This article contains spoilers from The Boys season 4, episode 5, “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son.”
Summary
The Boysshowrunner Eric Kripke addresses the heartbreaking end of season 4, episode 5, “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son,” and an important reference to the comics. In the episode, before Hugh Campbell Sr. (Simon Pegg) dies, he refers to his son Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) as"Wee Hughie," which is the character’s nickname in the comics. WithPegg’s likeness used for Hughie inThe Boyscomics, the actor was connected to the character long before being cast as Hughie’s father in the Prime Video series.
Kripke explained toEntertainment Weeklythat episode 5’s"Wee Hughie"line"came from Simon. That was not in the script. He reached out to me and he said,‘Can I call him ‘Wee Hughie’ as one last nod?'“Kripke also discussed Pegg’s exit from the series, his long-standing connection toThe Boys, and how the episode is transformative for the show’s version of Hughie. Read Kripke’s comments below:
For him, this wasn’t just him leaving the show, this was him saying goodbye to 20 years of this character being a part of his life. I thought that was a perfect way to come full circle.
[Hughie’s] always considered the young one, and heends this season as a really mature, fully grown adult. Such a big part of that journey for anyone is dealing with sick parents or aging parents. It’s just a very universal thing that everyone goes through. If you look at the episode in the very beginning, dad’s calling him, ‘You’re still that kid.’ By the end of the episode, Hughie’s making decisions that are very mature and adult and real that his parents are unable to do. It’s a littlemicrocosm of a kid growing up.
Hughie Has One Of The Boys’ Best Character Arcs
He Has Changed A Great Deal Since Season 1.
Hughie needed to grow up in season 4, and confronting the unresolved issues with his parents — not only with his dad but through the unexpected return of his mom as well — has allowed him to do that.
InThe Boysseason 4, episode 5 ending, Hughie having to kill his own father is devastating, but further strengthens what is already one of the show’s most compelling character arcs. Out of all the characters,Hughie has arguably changed the most, not only in his evolution from an ordinary individual to being a full-fledged and fully capable member of the Boys but also in how he has grown despite his fears and insecurities. Even though Hughie has taken down powerful supes like Translucent (Alex Hassell) and Stormfront (Aya Cash), one thing that always held him back was his unresolved feelings concerning his parents.
Why Starlight’s Powers Don’t Work In The Boys Season 4
Starlight is having trouble calling upon her powers in The Boys season 4, episode 5, and there’s one likely explanation for her struggles.
He was still traumatized by his mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) leaving him and carried resentment towards his father for what he once perceived as weakness. By Hughie telling his dad that he was his real hero, and giving him the most peaceful and dignified death he could give him,The Boyscharacterdemonstrates a level of maturity and a different kind of courage than he’s ever had before. His dad may remember him as"Wee Hughie,“buthe is no longer a kid, and proves as much through his actions.
Hughie spent much ofThe Boysseason 3 justifying his use of Temporary V due to his fragile toxic masculinity and the insecurities he felt about being the boyfriend of Starlight/Annie January (Erin Moriarty). Hughie needed to grow up in season 4, andconfronting the unresolved issues with his parents— not only with his dad but through the unexpected return of his mom as well — has allowed him to do that. This will make him a better member of the Boys as he rejoins them in their ongoing fight against Homelander (Antony Starr), Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), and Vought.
The Boys
Cast
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
