TV Recap: ‘The Boys’ Season 2 Ep 4: “Nothing Like it in the World”

The Boys decided to step back this week, take a deep breath, and reveal some secrets, backstories, and say hi to some familiar faces. However, the air of normalcy that existed for moments were quickly gone, as chaos and darkness are really all these characters know, no matter what side they are fighting for.

On a road trip with Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) to dig up some info on a supe, Hughie (Jack Quaid) and Annie (Erin Moriarty) try to grasp for bits of a life that they can never have, belting out tunes in the car and enjoying each other’s company. The search for sanity is something of a lofty goal for these two, and most characters in this show, as mayhem, dysfunction, and chaos are the cards they’ve all been dealt. You don’t have to like it, but coming to that realization is important, and maybe Hughie is finally there.

Butcher (Karl Urban) goes on a personal mission and his brief moments of light flicker out quickly, as the darkness he carries around with him now has completely consumed his life, something he is still struggling with. It’s ironic that Butcher and Homelander (Antony Starr) are like two sides of the same coin. One doesn’t hide the fact he needs to be loved and adored by all, the other hides the need by simply pretending he doesn’t care.

Speaking of Homelander…yikes. Psychotic, evil, controlling, these are things we know already, but his little hideaway slice of heaven reveals another creepy side to him. Yet, at the same time, is completely understandable in terms of why he is doing what he does. He needs people to love him, admire him but above all, listen to him and understand that his is the boss and in control. It makes the inevitable run-in with Stormfront (Aya Cash) a bit too predictable, even though they could be the power couple from hell if both of their egos would allow it.

With a lot of B and C plots twisting through this episode, including the forever corporate bashing and what happens when you can use social media as a weapon, you can forgive The Boys for taking a breath. Besides, even with so much happening, the overall theme of everyone losing control of situations they never really had control of it in the first place is still very much in place. It was a bit uneven at times, but some groundwork was laid that is sure will pay off over the last four episodes.

If anything, “Nothing Like It in the World” shone an even brighter light on how damaged all these people are, and while the fight to save the world on both sides continues on, the fight to personally try and same themselves from their chosen paths is a constant and perhaps hopeless struggle. Hey, if they need some brutality, gore, and viciousness to help them on this journey, who are we to judge? In the end, though, there is always a price to pay, and for these characters, the price will be very high indeed.

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