Season four of “The Boys” is pushing boundaries like never before. This year, the Prime Video series delves deeper into the escalating conflict between the villainous supes of The Seven and their fascist followers, and The Boys alongside the Starlight movement. The show mirrors the growing political division in the United States, with factions at odds and no middle ground in sight.
Homelander, the central antagonist, is joined by a new superhero, Sister Sage, portrayed by Susan Heyward. Sage, a Black woman from Detroit, is the smartest person in the world and appears to be aiding Homelander in his sinister plan to seize the White House. However, her true motives remain shrouded in mystery.
On the other side, The Boys gain an unexpected ally in A-Train, a lead supe from The Seven. A-Train, played by Jessie T. Usher, is working as a double agent, leaking Vought’s data as he grapples with the consequences of his past actions. Despite The Seven catching on to his duplicity in episode seven, A-Train is determined to turn over a new leaf.
Jessie T. Usher shared insights into A-Train’s evolving motivations this season. “It’s been a long time coming,” Usher said. “A-Train has been a victim of circumstance for a long time. If he had known what this was, he would have never pushed so hard to get to this place or be around these people. This is not at all what he expected. He thought that they were going to be saving lives. He thought he’s gonna be a hero. He’s realized that it’s a lot darker than he ever could imagine. I think, at one point, it just becomes too much. You can’t live with yourself anymore. That’s sort of where he was, once it started to affect the people that he cared about.”
Usher added that A-Train is in a place “where he can’t really trust or join either side.” Interestingly, A-Train may find an unlikely ally in Sister Sage, with whom he previously worked in Vought’s teen group, Teenage Kix. Despite having the chance to expose A-Train’s duplicity early on, Sage chooses not to, even though she seems committed to helping Homelander.
Susan Heyward discussed the complexity of her character, Sister Sage, and the appeal of playing a morally ambiguous role. “It’s been a relief and a joy,” Heyward shared. “I’ve gotten to play a lot of other characters where she is the moral center of the entire world. And to kind of take that mantle off, it was very freeing and empowering as well. To not have the moral responsibility of everyone around you, on your shoulders — it’s a completely different way to approach the world.”
Heyward hinted that fans should “expect the unexpected” regarding Sage and A-Train’s shared history and complicated connection. “Always know that Sage is 200 steps ahead of you and there’s a reason for what she’s doing,” Heyward teased. “I think that’s part of the fun. Part of the fun is to have conjecture, to figure it out. I’m pretty sure we’ll end up in a place where you’ll be surprised.”
A-Train and Sister Sage are joined by another Black superhero, Black “New” Noir, played by a Vought actor after the character’s death in season three. This New Noir is a stark contrast to the original Black Noir, being talkative and curious, constantly questioning his character’s motivations while taking orders from The Seven.
Nathan Mitchell, who has played Black Noir throughout the series, expressed his excitement about being unmasked in season four. “It’s super cool,” Mitchell said about his growing dialogue in the series. “In getting this role, I was never told that I would be taking my mask off at any point. This character does not speak; we do not see his face. So I embraced that, you know. When I found out that I would get to take off my mask and speak, I was so excited. The writers are so funny, creative and witty that I knew we’d have so many cool scenes and dynamics and opportunities to play with.”
The season four finale of “The Boys” will be available to stream on Prime Video on Thursday, July 18.
Jesse T. Usher and Susan Heyward also discussed their characters’ thought processes at the 2024 Essence Fest. Usher reflected on A-Train’s journey, particularly how his brother’s injury was a turning point. “I think all of this sort of started with A-Train when his brother got hurt. After that happened and he made the decision that he was going to seek revenge out on Blue Hawk despite what Vought had advised him of. That was the first time he had really turned away from them to do something that he thought was right,” he said.
Usher continued, “I just think it sort of sent him on a spiral. It happened in a short amount of time because his brother gets injured. He goes to Vought about it. They don’t do anything about it. He decides he wants to make a decision for himself. The only decision that he could make was one that would lead to his death. He knew dragging this man down this thing is going to blow his heart out. And he sort of accepted that in that moment. He was like, ‘OK, out of all the things that I’ve done, I’m going to give my life in this moment to do what’s right.’ Then he wakes up back and he’s deeper into the mess. Even death isn’t a way out. And I think that’s just the ultimate wake-up call. I cannot imagine, but I can only sort of play around with the idea of what that feels like to say, ‘This is something that I’m going to do regardless of it taking my life,’ and then realizing that it was all for nothing because you’re even deeper in the mess.”
Heyward elaborated on Sister Sage’s amoral stance and her place within the Vought legion of supes. “I had a lot of conversations with [series creator Eric Kripke] about what does [this] mean? I just need to know from the creator. And I think…the world was set up so completely that people understand there’s a value system. Vought is amazing. Vought is something to go for…we’re trying to provide that sense of discovery again [and]…I feel like in a world where the question is do you have to become a monster to beat the monsters, it’s really interesting to have someone be amoral, who’s not necessarily interested in being a hero or a villain. And she’s trying to do something that’s very logical and doesn’t have any kind of moral gradation at all, and I think it keeps things exciting.”
As the season progresses, the intricate dynamics between A-Train, Sister Sage, and the rest of the characters promise to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The moral complexities and unexpected alliances add depth to the narrative, making season four of “The Boys” a must-watch.
Source: BET.com, Blavity/Shadow and Act
