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★ First off, this is the worst episode in this season so far in my opinion, and here's why:

• Unnecessary scenes and bad writing:

I mean come oooon what have they done to our girl Annie?! I understand she was having existential crisis back in season 4 and her powers were wavering due to self doubt and self identity (similar to Peter Parker in Spiderman 2) but the final scene in the fourth season was the end of it, when she got her powers back and flew off to run.

Look at her this season, completely useless, and I don't blame Erin or Annie, I blame the bad writing they gave her to deliver. What the fuck do you mean she couldn't have a decent fight against Oh Father? I understand they had some kinda brotherly bond back in the day. But Annie now isn't the Annie she was years ago. She just went flashy eyes (which she's been doing all the season to the point nobody takes her seriously anymore). I'm really sad how they ruined such a good character with crappy writing.

The Deep. Fucking God. Won't he die already?! Hats off to the actor (Chance Crawford) for the performance. But god shouldn't the character be put down already. He fucking killed Noir 2.0 and the scene itself was sleazy and terrible. What do you mean Noir 2.0 got killed by Deep, and by a knife? He fucking had been fired at by a minigun in season 4 by Butcher and that motherfucker didn't even budge, and now you kill him off by DEEP and by a fucking KNIFE?! wtf?! How the hell is he still alive?

• Characters Inconsistency:

Yes, here comes Billy fucking Butcher. I know he's an anti-hero, I know he's a morally grey cunt. But it was clear he set his mind in season four's finale when he drove away, with Kessler sitting in the backseat having silent conversation with him through the mirror. I know he loves Hughie, and the special bond they have, and Lenny, and all. But his character inconsistency is irritating me. Like one minute he goes on "fuck the supes they ain't even human", and another minute he wouldn't kill any just because Kimiko insisted. One second he's adamant to kill each supe (innocent or not—they're all guilty in his book) another second he'd be hesitant because Huighie persuaded him to wait until they got their hands on V1. It's so fucking annoying and frustrating to me as a watcher, they're trying so hard for us to root for him but they're failing. And it's obviously used just to flesh out more episodes and to milk more context. Again crappy writing. How ironic, they became the same exact thing they used to satire and make fun of.

Another character is being horribly dealt with is Sage. She's supposed to be the smartest fucking person in the whole world. How come she overlooked what Ashley said about what she read in Soldier Boy's mind, that he's proud of Homelander yet he doesn't want him to know?! How come she didn't heed that detail? Did she think by showing Soldier Boy a video of Stormfront handfucking Homelander (after she got blown off by Ryan) would fuel the father's anger towards his son? I don't really get that part. Maybe super smart people don't understand how feelings and emotions work? I'd accept that if Ashley didn't say what she said out loud and Sage blatantly ignored it.

Kimiko and Frenchie's relationship. When they kissed back in S4 finale I literally cried, I've always loved them together, and the chemistry between the two is strong and beautiful. But after episode 4, what the fuck is going on? Kimiko made it clear that she can't go back to chaos which Frenchie thrives in. I was devastated when they broke up, until... they didn't? What happened? They were not really clear about their relationship. And more episodes came by and both were acting as if that encounter didn't happen at all. Frenchie wants the V1 to give it to Kimiko so she can be immune to the Virus. I know their bond is beyond "romantic love" yet it's still confusing to me how the writing is putting their dynamics in this season.

The only character I still see him justified is MM, that man deserves better tho.

• The Boys themselves:

I don't know if I'm the only one feeling this, but the spine of this show is the bond and banter our Boys have. And this season they've gone pretty dull and bland. I know they're not in the best place, but they've always managed to bring us joy whenever they're interacting with eachother. This season is feeling off, especially after episode 2. Kimiko repeatedly making porn jokes left and right, Hughie little to no good dialogue. And the only ones keeping the interactive part still going are Butcher and MM. Other than that... meh.

• Homelander:

I just want to say that I'm sick of this pathetic motherfucker, but still curious what he'll do after he got the V1. Although I'm sure that he won't be satisfied because it's how he is.

• Soldier Boy:

*sigh* Don't get me wrong, Soldier Boy/Ben is —and still— my favourite character, but it's getting pretty obvious they're using Jensen's charm and the popularity of SB to tease Vought Rising in a rubbing-it-in-our-faces kinda way. Personally, I think it's a bad call, because they're overusing it. I love Jensen, and he's the main reason I love Soldier Boy to begin with, and I love they're giving us more lore about him (considering I write fics about him) But they're not using his subplot really well to serve the main one and characters, instead they just want us to be eager for Vought Rising. And the fucking love interest they gave him? Really? Stormfront? The Nazi bitch?! *sighs again* Kripke really wants us to hate him or just irritate us by this. "I fought the nazis" Yeah? By fucking one of them?

