The Boys season 4 introduces a key story point with Tek-Knight’s death because the ease with which he dies contradicts previously established legend.
The Boys, like most superhero live-action adaptations, has had its share of power-scaling problems from the start. However, none of them have been obvious enough to seriously undermine a viewer’s suspension of disbelief.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be true for The Boys’ portrayal of Tek-Knight’s power scales. Tek-Knight was not a part of The Boys’ first seasons, but the show has been teasing his presence since the beginning by dropping subtle hints about his powers and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s. Even his portrayal in Generation V indicates a lot about what he can and cannot do as a superhero. Strangely, none of the previously stated specifics regarding his superhuman talents correspond to what The Boys season 4, episode 6 depicts.
Tek-Knight Should Have Been Able To Break Free In The Boys Season 4
Tek-Knight’s Death In The Boys Season 4 Does Not Make Sense
In Season 1 of The Boys, a woman at the Association of Collateral Damage Survivors meeting claims Tek-Knight unintentionally fractured her spine while saving her. This demonstrates that he is significantly stronger than the average human. Similarly, in Generation V, Dean Shetty recalls Tek-Knight beating Ironcast to death, who is supposed to be a superhero with nearly unbreakable metallic skin. The fact that Tek-Knight was able to overpower Ironcast and beat him to death again demonstrates his immense strength. Despite this, Kimiko and Starlight easily tie him up with leather straps and chains in The Boys Season 4.
“When Starlight and the crew start draining his bank accounts, he is not even able to break free from regular leather straps despite being established as a super strong supe.”
Although Tek-Knight enjoys it when they torture him because he is a masochist, it just seems odd that a supe who has previously had so many incredible feats of strength could be subdued so easily. When Starlight and the crew start draining his bank accounts, he is not even able to break free from regular leather straps despite being established as a super strong supe. The sequence then ends with Tek-Knight’s Butler, who is a non-supe human, chocking him to death with another leather strap, which again does not align too well with his previously hinted power levels.
Tek-Knight’s Comic Book Suit Can Resolve The Plot Hole
Tek-Knight Dons An Iron Man Suit In The Comics
Since Tek-Knight is supposed to be a parody of both Batman and Iron Man, he even possesses an Iron Man-esque suit in the comics. Given how Marvel’s Iron Man is a normal human with no inherent superpowers in the original comics and movies but acquires incredible superhero abilities when he puts his suit on, it seems possible that Tek-Knight achieved his past feats of strength when he had his suit on. This would explain why he seemed powerless against Starlight and Kimiko in The Boys season 4 scene.
Interestingly, the show has never directly displayed his suit, but has indicated that its version of Tek-Knight does. For example, there is a scenario in a prior season where Ryan participates in a supe fighting game. Tek-Knight appears in the game’s character selection menu wearing a blue mechanical suit. The Deep also cites Tek-Knight’s eco-friendly outfit in a commercial where he brags about rescuing the earth. However, while the suit explanation closes the season 4 plot hole, it does not correspond to one detail from Generation V.
One Gen V Scene Makes Tek-Knight’s Powers Even More Confusing
Gen V Hints Tek-Knight Is Strong Even Without His Suit
After Golden Boy’s death in Gen V, Tek-Knight visits Godolkin University to investigate and conduct interviews with students. During his conversation with Cate, he learns that she could use her “touch” powers to dominate him. As a result, he threatens to snap her arm if she even tries to remove her glove.Cate instantly backs off after hearing Tek-Knight’s admonition, demonstrating that he has superhuman power even when not wearing his suit.
In season 4’s dungeon sequence, Kimiko kicks Tek-Knight, sending him flying across the room. Kimiko’s kick would 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 any non-superhuman, but Tek-Knight appears to be unharmed. In The Boys season 4, episode 6, Tek-Knight is slain by his butler, who is not a supe.