_The Insider_, the last episode before the finale, introduces some intriguing ideas that may have come a bit too late in the season, alongside a few bumps. Two supes stand out, paving their way differently, as two cases of men's search of sense of belonging. A-Train stands out with the best arc of this uneven season. [spoiler]After previously playing both sides between The Boys and Homelander, he fully commits to The Boys in a makeshift redemption. He wanted to stop playing hero and feels like a "real hero". A-Train was set straight by his family and the motivations of his younger self. A near-death encounter forced him to reevaluate his choices and confront the insecurities he has around money and fame, having been born without them. With how "ordinary" it came to him, it suggest there's more to come for him, potentially his demise at Homelander’s hands, who looks deeply disappointed.[/spoiler] On the other hand, The Deep [spoiler]doubles down on his allegiance to Homelander, sacrificing everything he once stood for: the marine life. Deep tried to connect with people who made him feel appreciated. He got a wife, an octopus, and Sage, each telling him different things. Ultimately, he got nothing from any of them, despite having an octopus who loved him for who he is. He became a lackey who’s dead inside; he’d rather be a respected but miserable public figure than a content, mediocre guy who could've spent his entire life with someone who loves him dearly. The final shot of him crying in his room, with a poster of him beside Homelander subtly peeking out, is a nice subtle touch.[/spoiler] [spoiler]His confrontation with Starlight about the sexual assault also marks a significant turn from his earlier development. It seems they considered a redemption arc for The Deep in previous seasons but chose not to pursue it this time, perhaps to contrast A-Train’s journey.[/spoiler] Antony Starr excels in his portrayal of Homelander, showcasing a range of expressions from surprise and unhinged eye twitches to deep sadness and disappointment. Even in the scene with Webweaver, there’s a momentary doubt that Homelander might not follow through. From The Boys' end, the whole journey with M.M. in this season and his “Someday, maybe,” to Monique seems to show potential death flags. Laz Alonso’s visibly thinner appearance adds to the believability and heartbreak of M.M.’s stress, although his contribution to the group dynamic has felt weaker this season. However, the episode has its missteps. Homelander’s inconsistent irritation with The Boys has been standing out since last season, especially when he sends Deep and A-Train to visit them. If he knows their location, why not attack himself as he did in Season 1? His increasing unhingedness could have provided a reason for a direct confrontation. Frenchie’s return feels too convenient for progressing the virus plot, which has been taken a backseat in most episodes in this season. His sudden involvement and pep talk with Kimiko seem like an afterthought. Kimiko’s retconned regret over killing people feels inconsistent, given her brutal actions in Season 3. If anything, Kimiko has always been the most brutal compared to others in the group, and her pep talk on killing and regret feels off. Sister Sage’s character continues to be Redditor. If that's their intention, they have succeeded. Her overly convoluted plans seem too contrived for the sake of making her looks smart, and I'm not sure if it would pay off in the season finale. There’s a hint that she’s still strategizing with Homelander as she exits, but this just adds to the overall contrivance. The [spoiler]shapeshifter [/spoiler] plan is great, but it would have been more impactful as a cliffhanger keeping us in the blind about who that person was rather than resolving the Starlight situation right after the scene with Hughie. It also comes off as really strange and amateurish that, once again, a group of professional killers, knowing that they are facing against someone with such a dangerous power, have no contingency plan in case that someone sneaks into their ranks. Speaking of Starlight and Hughie, Hughie has been oddly absent from Butcher's side this whole season. They barely share any screen time, which feels like a missed opportunity to explore the "brotherly love" dynamic they developed in Season 3—a dynamic hinted at in Episode 1 but never fully revisited. Speaking of revisiting, there’s still the unresolved mystery of the lizard-like creature emerging from the dead bunny in the previous barn episode, seemingly the same creatures as the ones from Zoe's mouth. I hope this is a Chekhov's gun that will be utilized either in the finale or the next season, rather than something that’s forgotten like other plot points in previous seasons. Overall, _The Insider_ moves the plot forward but still takes misstep from pacing and character development, leaving more to be desired as we approach the season finale.

ANNIE ARE YOU OKAY⁉⁉⁉ ARE YOU OKAY ANNIE⁉⁉⁉

Am I the only one who just doesn't feel it this season? The flow is gone, lots of slow scenarios and the plot isn't that mind blowing. Previous seasons had so much action going on that I couldn't even process what just happened before the next crazy thing. This season is such a slow burner..