Shapeshifter Story: A Critical Analysis of Boys Season 4
The Boys Season 4 presented a plot that left many viewers confused and disappointed in a line-of-action known for stretching limits and addressing difficult subjects. Though initially interesting, the central story involving Hughie and a Shapeshifter fell short in terms of execution and failed to sufficiently address the major consequences of the scenario.
Hughie and The Shapeshower: An Account of Non-Consensual Sex
Disguised as Starlight, the Shapeshifter sexually interacts with Hughie, taking advantage of his conviction he is with his actual partner. Particularly with regard to the idea of consent, this begs important ethical and legal issues. Although the circumstances offers a unique fictional setting, actual legal doctrines hold true. The Legal Information Institute defines consent as needing "the absence of coercion, fraud or error," which obviously wasn't present in Hughie's case.
Season 4 Misses The Mark On Consent and Trauma The Boys
The way the show handles this presents issues on several levels. The Boys presents the aftermath as a humorous misinterpretation, instead of appreciating the seriousness of the non-consensual actions. Hughie is shown as a doghouse hapless boyfriend, and Starlight is shown as a too sensitive girlfriend. The show minimizes the gravity of the matter, so lessening the trauma Hughie and Starlight go through and turning it into just comic material.
Hughie also lacks the chance to sort through the trauma he underwent. He is urged to honor Starlight forgiving him, so underscoring the show's neglect of the non-consensual character of the interaction. This strategy trivializes a major problem and makes viewers doubt the show's dedication to treating delicate topic with the decency it deserves.
Hughie's Trauma: An Enhanced Pattern
In Hughie's horrific trip in Season 4, the shapeshifter incident is not one-off occurrence. He must kill his own father, suffers torture under Tek Knight's hands, and succumbs to the dishonesty of the shapeshower. These sad events, which happen fast one after the other, help to emphasize Hughie's status as a tragic person who is always in terrible conditions.
Pacing and cohesiveness of the fourth boys' season
Notwithstanding its aspirations, The Boys Season 4 suffers with cohesiveness and pacing. The show's emphasis on minor, insignificant storylines lessens the development of its more major narratives—including the consequences of the shapeshifter event. The disjointed framework of the show might have helped to explain the mishandling of this important plotline.
The Boys' obligation to properly tell stories
A show has an obligation to approach difficult and delicate subjects like non-consensual sex and trauma with sensitivity and care. The Boys Season 4's neglect to sufficiently address these problems leaves viewers with a sour taste in their mouths, underscoring the need of careful narrative—especially when dealing with such weighty topics.
The Boys: An Executive Summary
Dark comedy superhero series The Boys questions the idealized view of superheroes. Set in a universe where superheroes are gods and celebrities, The Boys centers on a group of vigilantes trying to reveal the sinister side of apparently perfect heroes. The show's satirical approach and openness to difficult subjects have helped it to become well-known; but, the way the shapeshifter incident is handled in Season 4 calls questions about the show's dedication to responsible narrative.
