The Boys: Season 4 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Boys: Season 4 Blu-ray Movie Review

"Ello, my pretties!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown October 21, 2025

The Boys doesn't sacrifice too much of its edge in its gory, gangly fourth season, but it certainly loses some of its luster. Like the fan-favorite NC-17 rated, Garth Ennis-penned comic book that begat it, the Amazon Prime series began as a sharp and spry subversion of superhero cinema, only to slowly meander off into the woods, distracted by the allure of its own blood, sex and satire. The series has an even more difficult time, losing hold of its tight pacing, introducing several new dead-end characters, expanding on subplots that go nowhere fast, and overplaying its drug-addled, humans-turn-supes deus ex machina, which finally sees Homelander and the Seven let loose... conveniently to little effect thanks to our newly invincible protagonists. (Each of whom were far more interesting powerless.) Add to that a more-than, less-than adaptation of a few memorable moments from the comic and you have a show that's getting old four seasons in, with only one additional season to go. Where does that leave Butcher and his merry band of misfits and outcasts? Fighting the good fight to increasingly diminishing returns, unabashedly bloody but a bit boring... a troubling combo that reeks of growing pains in a series already grasping at its endgame.

The Boys' fourth season doesn't waste much time picking up where it left off. With wartime relic Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) on ice, white supremacist Stormfront (Aya Cash) permanently out of commission, and Butcher (the always devilishly delightful Karl Urban) suffering the effects of a terminal supe-tumor, the titular "Boys" -- Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother's Milk (Laz Alonso), Frenchie (Tomer Capone), The Female aka Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) and freshly booted Seven member Starlight (Erin Moriarty) -- have something of a breakdown in communication. Butcher is morose and well off the rails, refusing to face his own flaws while working with an old CIA chum (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who's all too willing to encourage Bobby B's lesser qualities.

But that's not the worst of it. Homelander (scene-stealer Antony Starr) consolidates more power than he's capable of managing, not only laying claim to Becca's son Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) but more frighteningly lording over the Seven -- supreme intelligence Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), aquatic menace The Deep (Chace Crawford and the gill-voice talents of Patton Oswald), double-agent speedster A-Train (Jessie T. Usher), not-so-mute heavy replacement Black Noir II (Nathan Mitchell) and alt-right media sensation and worst-supe-ever Firecracker (Valorie Curry, chowing down on a spot-on Alex Jones riff) -- all while exerting horrifying influence over his adoring throng of fundamentalists. The Boys also have to contend with congresswoman and would-be VP Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), an authoritarian presidential candidate (Jim Beaver), The Seven's hilariously out-of-her-depth CEO (Colby Minifie), former Vought executive Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito), voracious flying farm animals (no joke), a tech billionaire with, um, unique tastes, and a host of new baddies, including an ever-ravenous, media-dependent American public.

The Boys furthers its none too subtle satire of American political culture, particularly of the GOP, making it clearer than clear to anyone who still fancies Homelander a hero that the series has no greater purpose than to skewer MAGA and its Dear Leader. It's actually impossible to talk about the show without talking politics, though I'll do my best. Suffice to say, anyone remotely far-right will not take kindly to Kripke's jabs and slams. Indies and lefties will get the most out of the humor, and there are numerous laugh-out-loud bits throughout the fourth season. Unfortunately, the best on tap is empty by the end of the season's midpoint, leaving the back-half episodes drip, drip, dripping on the floor. Too much screentime is granted to Ryan's indoctrination, latecomer additions to the Seven (pulled from spin-off series Gen V) swing and miss, Annie and Hughie's romance becomes a source of interruption and irritation, and Urban's Butcher finds himself sitting atop not one but two plot twists most of you will spot a hundred miles out.

The biggest problem is that Kripke clearly knows exactly how he wants to stage his political satire but seems unsure of how to further develop most of his characters' personal and professional lives. Melodrama is substituted for organic arcs (a former lover here, a trumped-up team conflict there) and plot contrivances abound. There's still plenty of grossout gags and wtf sequences -- though the show is starting to have trouble topping itself without getting silly -- but the underlying mechanics of the season and the fundamentals of storytelling are a touch lacking.

The 2-disc Blu-ray release of The Boys: Season Four features eight episodes:

1. Department of Dirty Tricks - Calling All Patriots! Be at the courthouse tomorrow for Homelander's #verdict and be ready. If the corrupt "justice" system wants to f*** around, they're gonna find out! #homefree Butcher learns the consequences of over-indulging in Temp V. Starlight joins The Boys. Ryan attempts to figure out what the hell is going on in the world of politics. Victoria Neuman makes a play for Vice President. Homelander rips off his mask, only to be greeted by a fanatical public.

2. Life Among the Septics - Did you know globalists put chemicals in food to make us gay, Dakota Bob is a demon from hell, and the Moon isn’t real? Find out what they don’t want you to know at #TruthCon! Butcher rejects Neuman's request. Annie becomes an activist. The Deep's octopus (Tilda Swinton) comes on strong. Hughie's dad (Simon Pegg) is in a coma and his mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) re-emerges, much to his chagrin. Frenchie rekindles with an ex (Eliot Knight). Sage and Homelander continue to bend and warp the truth.

