenue for forgiving his abusers and reconciling with his past. However, I yearned for this episode to transcend that predictable response and shed light on a novel aspect of the show's primary antagonist, though I'm uncertain if it succeeded. Up next is assistant director Marty, one of the "more benevolent" figures who, nonetheless, was an accomplice in Homelander's abuse—he even bestowed upon the child the nickname "squirt" after catching him in the act of masturbation one fateful night. Appropriately, Homelander commands Marty to masturbate in front of everyone in the lab, instantly, threatening to obliterate his penis with a laser if he fails to achieve an erection. Can you guess what transpires next?
After yet another harrowing conclusion—Homelander stomps on Marty's skull, crushing it like an empty soda can while a nearby lab technician retches in disgust—he finally confronts Barbara, the lab director, who treats him as an equal rather than a deity. She provides some profound insights: Recognizing Homelander's incessant need for approval and affection since infancy, Vought further cultivated this dependency, rendering him incapable of overcoming it even today. But ultimately, her therapeutic efforts fall short of genuinely altering his perspective, particularly as he is hell-bent on quashing his human side (and that of Ryan). He simply abandons her in "the bad room," amidst the freshly slaughtered lab workers, grinning as he ascends the elevator.
These victims are hardly innocent, so it's not so much empathy I feel for them as it is a sense of discomfort and unease while watching. Nonetheless, beyond this narrative, this episode is remarkably concise and focused, primarily propelled by Firecracker's grand debut on Vought News. I've missed the cohesion of past seasons—despite season three's stagnancy, it had the Soldier Boy arc to keep it all together—but now, as the season gathers momentum, we have a clearer understanding of the stakes and the potential trajectory.
Firecracker is pivotal to Sister Sage's scheme, which entails further radicalizing the Hometeamers by infiltrating mainstream media with fringe anti-Starlight content (a tactic all too familiar to the far right). As they establish The Truth Bomb across the street from Starlight House and Firecracker commences her lengthy tirade, Mother's Milk seeks assistance from Butcher. Together, they confront Firecracker during her break, armed with dirt they've unearthed: While working as a counselor at the Capes for Christ Bible camp, she engaged in sexual relations with a 15-year-old boy, resulting in statutory-rape charges that Vought's legal team managed to dismiss. But Butcher and Mother's Milk's attempt to extract information about Sage's plan fails; instead of succumbing to their demands, Firecracker tweets out the scandal herself and then returns to the stage to spin the narrative in her favor. She even juxtaposes her journey towards "eternal salvation" with Starlight's unatoned deeds: During her first rescue mission at the tender age of 13, she accidentally blinded a hostage.
Colin launches into a fierce confrontation with Frenchie, a reaction that is utterly understandable given the circumstances. However, he finds himself unable to carry out the ultimate act of terminating someone he once cherished, which同样 resonates deeply. There's an abundance of unspoken dialogue in this exchange that I yearn to witness. Placing myself in Colin's shoes, I envision a whirlwind of devastation, fury, and bewilderment enveloping me. Shouldn't he insist on clarification from Frenchie, probing into the reasoning behind his actions from years past and more recently, in these concluding months?
Conversely, Hughie's subplot in this episode captures a far more intriguing narrative thread, seamlessly intertwining with the broader tapestry. His quest to procure a vial of Compound V and save his father's life ensnares Kimiko, Butcher, and most notably, A-Train, whose journey towards redemption is in full bloom. The show's portrayal of this storyline is commendable, particularly in illustrating Hughie's gradual forgiveness towards the man who took his girlfriend's life. Although A-Train doesn't anticipate a genuine shift in Hughie's sentiment towards him, they do extend a handshake, marking a genuine moment of mutual respect and understanding after A-Train retrieves the vial.
Butcher manages to sway Hughie from his intended course, preventing him from injecting his father, Hugh Campbell Sr., with the superhuman serum. Yet, Daphne Campbell浪 does not hesitate for a moment to administer it herself once Hughie exits the room. Could his father truly make a full recovery, or will the V unleash horrifying side effects? In this bleak season, where darkness looms large, every action taken bears consequences.
