The Boys season 4 may not be the show’s final season, but it does finish the Amazon series’ first arc after five years. Despite the fact that the first few episodes of The Boys season 4 have been a little slower than normal, it’s clear that they’re building to something bigger.

The fifth season of The Boys has been confirmed, and it will be the series’ conclusion. Needless to say, the current set of episodes must lead up to the impending clash between Homelander and the titular squad. They should also begin closing up smaller subplots and character arcs, as there may not be time to revisit them later.

The Boys season 4, episode 4 makes progress towards this goal by resolving the show’s very first plotline. Although the battle between Homelander and Butcher drives the story, season one does not begin with any of them. The Boys begins with an instigating incident, and the Amazon series has now provided viewers and characters with closure on this front.

A-Train and Hughie Shaking Hands Officially Ends the Boys’ First Feud

The Amazon Series Begins With Hughie & A-Train

The Boys season 4 sets up a potential redemption arc for A-Train, and episode 4 sees him and Hughie resolving the show’s very first storyline. Season 1 opens with A-Train running through Hughie’s girlfriend, and Robin’s death is the reason Hughie meets Butcher and joins the titular team. Hughie and A-Train have a few run-ins throughout The Boys seasons 1-3, and there’s a lot of resentment between the characters. However, they finally bury the hatchet in “Wisdom of the Ages,” five years after The Boys’ series premiere.

With Hughie’s father on his deathbed, Hughie gets desperate enough to reach out to A-Train for help. He asks the Supe to steal Compound V from Vought Tower for him — and in a surprising turn of events, A-Train agrees. He’s reluctant, but Hughie insists that he owes it to him. Wanting to be free of any debt he owes Hughie, A-Train tells him that this will make the two of them “good, forever.” And he comes through, leading to The Boys season 4, episode 4’s Compound V twist. With A-Train and Hughie’s handshake, The Boys’ first feud finally ends.

Robin’s death is no longer a factor in The Boys season 4.

Hughie’s Former Girlfriend No Longer Drives His Narrative

Hughie forgiving A-Train closes out The Boys’ opening storyline, and that’s something the show has been working towards for years. It’s not just Hughie’s interaction with A-Train that offers closure for Robin’s death; it’s also the fact that Hughie has largely moved on. Robin serves as a motivator for Hughie in the early seasons of The Boys, much like Becca is what drives Butcher to pursue vengeance. But unlike Butcher, Hughie moves past his anger and grief. He forms new friendships, finds purpose, and starts a relationship with Starlight, and these things begin to drive his actions instead.

Robin serves as a motivator for Hughie in the early seasons of The Boys, much like Becca is what drives Butcher to pursue vengeance.

By the time The Boys season 4 opens, Robin rarely comes up, making Hughie’s jab at A-Train a rarity. This means that it’s time to close out Hughie and A-Train’s feud, as Robin is no longer a major component of Hughie’s character arc. Although she puts him on the path to his current circumstances, it’s clear that Hughie is worried about other things. His father, his relationships with The Boys, and the future of the world take center stage. Hughie may not fully get over Robin, but he is still moving on. It’s high time The Boys does as well.

Hughie’s forgiveness means that A-Train can join the Boys as an official member.

The Supe Has Already Betrayed Vought and The Seven.

One of MM’s first actions as the new leader of The Boys is to try to flip A-Train, and Hughie initially takes offense to this approach. Getting a Supe from The Seven on their side could massively help the team. However, Hughie lets his past resentments cloud his judgment. Now that Hughie has forgiven A-Train, the door is open for the Supe to join the team in some capacity. While A-Train isn’t fully on board with helping The Boys, his actions suggest he’s not entirely against it.

While A-Train isn’t fully on board with helping The Boys, his actions suggest he’s not entirely against it.

A-Train, of all the Seven, seemed to be having the greatest difficulty embracing Homelander’s latest shenanigans. It’s no secret that A-Train has a rocky relationship with Vought and its marketing team. The Supe betrays them by assisting Hughie and MM, so The Boys season 4 may push him to the opposite side of the fundamental fight. And if A-Train joins the team, they will gain greater Supe authority and insider information. Both could stack the deck in their favor.