3. We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here - This December at VoughtCoin Arena, experience the story of Christmas the way it was meant to be told... on ice! Vought Presents Vought on Ice! Tickets available now at VoughtOnIce.com! Sister Sage and Firecracker earn spots on The Seven. Annie's private life is dragged into public view. Butcher, well, butchers. Kessler hatches a plan to save Ryan with the help of Grace (Laila Robins).

4. Wisdom of the Ages - Vought News Network is proud to announce its new series #Truthbomb! Join host Firecracker and her celebrity guests for the live 6-hour premiere as they expose Starlight’s Adrenochrome Parties! Ryan struggles to suss out the true nature of Vought and his father Homelander. Butcher lends Kessler a hand. Annie engages in an influencer war with Firecracker. A-Train considers a career change. Sister Sage makes a power grab. Ashley continues to unravel. And Hughie's father reunites with his ex-wife.

5. Beware the Jabberwock, My Son - Attention #superfans! This year at #V52 see A-Train live and in person, as he presents an exclusive sneak peek at his powerful, true-life story: Training A-Train! V52: Powered by fans, for fans! Hughie learns a terrible truth that may have equally terrible consequences. Annie and Firecracker finally face off. Frenchie reveals a painful truth to Colin. The Deep takes action against Sister Sage. Butcher makes up with Mother's Milk... sort of.

6. Dirty Business - Vernon Correctional Services provides compassionate rehabilitation to those in our care to prepare them for successful community reentry. At Vernon, it’s not about custody. It’s about family. Hughie struggles with recent events and bloodshed. Sister Sage turns her attention to A-Train. Butcher stages a sitdown with Edgar and Neuman. A farm excursion turns violent (to say the least). Homelander forces his team to get their hands dirty.

7. The Insider - Hey kids! Did you know your neighbor, uncle, or even Mom and Dad might be trying to destroy America? Find out how to stop them on the Avenue V Christmas Special! If you see something, say something! The Seven appears as puppets as Ryan's indoctrination is put to the test. Hughie goes... ahem, undercover. Ooph. Tek Knight (Derek Wilson) hosts a fundraiser with plenty of kink in the basement. Butcher discovers a shocking truth. Annie and Kimiko go on a rescue mission. Firecracker and Homelander grow closer. Much closer.

8. Assassination Run - Calling all patriots! We will not allow this stolen election to be certified tomorrow! We must stop Bob Singer’s woke anti-Supe agenda! Prepare for war! #WhereWeGoOneWeGoVought Will Hughie figure out that Annie's been kidnapped and replaced by a shape-shifter? Will Butcher make it to the credits in one piece? Will Ryan stand true or falter? And how will Homelander handle all the defections from Vought?

The Boys: Season 4 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Season Four's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer is a dark, sometimes dazzling beauty very much in line with the series' previous Blu-ray presentations. Colors are often muted but pack a helluva punch anytime an episode shifts to The Seven, whose bawdy red, white and blues hit hard. While our heroes languish in realms of sickly greens and deep, impenetrable blacks, the villains cavort among crimson-capped fans, grin obnoxiously on intentionally over-lit TV soundstages, and enjoy the spectacle of garish hues and bold symbology. It's all part of the satire, of course, mirroring the truth of the characters' realities and the ugliness of their self-inflicted fictions, and it works terrifically. Detail also remains excellent from start to finish, with decisively refined edges, crisply resolved fine textures and suitably filmic shadow delineation. Crush occasionally takes a toll on the darkest of scenes, but any distractions are few and far between. There also isn't much in the way of blocking or banding, certainly no significant instances, while the image remains clean, striking and, for those with weak stomachs, almost too revealing.

The Boys: Season 4 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There's plenty to love about The Boys' latest DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track as well. Dialogue is grounded, neatly centered and intelligible at all times, with a nice use of the surrounds to create a real sense of space in locations like Vought Headquarters. Effects are precise and punchy, particularly those that grace the rear soundscape, creating an immersive experience that rarely feels too front-heavy, even in chattier scenes. Ambience and acoustics deliver, dynamics add welcome kick, and low-end support is assertive, with hefty LFE beats and beatdowns that punctuate every action sequence. Directionality displays pinpoint accuracy too, making for several exciting (and some stomach-churning) moments that take full advantage of the soundfield.

The Boys: Season 4 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

In lieu of any meaningful supplemental material, the 2-disc Blu-ray edition of The Boys: Season 4 includes just one extra: a four-part gag reel (HD, 12 minutes). It's a funny collection of crack-ups and miscues, especially with this cast and the scenarios they find their characters in, but it would have been nice to have something more substantial about the production, the series' biting political satire, or the actors' thoughts on the plot developments and major changes featured throughout the fourth season.

The Boys: Season 4 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Boys: Season Four isn't a complete misfire but it jams one too many times to live up to the series' reputation. There's fun to be had and funny bits galore, plus plenty of teeth-gnashing political satire, but the back-half of the season amps up the "edge" at the cost of core fundamentals. Thankfully, aside from a near-barebones supplemental package, the Blu-ray edition doesn't disappoint. Video and audio quality are strong and there's little in the way of flaws. One season to go. Here's hoping Kripke and his team are more consistent when crossing the finish line.