Why 'The Boys' Season 4 needs to explore Kimiko's interesting storyline, and soon
Contains spoilers and speculations for 'The Boys'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Boys' is celebrated for its incisive critique of superhero tropes and its willingness to push boundaries. A standout in its ensemble cast is Kimiko Miyashiro (Karen Fukuhara).
Kimiko's character is notable not just for her Wolverine-like abilities but for the emotional depth portrayed through facial expressions and body language, as she is mute. However, in Season 4, Kimiko's development is overshadowed by a focus on her relationship with Frenchie (Tomer Capone).
The issues arise from Frenchie's involvement with Colin (Elliott Knight), who works with Starlight (Erin Moriarty) at the Starlight House. This storyline feels disjointed considering Season 3 set up developments between Kimiko and Frenchie.
The situation worsens when it's revealed that Frenchie, in his past as a mercenary, was responsible for Colin's family's death. Kimiko, unaware of this, encourages Frenchie to find happiness, even if it's not with her. This shift in focus sidelines other compelling aspects of Kimiko's character.
Overall, while 'The Boys' continues to excel in its critique and boundary-pushing, Season 4 struggles with balancing character arcs, particularly Kimiko's, amid evolving relationships that alter already established dynamics.
Kimiko's interesting storyline has great potential that needs to be explored in 'The Boys'
In 'The Boys' Season 4, each character deals with their past. Starlight's conflict with Firecracker (Valorie Curry) started from a hurtful incident in her youth.
Butcher (Karl Urban) tries to make up for his mistakes by protecting Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) from Homelander (Antony Starr). Hughie (Jack Quaid) has to handle his mother's return (Rosemary DeWitt).
For Kimiko, it's the return of the Shining Light Liberation Army. They killed her parents, forced Kimiko and her brother Kenji (Abraham Lim) into their army, and turned them into Supes. Kenji's death caused by Stormfront (Aya Cash) made Kimiko and Frenchie's bond stronger in Season 2.
In Episode 4 titled, 'Wisdom of the Ages', Kimiko and Hughie meet Shining Light soldiers. One soldier suggests Kimiko is to blame for her scars. This reunion causes Kimiko to become withdrawn, even avoiding speech therapy.
It sheds light on Kimiko's life before joining the Boys, a story more captivating than her relationship with Frenchie. With 3 episodes left in Season 5, there's still room for change.
How did the previous seasons show Kimiko's growth as a character?
'The Boys' Season 4 struggles with Kimiko's character development, which diverges from her previous arcs.
In Season 1, she began opening up after being used as a weapon. Season 2 explored her grief over losing her brother. Season 3 delved into her struggles with her powers and public perception. Despite her bond with Frenchie, Kimiko had room to grow independently.
However, Season 4 ties Kimiko's growth too closely to Frenchie's storyline. Her development hinges on his, and both characters seem stagnant this season.
Frenchie's new relationship with Colin feels abrupt and disrupts the momentum from Season 3, where Kimiko was considering a fresh start with him, culminating in a long-awaited kiss.
While relationship drama is common in TV series, shifting Frenchie's focus to another character feels like a departure from their established path.
There might still be some hope left for Kimiko's character arc in 'The Boys'
In 'The Boys' Season 4 Episode 5 titled, 'Beware the Jabberwock, My Son', viewers had a lot to take in. Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) made a return, Gen V's major plot unfolded, and there were even flying murderous farm animals.
Amid all this, there was also another significant development: Frenchie turns himself in to the police for his past crimes, leaving the Boys with one less member.
This could be an opportunity for Kimiko to discover herself independently of Frenchie. It also sets the stage for the show to delve into her history with Shining Light.
As the fifth and final season approaches, there's optimism that 'The Boys' can rediscover what fans admired about Kimiko.
'The Boys' Season 4 trailer
5 episodes of 'The Boys' are streaming now on Prime Video.