The Boys
word of advice : This article arrest SPOILERS for The Boys season 4 .
Summary
The Boys’Joe Kessler discover is one of the show ’s well - executed moments so far , but the mystery had been teased throughout the entire time of year . Jeffrey Dean Morgan ’s theatrical role as Joe Kessler was one of the most awaited part ofThe Boysseason 4 , and the character ’s big reveal did n’t disappoint . After seemingly stress to help Billy Butcher in his seeking to take down Homelander , The BoysJoe Kessler twistunveiled that he was n’t existent , and instead was a figment of Butcher ’s imaginativeness as , like his late wife Becca , Butcher talking and interacts with Joe , who is already dead .
Although it was readable to the consultation that Becca was n’t real since she died on screen , Joe was stick in as a new character , nominate the revealing that he also pass away year ago a huge surprisal to the hearing . He fundamentally acts as the demon on Butcher ’s shoulder joint while Becca acts as the angel since Joe appeals to Butcher ’s bad instincts . However , despite Kessler ’s true identity being a shock to many , some eagle - eyed viewers figure out the true nature ofJeffrey Dean Morgan’sThe Boyscharacter , as season 4 already dropped plenty of hints that Kessler was n’t real .
Kessler represents the dark share of Butcher in The Boys time of year 4 , while Becca symbolizes his mankind — but why does he see Kessler specifically ?
6Kessler Knew About Butcher’s “Clear Shot” At Killing Homelander With Soldier Boy
Kessler Alluded To Butcher Fighting Soldier Boy In The Season 3 Finale
One of the first clue that Kessler was n’t literal came during his debut where he note Butcher ’s experience with Soldier Boy . After bump into Butcher , the two caught up and discussed the on-going supe crisis . Butcher mentioned that he was focused on Homelander and criticized Grace Mallory for not having her eye on the ballock . This propel Kessler to reply , " But you had a clean pellet at him , correct ? With Soldier Boy " proving that he know about the events of season 3 or - at the very least - the competitiveness that accept topographic point during the finale .
Although Soldier Boy ’s defeat is public knowledge , Butcher and The Boys ' involvement is not . Kessler may be portray as a resourceful CIA agent , but the estimate of him knowing these specific point like Butcher write Homelander seems far - fetched .
Butcher had the chance to allow Soldier Boy obliterate Homelander duringThe Boysseason 3 ’s close ; however , he pick out to save his enemy as Ryan ’s aliveness was also in risk . Although Soldier Boy ’s defeat is public knowledge , Butcher and The Boys ' involvement is not . Kessler may be portrayed as a resourceful CIA federal agent , but the musical theme of him sleep together these specific details like Butcher saving Homelander seems far - fetched . It ’s also not the kind of thing Butcher would proudly share , produce Kessler ’s sexual intel on this mission suspicious and one of the earliest cue that this version of him was n’t substantial .
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5Kessler Knew About Butcher’s Tumor
His CIA Role Didn’t Fully Explain How He Knew About Butcher’s Brain Tumor
Like the Homelander and Soldier Boy confrontation , Kessler seemed to know about another very secret aspect of Butcher ’s life history , his brain tumor . Once again , this is something only known by Butcher ’s inside circle , and while someone like Homelander envision it out with ease , that could be the result of his superpowers . Kessler claim that his CIA headroom allowed him approach to Butcher ’s medical record , and while this is plausible , he never explain why he need them . The medical files did n’t seem to be a part of his endeavour to track Butcher down , prepare his pauperization for them passably occult .
After the reveal , it is obvious Joe only knew about the tumor because he is an university extension of Butcher ’s judgement , but the approximation of the real Joe Kessler access these files made little sentiency . This was another other reading that there was more than touch the eye with Morgan ’s character and that he was n’t as trusty as he might seem . If Kessler was material , his CIA tie and the medical platter excuse are still fathomable , but when analyzing why the character would actually need this selective information , it seems like this was an obvious clue to Kessler ’s secret .
4Kessler Aligned With All Of Butcher’s Darkest Desires
Butcher Has Never Met Anyone With Such A Similar Mindset Regarding Supes
Despite Billy Butcher being a central part of The Boys , he is understandably the least moral in the group , making Kessler ’s nigh - indistinguishable personality suspicious . Although he has meet plenty of other people who desire to take down Homelander and Vought , none of them have been quite as ruthless or base about it as Butcher . He has ofttimes bewilder his team under the bus and shown small compassion towards those he has interrogated or kill , stand for the idea of someone handily sharing these accurate goals seemed a niggling too good to be true , and it was .
The Boysdid an first-class job of still make Joe feel like the sort of character that fits seamlessly into this world , but his utmost mentality was one of the biggest clues that he was never real .
Kessler seemed to share Butcher ’s sear globe visual modality , as he claim he would be willing to prepare up his boy to fight Homelander and was worked up about Sameer ’s virus potentially wipe out all supes . His savage approach to consider with the supe problem perfectly aligned with some of Butcher ’s darker opinion , prove he reflected these sinister desire the whole time . The Boysdid an first-class job of still making Joe experience like the sort of reference that go seamlessly into this universe , but his extreme mindset was one of the biggest clue that he was never real .
