This story comprises spoilers for The Boys.
From comics to the small display screen, The Boys franchise has at all times tortured Hughie Campbell. The story is understood for its sadism (and nihilism, and misanthropy), so consistently placing the softest member of the workforce by way of the ringer isn’t shocking. The downside is that it additionally isn’t fascinating. Not anymore, at the very least. Constantly beating the shit out of the obvious goal begins off unhappy, and possibly even often humorous at first! But the perpetual torment of Jack Quaid’s Hughie is, at this level, extra lazy than it’s partaking.
Season 4’s fifth episode, “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son” options Hughie and his mom Daphne (Rosemarie DeWitt) taking good care of Hugh (Simon Pegg) after giving him Compound V in a last-ditch effort to avoid wasting his life after his stroke earlier within the season. The drug does efficiently cease the daddy from ravenous to demise after having his feeding tube eliminated, however his mind was lifeless for too lengthy. Hugh wakes up confused, and might solely keep in mind Daphne and Hughie in sure moments. This could be emotionally devastating by itself, however it might at the very least be navigable if the resuscitation is the place the V stopped impacting Hugh. It appears that wasn’t sufficient, although.
Hugh’s energy set consists of tremendous power, and the power to seemingly blip from place to put, together with in and thru folks. A panicked, frightened, and typically indignant Hugh tries to cling to actuality whereas his devastated household watches on. The candy and ostensibly form man stands in swimming pools of blood earlier than Hughie is finally compelled to place him out of his distress and kill him. And I wish to gently ask “What the f*%$, The Boys writers?”
Hughie is most actually not The Boys’ solely punching bag — everybody on this collection goes by way of hell. And there’s at the very least obscure narrative intent right here as Hugh and Butcher’s illnesses will lead to Hughie having to grapple with the potential lack of two father figures. But that obscure narrative mirror isn’t intelligent sufficient to offer the continued remedy of Hughie the oomph that it must nonetheless be something aside from low cost at this level.
One-upmanship has been a theme from season to season. How can we make it extra stunning? How can we make the deaths go more durable? How can we gross the viewers out this time? And, by and huge, that’s labored. The kills getting killy-er and the stunning getting shocky-er is at the very least enjoyable and typically even foolish. Who doesn’t love debating their favourite kill or WTF second on The Boys? It’s enjoyable dancing on or throughout these traces. But with Hughie, it looks like “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son” pole-vaulted over that line and is ready for applause. And it simply ain’t that intelligent.
Let’s be clear right here: unhappiness is an unbelievable storytelling instrument, nevertheless it’s gotta be earned. Not within the “this character is an asshole so I need to see dangerous issues occur to them” form of manner, however in a “that is going to tear viewers’ hearts out, and that’s narratively necessary to the general objective of our story.” Eric Kripke-led reveals usually excel at this, however the restricted story justification of Hugh Campbell’s demise isn’t sufficient to justify the cruelty Hughie is compelled to endure right here. It’s simply one other model of “How can we torture Hughie this season?” and it’s lazy and boring. Two crimes which are particularly noteworthy in a season that doesn’t have sufficient episodes or time to sort out the entire themes it is attempting to cram into its arc.
I don’t count on issues to get simpler for Hughie — most of us know what Butcher does to him within the comics — however I hope no matter tragedy befalls The Boys’ lovable softboy subsequent is at the very least fascinating reasonably than merciless for the sake of it.
Amelia is the leisure Streaming Editor right here at IGN. She’s additionally a movie and tv critic who spends an excessive amount of time speaking about dinosaurs, superheroes, and people horror. You can often discover her along with her canine, Rogers. There could also be cheeseburgers concerned. Follow her throughout social @ThatWitchMia