★ Things I liked in the episode:

• Bombsight and Golden Geisha subplot:

It's soul-refreshing to watch some true love among the blood, guts, and gore on the screen. I can't say it's perfect, nothing is in this show, yet I liked it. And I'm excited to see more of Bombsight.

• Soldier Boy's soft side:

I myself wrote many fics about him, imagining Ben in different scenarios where he could be human at heart and have raw feelings underneath his macho man facade. I enjoyed watching it come to life on screen, and Jensen is a phenomenal actor who always delivers. I loved how he offered Robbie (Bombsight) a chance to be a human again to live a (relatively) normal life with his girl Goldie. And when Soldier Boy stopped choking Robbie when the latter said: “Ben, stop!” Super excited to explore the lore behind those two 70 years ago and the layers of their relationship.

I don't like it, but I don't know if I'd change my mind after watching Vought Rising, but this Soldier Boy and Liberty romance is creepy as shit. Despite that, I enjoyed watching Ben's raw emotions, love in particular being displayed in such intensity. I know what he did was dumb. But I can see why he did it. Fucking god, it was heartbreaking. Especially, that we all know that Liberty/Clara most likely played him for her supe/white supremacist shit.

• Legend:

This guy is a LEGEND, I love his dialogues and every scene he's in. He's hilarious. And thank god, they didn't kill him. I like how at peace he is, and how he accepted the order of things with such a spirit. And how he fucking patted Homelander's shoulder. I freaking love his perspective of talents. I think he's some kinda opposite to what Edgar's represents to an extent. I don't think we'll see more of him, but... at least they let him live (even if it's just for now).

★ My Predictions:

Soldier Boy will, sooner or later, flip on Homelander, it's inevitable. Wether because that little shit of a brat is going to do something to him. Or because Ben will know Clara was a player in his replacement plan. It's highly likely she's the one who convinced him —and it's my theory even though he used a picture of a bush on a magazine to do it— to "beat his meat into a cup for shit for genetics" to make the ultimate supe. And I don't entirely exclude her being Homelander's mom. I'd reckon she fucked her own son, knowing he's her son, because she believes is line purity and shit like that, if not. I still don't think Vought fucked her over they way they did Ben. Either way, Soldier Boy will be pissed that he got played and used (again), and it'll pushes him to make some kinda deal with The Boys to get rid of the abomination he (unknowingly) created.

We all saw how good Clara was at reading and manipulating people, and I think she somehow found a way to make Ben get attached to her. Soldier Boy is a smart guy, but not emotionally so. Yet, I don't think he couldn't do the math and link the dots by himself. He did but he doesn't want to know the only "real thing" —or what felt so— in his life was a lie. And when he'll eventually have to face it. It'll break him. There's a gap when Clara disappeared. Maybe she dumped Ben after John was born in 1981? It was around the same time she quitted being Liberty. It's still unclear, but hopefully more will be revealed. I think Sage will dig that dirt up and give it to The Boys to convince him to rejoin them in order to fry the V from Homelander's body that will lead to his demise later. Which I'm 90% sure it'll happen. Soldier Boy will play a big role in Homelander's end. And more fucked up yet? Clara is still alive and she and Ben have an encounter and he faces the bitter truth like a slap from the woman he loved.

As for Soldier Boy's ending, I expect he'd use so much of his radiation so intensely, because it'll take a lot to fry the V out of HL's body which will backfire on him personally and lead Soldier Boy to lose his powers. Yes, I don't think Soldier Boy is going to die. First, it makes sense. They'll give him a redemption arc (they foreshadowed it throughout this season), so he's going to atone to his heinous actions (past and present), by turning into a mortal. And MM won't kill him, and he'll be content how that motherfucker lost everything and he'll have to live with it. Plus, they literally gave the guy a prequel, and already working on the second season. So, yes. Soldier Boy isn't dying, at least that what I think (and hope).

Our boy Ryan is coming back sooner or later, and it'll be frustrating if he and his grandpa didn't have a scene together.

Stan Edgar isn't gonna die, but he'll be put back in prison, MM will make sure of that.

Huighie and Annie will make it.

Kimiko and Frenchie, I don't think both will die, but one of them definitely is.

Butcher is going to die and he's final dialogue will be either with Ryan, Hughie (like the comics), or both.

★ Final word:

Two episodes left, and after today's one, I'm really scared how the show would end now. I really really hope they fix whatever they can in these two remaining episodes. And wrap up one of the best shows in latest years. I love this series, and it's one of my favourites. And I'm excited for next Wednesday!