The Boys Season 4's Massive Joe Kessler Twist Explained

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Season 4, Episode 6 of The Boys.

Summary

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Season 4, Episode 6 reveals that Joe Kessler is a figment of Billy Butcher’s imagination, representing his darker side.
Kessler’s presence in Butcher’s mind is tied to his guilt and conflicting emotions.
Butcher’s hallucinations, including those of Kessler and Becca, are likely caused by the brain tumor he developed while using Temp V.

boys Season 4 introduces Billy Butcher’s old friend Joe Kessler, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character has changed dramatically. Kessler first appeared in boys In the Season 4 premiere, Butcher meets MM at the same time that he is being reprimanded by the CIA. Their initial conversation reveals that Kessler and Butcher knew each other from their military service, and that Butcher even saved the other veteran’s life during the war. However, boys Season 4, episode 6, reveals that their backstory doesn’t quite play out the way the premiere episode suggested.

Kessler boys In Season 4, Kessler encourages Butcher to go on his quest for revenge against Homelander – even if it means sacrificing his humanity. During their first meeting, Kessler tells Butcher that the world needs people like him because he’s willing to do whatever is necessary. Kessler urges Butcher to eliminate Ryan, even if it means betraying him. He also suggests that the Boys are “joke” exist boys He applauds Butcher’s cruel treatment of Sameer in Season 4, Episode 5. Kessler caters to Butcher’s cruel tendencies, but he is not what he seems.

Related: Butcher’s superpowers get disturbing clues in The Boys Season 4 Episode 5

The Boys season 4 hinted that Butcher is actually Superman, and an unsettling scene in episode 5 may contain clues about his new powers.

Billy Butcher has been imagining Kessler since the start of Season 4 of The Boys

Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character doesn’t actually exist

boys Season 4, episode 6, had a brilliant twist on Joe Kessler. It turns out Butcher had been imagining his old friend throughout season 4. Kessler didn’t actually show up to force Butcher back into the game, nor was he the mastermind behind Butcher’s schemes. He was a product of Butcher’s mind, a representation of his inner conflict. And in the latest episode of the Amazon series, Butcher is the only one who can see or hear him.

Becca represents Butcher’s compassion and humanity, while Kessler symbolizes his darker side.

Maybe it’s not surprising that Butcher sees Kessler when he’s not around, since he keeps seeing visions of Becca, too. boys Season 4. Both are concrete manifestations of his inner thoughts. Becca represents Butcher’s compassion and humanity, while Kessler symbolizes his darker side. He is the devil on Butcher’s shoulder, speaking out all of Butcher’s innermost desires and feelings. Meanwhile, Becca is the angel on his shoulder – a part of his heart that questions and criticizes his anger and hatred.

What Happened to the Real Joe Kessler

The Butcher Didn’t Actually Save His Friend

Joe Kessler Butcher saw and spoke with throughout the process boys There is actually no season 4 yet, but he is a person who exists boys universe. The real Kessler was a friend of Butcher’s during the war, but Butcher never actually saved him. Kessler in boys The first episode of Season 4 is a lie – something Butcher wanted to happen. The end of Episode 6 reveals that Kessler never made it out of the Panjshir Valley.You never dragged me out.“ Kessler told Butcher during the big reveal.”You left me to die.“

Of course, Butcher doesn’t remember leaving Kessler in the Panjshir Valley because his tumor is messing with his thinking. It’s making him forget things and see people who aren’t there. These two people are extremely influential figures in his life, and they represent very different parts of his personality.

Why Butcher’s ‘Devil’ Looks Like Joe Kessler

Kessler hates Superman and represents Butcher’s Guilt

It’s obvious why Becca is the angel on Butcher’s shoulder, as she has been his motivation and conscience throughout boys. However, viewers may question why Butcher’s demon looks like Joe Kessler. There are two possible reasons why he summons this man. First, Kessler clearly hates Superman as much as Butcher does. While viewers never see the real Kessler, the Kessler in Butcher’s mind hints at conversations between the two of them – discussions that focus on how to get rid of Superman. They likely bring out the worst in each other, which explains why he represents Butcher’s worst impulses.

They likely bring out the worst in each other, which explains why he represents Butcher’s worst impulses.

Beyond that, Kessler also symbolizes Butcher’s guilt. He clearly feels bad about not being able to save his friend, just as he feels conflicted about his desire to kill all the superheroes and betray the team. boysand Kessler represents all of that. His death is probably the thing Butcher feels most guilty about, so it makes sense that he represents that emotion in Butcher’s heart.

