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Spoilers for The Boys Season 4, Episode 4, “Wisdom of the Ages.” The episode, released June 20, 2024, brings several characters’ histories into the present: Homelander returns to the facility where he was raised, Firecracker makes Annie’s private past a public weapon, and Frenchie discovers that his own violence is tied to Colin’s family tragedy. Their different reactions—to punish, expose, hide or reckon with the past—give the episode its shape.
Episode details
“Wisdom of the Ages” is the fourth episode of Season 4. It was released June 20, 2024, and runs about an hour. Listings differ slightly: Prime Video gives a runtime of 1 hour 6 minutes, Apple TV lists 1 hour 2 minutes, and TV Guide lists 63 minutes. Apple TV labels the episode TV-MA; Prime Video’s catalog gives an 18+ rating. For viewing, check the official Prime Video listing for access in your region, since availability can vary.
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Why does Homelander go back to the lab?
Homelander returns to the Vought underground research-and-development facility where he was raised as John and subjected to painful experiments. He brings a cake, but the gesture is not an attempt at reconciliation. He singles out staff connected to his childhood treatment and makes them experience fear and humiliation in return.
The visit gives the episode a clearer view of the harm behind Homelander’s self-image: he was made to endure cruelty in a place where adults had power over him. But the scene does not turn that history into an excuse for what he does as an adult. He is not merely remembering what happened; he is choosing to inflict suffering on others.
#1 Best Overall
- The world is on the brink. Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under Homelander's muscly thumb as he consolidates his power. Butcher, with only months to live, has lost Becca's son, and his job as The Boys' leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they must find a way to work together and save the world before it's too late.
What does “Wisdom of the Ages” mean?
The title fits the episode’s recurring question of what people do with the past. Homelander turns his origin story into a rationale for revenge. Frenchie tries to retreat from a history that has reached someone close to him. Firecracker converts Annie’s personal history into a public spectacle. In each case, what happened before affects present relationships, choices and power—though the characters respond in sharply different ways.
What did Firecracker reveal about Starlight?
Firecracker launches her Vought News Network program, Truth Bomb, in a live broadcast across from Starlight’s headquarters. She uses Annie’s history and sensitive medical information to attack her public credibility. The show’s promotional description on Apple TV says Firecracker will expose “Starlight’s adrenochrome parties”; that is the premise of Firecracker’s fictional propaganda, not a factual claim about Annie or real people.
Rank #2
Annie confronts Firecracker on camera. The response is understandable as an impulsive reaction to a personal attack, but it creates damaging optics. It also threatens Annie’s effort to work with President-elect Robert Singer on regulating Supes: a public confrontation gives her opponents material at a moment when she needs political credibility.
Frenchie’s past puts his relationship with Colin at risk
Colin shares painful details about the deaths of his family. Frenchie recognizes that he was connected to what happened, but instead of facing the truth with Colin, he withdraws. The episode makes the cost immediate: Frenchie’s attempt to avoid accountability affects a relationship in the present, not just his private memory of the past.
Rank #3
Hughie and his parents face a family decision
Hughie and his mother, Daphne, confront what to do about Hugh Sr., who is comatose after a stroke. Hughie searches for a way to save his father while Daphne acts on a plan they have discussed. The story places their differing responses inside a painful family crisis, without reducing it to a simple question of right and wrong.
Sister Sage, the Deep and the episode’s grotesque comedy
The steel rod near Sister Sage and the Deep is part of a fictional explanation for Sage’s behavior. She temporarily injures her own brain to lower her extraordinary cognitive function, after which her brain regenerates. The scene is grotesque dark comedy built around her powers; it is not medical guidance or a depiction of a real-world treatment.
Rank #4
- Condition: New
- Format: Blu-ray
- AC-3; Color; Dolby; DTS Surround Sound; Dubbed; Subtitled; Widescreen
Butcher and Kimiko confront old violence
Butcher is back with the team, but the organism in his body produces sporadic powers he does not fully control. Kimiko faces the Shining Light Liberation Army again, a group connected to her family’s trauma. Their storylines extend the episode’s pattern: past violence is not safely contained in memory when it continues to shape present danger and decisions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch
Prime Video’s official listing is the established viewing destination for the series. Check the listing in your location for current access and terms; availability can differ by region and change over time.
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