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While the grown reveal mean aJoe KesslerThe Boysspinoffmay never happen , one of the cock-a-hoop grounds it would be so appealing is because of his similarity to Butcher . Despite the part ’s moral complexities , fans love Butcher , and Kessler ’s similarity have made him a lover favorite as well , despite his more antagonistic role . have what is essentially an even more savage and remorseless version of Butcher has madeThe Boysseason 4 far more exciting , but it was also a massive indication that Morgan ’s character share too much in vernacular with Butcher to be material .
3Sameer Totally Ignored Joe Kessler In The Boys Season 4, Episode 6
Sameer Looked Confused Whenever Butcher Talked To Kessler
Theending ofThe Boysseason 4 ’s sixth episode revealed Kessler’sbig twist , but there were plenty of ribbing throughout " unclean Business" . Butcher , Kessler , and Sameer had several scenes together , yet Sameer only ever acknowledged Butcher while he altogether ignore Kessler . When Butcher come to to his vision of Joe as " we " , Sameer look confusingly to the side of Butcher , bespeak that he did n’t see anyone else . Likewise , Sameer did n’t react to Kessler ’s verbal attempt to arouse him up , and instead only wake up after Butcher physically interacted with him , once again showing Sameer never saw Butcher ’s notional associate .
While the brief fundamental interaction between the threesome in instalment 5 sic off alarm bells for some viewing audience , sequence 6 cement that Sameer was whole unmindful to Kessler . The fact that the self-aggrandizing reveal happened in front of him only adds to Sameer ’s grandness in help uncover this mystery , as his scene were the vainglorious giveaway . The Boyskept Sameer ’s looks of discomfort and business insidious enough that the twist was n’t too obvious , but he was certainly the paint to aid consultation discover the true statement before it was unveiled , proving Sameer allow one of the big clues to Kessler ’s identity .
2Kessler Knew A Lot About The Boys (Despite Never Meeting Them)
Kessler Appeared To Have Very Recent Updates About The Boys Without Meeting Them
give Joe Kessler never met any other members of The Boys on screen , he seemed to fuck a lot about them . While it is possible the real version of Joe met MM and potentially Frenchie before his death , there is no way he ’d personally eff Hughie , Starlight , or Kimiko . His CIA affiliation may have give him some intel , but he seemed to have it off about improbably recent event . Kessler criticized Butcher ’s devotion to the team and bring up that " MM ’s on the threshold of a breakdown " which is something that would be near enough inconceivable for Kessler to cognize .
Without straight working with Marvin , it seems unlikely that Kessler would know about his struggles , highlighting that there must be a deeper ground as to why he has this kind of knowledge . Kessler never explain who he is working with now or what kind of source would get him that kind of info , indicating there is more at period of play . This scene alone may not have been enough to uncoverThe Boysseason 4 ’s Joe Kessler twist , but the fact that he had so much information on the grouping was in spades deserving questioning in hindsight .
Without sharing Butcher ’s knowledge of the team , Kessler ’s deep understanding of each member should be worry as it would suggest The Boys are n’t that hard to gain intel on .
Although Starlight has a mainstream comportment , set out intel on the like of Frenchie and Kimiko would be difficult since they were off the control grid , and while Kessler does n’t note anything too specific about them , he acts like he knows the group intimately . Without sharing Butcher ’s knowledge of the squad , Kessler ’s deep understanding of each extremity should be worrying as it would propose The Boys are n’t that unmanageable to clear intel on . Therefore , Butcher ’s lack of business organisation is another insidious sign that Kessler was always an filename extension of him , hence why Butcher does n’t attempt to challenge him .
1Kessler Never Interacted With Anyone But Butcher Throughout The Boys Season 4
Butcher Was The Only Character That Ever Responded To Kessler
Perhaps the braggy indicator that Joe Kessler was n’t substantial inThe Boysis the fact that he never interacted with anyone else on the show . Although he did attempt to talk with Sameer , the only person who ever receipt him other than Butcher is Becca , who is also a figment of Butcher ’s imaging . The show never attempted to mask Becca ’s fictional function , but this also attest that Butcher was sick and hallucinate things , have in mind Kessler ’s true nature was enshroud in manifest sight .
Outside Sameer , their meetings never ask anyone else , and while at first glance this seemed to be for privacy reasonableness , the self-aggrandising twist intelligibly shows why Kessler never interacted with anyone else . This was easilyThe Boys ' most genius clue regarding Kessler being fancied as it perfectly show up he was non - real without Butcher . Although some people managed to figure out the arcanum before it was revealed , Kessler being a part of Butcher ’s resourcefulness was a brilliant surprise , specially given how many clues the show drop .
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre , focusing on a grouping of vigilante who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities , explore themes of corruption and moral equivocalness in a world where heroes are not always what they seem .
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