How The Boys Season 4 Previews Kessler’s Big Turn

Butcher was the only person he had contact with.

boys The major twist in the Kessler story is not revealed until episode 6, when Butcher’s friends respond to Becca. boys The show repeatedly hints that Kessler isn’t actually there. The biggest clue the Amazon series gives is that Kessler never interacts with anyone other than Butcher. In the premiere, he waits until after MM and the rest of the CIA have a meeting before approaching his friend. And he mostly shows up when Butcher is alone, talking to him at his apartment or in a park.

The biggest clue the Amazon series gives away is that Kessler never interacts with anyone other than Butcher.

Kessler does appear in Butcher’s interaction with Sameer. boys Season 4. But Samir never glances at Butcher’s friend or responds to him, making it clear that he doesn’t see him. Kessler even threatens Samir, but the scientist doesn’t bother to respond. Once it all makes sense boys Confirm that Butcher is the only other person in the room.

How did Kessler kill Ezekiel? The Butcher’s Power Explained

Image via Prime Video

In addition to revealing the truth about Joe Kessler, boys Season 4, Episode 6 hints at Butcher’s killing of Ezekiel. Butcher’s confrontation with Superman nearly kills him, but he passes out when Ezekiel strangles him – and wakes up to find Superman’s blood and body scattered in Firecracker’s trailer. This pretty much confirms Butcher is Superman, but Ezekiel’s death also seems to have something to do with Kessler. Kessler tells Butcher, “I killed Ezekiel for you.“He also claimed that he wasin” Butcher.

These words suggest that Butcher’s powers are tied to the part of his brain that sees Kessler. Perhaps he can only use these powers if he embraces his dark side. This would explain why he doesn’t realize that Compound V has changed him, even though he’s clearly different.

Why Butcher kept dating Becca and Kessler in Season 4 of The Boys

His brain tumor and guilt are the root of his appearance

Image via Prime Video

Butcher keeps seeing Becca and Kessler boys In the fourth season, he developed a brain tumor due to his use of Temp V. Hallucinations are a possible symptom of this disease (via Business Insider), which seems to be what Butcher is experiencing. This is why the former leader of the Boys cannot differentiate between reality and what is going on in his mind. This also explains his amnesia, as he does not remember leaving Kessler to die in the Panjshir Valley.

Butcher’s guilt also plays a role in his hallucinations; it’s no coincidence that he sees Becca and Kessler. Both are manifestations of his guilt. Becca reminds him that he screwed up with Ryan, and she’s the part of his brain that wants to repair his relationship with the boy. Meanwhile, Kessler speaks to Butcher’s guilt on a more general level. He regrets the way he lost his friends, and also regrets the boys’ fight with Vought.

What the Kessler twist means for Butcher’s Boy’s fifth season story and comedic finale

The Butcher Probably Won’t Die in Season 4 of The Boys

boys The Kessler twist in season 4, episode 6, was one of the show’s best reveals, and it could have a major impact on the show’s future. Butcher thought he was going to die in season 4, but Kessler’s presence could prevent that from happening. Kessler saved Butcher from dying at the hands of Ezekiel, and this part of Butcher could keep him alive. boys The same is true for Season 5. It’s hard to imagine how the show would end without one of its biggest characters, so it would make sense if this twist from Kessler led to Butcher surviving in some way.

Kessler is related to Butcher’s superpowers, and he represents Butcher’s dark side, which also means
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Possibly setting the stage for a comedic ending for the character.

Kessler is related to Butcher’s superpowers, and he represents Butcher’s dark side, which also means boys Could be the basis for a comedic ending for the character. At the end of the original series, Butcher becomes a complete villain, trying to wipe out all the superhumans. Season 4 brings him closer to this ending, with Kessler being very happy with the idea of using a virus to wipe out all the superhumans. Butcher doesn’t agree with this plan, but he may agree with Kessler’s point of view later. boys.

Source: Business Insider

boys

The Boys is a superhero/black comedy satire created by Eric Kripke based on the comic book series of the same name. The story takes place in a “what if” world where people revere superheroes as celebrities and gods, and they get little punishment for what they do. However, a group of vigilantes led by vengeful man Billy Butcher will fight back against these superheroes and expose their true colors.

Cast Elisabeth Shue, Jensen Ackles, Goran Visnjic, Jesse T. Usher, Chace Crawford, Dominic McElligott, Laz Alonso, Nathan Mitchell, Aya Cash, Colby Minifie, Karl Urban, Erin Moriarty, Karen Fukuhara, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Claudia Dumit, Tomer Capone

Release date July 26, 2019

Season 4