Sister Sage's Master Plan and Starlight's Shapeshifter Reveal
Sister Sage has always been presented as the smartest person in The Boys universe, and after several episodes of confusing decisions, Season 4 has finally revealed her master plan behind Starlight's switch and the big insurrection. Remember when Homelander brought in Sister Sage to push his super supremacist agenda? They decided they needed a supe in the White House, and that's where the real fun begins.
How Long Has The Shapeshifter Been Impersonating Starlight?
The big twist at the end of episode 7 revealed that Starlight is actually a shapeshifting super. The real Starlight has been locked away in a creepy house, and the clues point to Sister Sage pulling the strings. While Hughie is sleeping, the fake Starlight slips out of bed and destroys the blackmail Hughie has on Victoria Neuman. This seems to be Sister Sage's main reason for replacing Starlight.
We learn that the switch happened not long before the reveal. In the episode, a random woman approaches Starlight at a bar, asking for a photo. This woman was actually the Shapeshifter, and by touching Starlight, she gained the ability to transform. Hughie and the gang met the shapeshifter earlier in the episode while investigating an apartment, meaning that Starlight hasn't been missing for very long.
Sister Sage's Plan Explained
The main reason for Sister Sage's decision to bring in the shapeshifter seems to be Victoria Neuman. Sister Sage wants Neuman to become President, but the fact that The Boys know Neuman is a super is a big problem. Hughie has been keeping the blackmail safe, and it's the only thing stopping Neuman from killing the Boys. But with the fake Starlight destroying the blackmail, the Boys are now sitting ducks.
The shapeshifter could have taken on the identity of any of the Boys, so Sister Sage must have a specific reason for choosing Starlight. We probably won't know the full reason until the season finale, but since the Seven have been targeting Starlight's reputation, it's likely they have something sinister planned.
Sister Sage Was Two Steps Ahead All Along
The revelation about the shapeshifter shows just how clever Sister Sage really is. She was always two steps ahead of the Boys. Sending the shapeshifter to steal Hughie's blackmail shows that she knew this was the only thing standing between Neuman and the presidency. And getting the shapeshifter to touch Starlight involved sending the Boys on a wild goose chase, with them following a fake assassination plot to meet the shapeshifter.
Even A-Train leaking information at Vought was part of Sister Sage's plan. He only revealed the information she wanted him to. The shapeshifter taking over Starlight also implies that the insurrection plans the Boys find in episode 7 are fake. Every move the Boys have made has played right into Sister Sage's hands. Episode 7 finally shows us how smart this super really is.
Could Sister Sage Be Framing Starlight for the President's Assassination?
The fact that the shapeshifter took over Starlight, out of all the other possibilities, sets up a frightening possibility: Sister Sage could be planning to frame Starlight for the assassination of President Robert Singer. Sister Sage has been working to ruin Starlight's reputation, and bringing Firecracker into the Seven was a key part of this. The fact that Sage is using Firecracker even though she hates her proves this is a big part of her plan. The shapeshifter could be the final piece of this plot.
By using a Starlight look-alike to assassinate the President, Sage's plan would achieve two things: Victoria Neuman would become President, and the public would be even more angry at anti-supe advocates. Having the shapeshifter carry out a false flag attack on the president would only strengthen Homelander's super supremacist movement. And Sister Sage's plan wouldn't work as well without the shapeshifter taking over Starlight.
