‘The Boys’ Season 4 Foreshadowed This Character’s Big Compound V Twist

Editor’s observe: The beneath incorporates spoilers for The Boys Season 4 finale.

The Boys Season 4 has resulted in peril and left us with a complete heap of burning questions. The primary ones that spring to thoughts is likely to be Soldier Boy’s (Jensen Ackles) return, the destiny of The Boys, or Butcher’s (Karl City) subsequent steps, however one other large cliffhanger that will get misplaced within the chaotic finale is Ashley Barrett’s (Colby Minifie) Hail Mary determination to inject herself with Compound V. Though we’re not instantly made aware about the total consequence, what we’re proven of her transformation is terrifying sufficient. Her powers are but to be seen, however the indicators might have been there all alongside in Season 4 — within the type of her wardrobe.

The Clues Are in Ashley’s Clothes on ‘The Boys’ Season 4

Ashley has all the time been a flamboyant dresser; from vivid crimson to chartreuse to fiery flame print, her pantsuits have all the time made fairly the assertion. However there’s a specific style — a subcategory, if you’ll — of Ashley’s wardrobe that could possibly be foreshadowing much more than it’s possible you’ll assume. This clothes concept goes again to the Season 3 finale – in any other case generally known as easier occasions, when Homelander (Antony Starr) had but to set his sights on destroying democracy as we all know it and was merely checking out his daddy points.

You might recall Ashley’s half within the episode when Homelander forces her to take away her wig, revealing her case of trichotillomania which causes her to tear out her complete head of hair. On this episode, she’s outfitted in a zebra print gown. It undoubtedly looks as if one thing Ashley would put on, however past that, it symbolizes her standing at Vought as prey. Nevertheless, it’s additionally the primary time we actually see Ashley insurgent towards Homelander, as she erases the safety video that proves Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) continues to be alive on the finish of the finale.

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One entire season and a handful of elaborate outfits later, Ashley enters the Season 4 finale in a way of panic, fearful for her life contemplating her precarious place at Vought. Nevertheless, whereas terrified, her outfit hints that she could also be headed towards extra energy in The Boys‘ final season. Outfitted in a flashy black and gold cheetah print, Ashley breaks into Homelander’s suite and injects herself with a dose of his Compound V. Her wig falls off, and her head bulges, mutating because the V programs by her veins. Versus her zebra print within the final season, Ashley’s new outfit resembles some of the fierce predators within the animal kingdom, suggesting that she too might develop into a pressure to be reckoned with.

Ashley’s Arc in ‘The Boys’ Informs Her Compound V Transformation

Past her animal print clothes, Ashley has been given her most fleshed-out arc of the collection this season, which alludes much more to her flip from prey to predator. Early in Season 4, Ashley is considering leaving her life at Vought behind. Regardless of rising to CEO of Vought, she has no actual energy and is as a substitute used solely as a figurehead, continuously in concern of Homelander’s unpredictable conduct. However after witnessing Homelander’s homicide of crime analyst Anika (Ana Sani), she shreds her resume and decides to stay it out at Vought. This resembles the actions of her Season 3 self: prey camouflaging into its predator’s environment.

Whereas Ashley commits to staying as Homelander’s doormat, she finds no matter solace she will in little rebellious acts, like leaving a floater in his non-public toilet. It isn’t a lot, however it’s a step ahead to expressing her hatred of Homelander. A discreet floater results in an uneasy alliance with the equally radicalized A-Train (Jessie T. Usher). Now aware about the id of the mole in Vought, she does what she will to cowl her tracks, like framing VNN anchor Cameron Coleman (Matthew Edison), which results in his death. Regardless of having no correspondence with The Boys, Ashley is all in on her resistance plan, with no turning again.

Ashley’s Resolution to Keep at Vought Proves Her Resilience

When A-Prepare outs himself because the leak and issues come to a head, he additionally affords Ashley a method out. It’s the whole lot she needed and, at A-Prepare’s velocity, she could possibly be out of hurt’s method in seconds, however she regretfully declines. As A-Prepare units off, Ashley seems wistfully at an previous picture she has framed, that includes a youthful model of herself with cornrows and a Che Guevara shirt posing fortunately in what seems to be a international nation. Whereas hilarious, it additionally offers a wealth of context about who she was earlier than Vought. The free spirit in that picture couldn’t be extra completely different than the subservient Vought govt she is now, and she or he’s lastly beginning to understand simply how a lot she’s modified.

When Homelander sends The Deep (Chace Crawford) trying to find “Ashlee,” she panics and raids Homelander’s private provide of Compound V. Whereas the present cuts away from the transformation, it appears to be just a little extra unforgiving than most Compound V situations, because it adjustments her bodily look. Nevertheless, the truth that the total reveal is being held till subsequent season hints that will probably be huge. Will probably be intriguing to see what powers the V gave Ashley, however the actual query is whether or not or not she’ll formally facet with The Boys to take Homelander down. Regardless of the final result, it appears sure that Ashley will lastly be on the prime of the meals chain (or at the least shut) for as soon as.

The Boys Season 4 is streaming on Prime Video within the U.S.

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