The Boys - S02E07: Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker
amazonIf the previous episode of The Boys gives a hopeful impression to audiences for the series’ future, the penultimate hour of the season will, once again, bring doubt to their expectations. Although far from uneventful, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker reverts back to the season’s initial problems with its storytelling.
It’s not necessarily terrible, per se, but one can’t help but think that the episode is poorly rushed. Whereas the first half spends too much time on attempts to flesh out the characters with little success, this episode skims plenty of world-building elements and character arcs.
The episode’s biggest letdown is Starlight’s arrest. It appears as the hour’s most consequential storyline and seems exciting on paper, but what transpires is quite lackluster. The momentum always gets disrupted with its constant cutting back and forth in-between different plots, but a major plot point involving a seemingly important side character undoes his arc, which the previous episode has been successful in establishing. What could've been a potentially compelling character arc is shattered by a quick and frustrating conclusion.
This episode is almost as if the showrunners have finally decided to check out the most of their to-do list right before the big finale, but forgets any proper buildup. It is actually unfortunate, because the series offers a thought-provoking interpretation of how American politics would operate when super-humans are a vital part of society. The decision to have the Congress involved in the Vought scandal would’ve been captivating, but Eric Kripke and his team must have other plans.
However, Stormfront’s movement is an exception. The cold open focuses on a specific individual’s everyday life as his mind gets exceedingly corrupted with the superhero’s white supremacist propaganda. The scene is not only a terrifyingly accurate depiction of how much power a social media influencer has in the general public, but a well-constructed sequence that can be a stand-alone short film itself.
The Boys’ second-to-last episode may be overstuffed and uneven, but it has its moments. The series’ willingness to push boundaries in what should and shouldn’t be shown on television remains admirable and evident. Butcher’s (Karl Urban) arc brings his background to light and adds depth to his character. The cliffhanger is definitely a welcome surprise and promises a satisfying payoff. One could still hope the season finale is able to deliver that.
