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'The Boys' Season 4: Why dungeon sex scene may have been a line the show should not have crossed

'The Boys' Season 4 doesn't even bother to grapple with male victims of sexual assault as showrunner Eric Kripke writes it off as 'hilarious'

Warning: Graphic content, mentions sexual assault; readers’ discretion advised

Contains spoilers for 'The Boys' Season 4

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As 'The Boys' Season 4 nears its conclusion, fans are finding themselves increasingly disappointed with the direction the show has taken.

What was once known for its dark humor and biting satire now seems to be veering into uncomfortable territory, losing the charm that made it a hit.

Prime Video's 'The Boys' has always aimed to shock and provoke its audience, and its latest season continues to push boundaries.

While the show's earlier shocks often served its dark humor well, recent episodes, particularly Season 4, Episode 6 titled 'Dirty Business,' have stirred controversy for mishandling sensitive themes like sexual assault.

Hughie's sexual assault in 'The Boys' Season 4 Episode 6 pushes the limits of edgy content even for the show's standards

In contrast to last week's humor and satire, 'The Boys' Episode 6 takes a darker turn. Jack Quaid's character, Hughie, is forced into a non-consensual sexual encounter involving his childhood idol, Tek Knight.

The scene is unsettling, and unfolds in a jarring sex dungeon setting, portraying a sensitive issue without the necessary empathy and seriousness.

Instead of fostering meaningful discussion, these moments provoke viewers to reflect on the show's direction and priorities, leaving them unsettled and questioning the narrative choices made by the creators.

So what do the creators have to say about Hughie's Tek Cave scene in 'The Boys'?

'The Boys' showrunner Eric Kripke speaks on Hughie's Tek Cave scene in 'The Boys' Season 4

Eric Kripke recently opened up about Hughie's Tek Cave scene in an interview with Variety on Thursday, July 4.

When asked about the Tek Knight sex dungeon scene and why they decided to put Hughie through another tough experience right after his father died in the previous episode, he responded, "Well, that’s a dark way to look at it! We view it as hilarious. Obviously, Tek Knight is our version of Batman, and we wanted to really play around with that trope: Batman’s fascist underpinnings as a really wealthy dude who hunts poor people, and then profits of the incarceration. So that was one."

He further added, "Tek Knight was already set up to be a freak, so we were kind of already halfway there. Then the notion came up of, he should have a Batcave — but let’s be honest, the Batcave would be a sex dungeon. Like, even the real Batcave is just this side of being a sex dungeon. It’s really dark, and there’s rubber suits everywhere. It’s not that much of a push to add a couple dildos and then a weird urinal that turns into a face mask."

Eric Kripke also stated, "And in the comics, there’s a great storyline where Hughie goes undercover disguised as a superhero. That was a story that Jack had always asked us to do. So part of it is, always to be careful what you ask the writers for. Then we finally had this Webweaver character and the idea of Spider-Man going down to be kink-tickled in the Batcave is just too good to pass up. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t leave that on the table."

While Eric Kripke took a light-hearted and humorous stance on the 'Tek Knight' scene, many fans and viewers of the show hold a contrasting view.

Fans up in arms over Hughie's Tek Cave encounter in 'The Boys' 

Many fans have been deeply affected by the injustice against Hughie depicted on the show, while some of them took to X to express their disappointment. One fan wrote, "Imagine if Hughie was gender-bent & played by a Woman, would the creators treat the character the same way? The Boys season 4 Episode 6 changed my perspective."

Showing their love and support towards Hughie, one fan said, "The Boys episode 6 was so brutal for hughie man CAN THE CREATORS OF THIS SHOW STOP DOING HIM DIRTY LIKE THIS LET THE POOR BOY LIVE," while another commented, "Hughie has been going through it. I would be surprised if he went on a killing spree."

"The Eric Kripke take on the whole Hughie/Tek Knight stuff was f*****g reprehensible, but that aside am I the only one who’s enjoying this season of The Boys just as much as the rest," said one fan addressing Eric Kripke's previously mentioned interview.

One fan said, "The writer of the Boys is f****d up! How is Hughie getting sexually assaulted “hilarious?” I hate how he gets shit on!"

Speaking about the overall plot of the episode, one fan said, "Welcome to The Boys I guess. S**t was never cute or shy’s away from the disgusting. The episode ends with Hughie having a breakdown over what happened to him so it’s not a joke, it was his breaking point."

One subreddit, under r/TheBoys discusses about the way that particular episode treats Hughie, in which a user commented, "My man hughie needs some help seriously,too much going on for him since season 1."

Another user wrote, "I think this is valid criticism. Out of all the shock value scenes this was the one I struggled to watch the most. It should have ended at the cake scene tbfh. Not even the absurdity of the lines from Ashley and Tek-Knight were funny, it just felt like I was watching Hughie get violated for fun." He further added, "The last scene felt like it was too little too late, and didn’t really feel all that genuine considering it was more about his dad than what happened."

Exploring the future of 'The Boys' beyond Season 4

With only one more season planned for 'The Boys' in its current form, fans are left wondering about its legacy. The series, which initially garnered praise for its blend of gore, satire, and character-driven drama, now risks becoming a victim of its own excesses.

As attention shifts to spin-offs and future projects, viewers may find themselves more eager for the return of other series like 'Gen V', which balance graphic content with coherent storytelling and compelling characters.

In conclusion, while 'The Boys' Season 4 attempts to maintain its edge with shocking twists and political allegory, it seems to have lost sight of what made it a standout in the first place.

As the series approaches its finale, the hope remains that it can rediscover its narrative footing and deliver a satisfying conclusion for its loyal audience.

'The Boys' Season 4 trailer

6 episodes of 'The Boys' are available to stream on Prime Video

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