Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Boys season 4, episode 8.
Summary
There are a lot of storylines throughoutThe Boysseason 4, andHughie’s mom returning is probably the most baffling of the bunch.The Boysseason 4 puts Hughiethrough the wringer, and the first half of the outing hones in on his relationship with his family. With Hughie’s father on his deathbed after an unexpected stroke, he’s forced to contend with losing the man who raised him. He also finds himself facing his mother again, and Daphne Campbell’s return offers him closure over her departure from the family years earlier.
Daphne’s sudden return left viewers thinking she’d become avillain inThe Boysseason 4, a theory the latter half of this outing seems to debunk. And that twist might have been more satisfying than howThe Boysseason 4’s endingactually handles Daphne’s story. After the fourth season finale, the return of Hughie’s mother feels even more perplexing. One has to wonder whyThe Boys’writers included her, especially when her introduction amounts to very little.
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Hughie’s Mom Played No Role In The Boys Season 4’s Second Half
She Only Sticks Around For Hugh Sr.’s Death
DespiteThe Boysseason 4 making a big deal about the return of Hughie’s mom,Daphne doesn’t play a significant role in the latest season. Her purpose doesn’t extend beyond supporting Hughie through Hugh Sr.’s death. After Hughie’s father dies, Daphne mentions returning home. She doesn’t appear again in the fourth season, and she isn’t even mentioned. Given how quickly Daphne fades into the background, one has to wonder what the point of her inclusion was in the first place. Sure, it’s nice to see Hughie get closure over his mother, but it feels like she should have done more.
It’s nice to see Hughie get closure over his mother, but it feels like she should have done more.
WithThe Boysseason 5likely to focus on the showdown between Butcher and Homelander, it’s doubtful that Daphne will get another chance to step into a greater role. While we might see her one more time before the series comes to a close,the latter half ofThe Boysseason 4 doesn’t set up a story for her. That’s a shame, as Rosemarie DeWitt plays the part impressively — and viewers were definitely expecting more from her character once she showed up.
Hughie’s Mom Wasn’t Connected To The Boys' Main Plot At All
She Didn’t Have An Important Role At All
Although Hughie grows as a character thanks to Daphne’s return,it’s disappointing that his mother doesn’t connect toThe Boysseason 4’s main plot. Her entire purpose is to push Hughie forward, but her conversations with her son prove she’s an interesting character in her own right. It would have been nice to see the Amazon series do more with that. At least Daphne being a secret villain — or even the shapeshifter assassin — would have given her introduction more meaning.
Of course,Hughie’s mom didn’t need to be a villain to fit intoThe Boys’main narrative. She could also have used her connection to Vought for good, helping The Boys in their fight against Homelander and The Seven. This would have further redeemed her for Hughie and the audience. If the series gave her Supe powers, she could even have been an asset to the team inThe Boysseason 5. As it stands, Daphne doesn’t have much to offer in the final outing. If we see her again, it will likely be during a brief reunion with her son.
The Real Purpose Of Hughie’s Mom In The Boys Season 4
She Helps Hughie Grow Through A More Human Story
Daphne’s role is limited inThe Boysseason 4, but her introduction isn’t totally pointless, as it helps Hughie grow as a person. It seems her narrative is meant to tell a more human story, teaching Hughie the importance of forgiveness. As this lesson comes back inThe Boysseason 4 finale,one can say that Daphne influences Hughie’s choice to strike a deal with Neuman. He even says as much in his speech to The Boys, emphasizing that hating people like his mother and A-Train isn’t brave.
It seems her narrative is meant to tell a more human story, teaching Hughie the importance of forgiveness.
The Boysdefinitely could have done more with Daphne’s character, but at least she affects the show’s fourth season in some way. Whether we’ll see her again is another story, as the latest outing leaves her with little else to do. If she was a Supe or secret villain, she’d have a role to play inThe Boysseason 5. As it stands, she’ll probably just be locked up with the rest of the non-Supes — and it’s doubtful we’ll even see it happen.
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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.
