Spoilers ahead for the first three episodes of The Boys fourth season.
Since the boysPrevious seasons, the Seven Collective has been in near-constant flux. By the end of season three, the group was barely hanging on and only Homelander, Deep, and A-Train remained. Homelander's continued mental breakdown and general instability certainly haven't made it easy to find replacements either. But Vought's team is determined to move into season four with three new weapons in their arsenal: Sister Sage, Firecracker and a new Black Noir (!!!). We learn a lot about these seven members in the first three episodes, so let's dive into their stories.
Sister Sage is the smartest person in the world, Homelander's new right-hand woman, and the real CEO of Vought
The first addition is Sister Sage, a black woman from Detroit whose superpower is being the smartest person in the world. A-Train is against her joining the Seven due to their previous history together in Teenage Kix, a group similar to the DC Universe. Young Justice. (We've only heard of Teenage Kix on the TV show, but they haven't been seen outside of the comics.)
A-Train thinks Sister Sage is annoying and not an asset, but Homelander is looking for her personally for a few reasons. First, he's getting old and worried about the world/legacy he's leaving Ryan. Second, she wants to use his brain to help him figure out how to find fulfillment and joy in his new role as leader so he can keep the Vought train rolling. Thirdly, he is tired of everyone always agreeing with him and wants someone to be really useful to him. Fourth, he wants to destroy Starlight and the Boys collective forever.
Sage is interested in gaining some level of power and influence, so she joins Homelander and her he is absolutely on some diabolical shit. From killing Homelander fans to framing Starlighters to setting traps for the Boys, Sage is pulling all kinds of strings. Besides wreaking havoc, his other motivations aren't very clear at this point. But she's playing everyone to the point where she's now the CEO of Vought. Ashley is relegated to a figure that even Deep no longer respects. Speaking of him, she's playing with him and mayyybeeee killed his pop. good times
Firecracker is a conspiracy theorist with a connection to Starlight's past
One of Sage's jobs is to bring in someone new who can take the Seven to another level. He finds Firecracker, who makes videos and gives “truth” lectures where he spreads all sorts of outlandish theories and lies. One of her main targets is Starlight, who she claims runs a child sex trafficking ring with Tom Hanks and Oprah. (I know, I know.) Sage feels Firecracker has just the right spark to galvanize Homelander fans to destroy those who support Starlight and her foundation. Starlight finally confronts Firecracker, who reveals that she was on the pageant circuit with Starlight when they were younger.
Then known as Sparkler, she was kicked out of the pageant world after Starlight spread a rumor about her having inappropriate sex with the judges. Starlight said that was the only reason “fat, white trash” like her would be in this world. So that explains why Firecracker has such a grudge against her. She says she's going to do everything she can to expose Annie for the heartless s*** she really is. Starlight is obviously remorseful for her childhood actions, but now she will have to deal with her past in a new way.
Firecracker is also eager to win Homelander's affections, which makes her even more dangerous. Unlike the more reclusive Sage, Firecracker has an audience and influence among the same demographic that supports Homelander.
The New Black Noir is a Graduated and Super Chatty God U
The most fun addition to the Seven is a new Black Noir. We don't know who is under the mask, but he is very much an actor and constantly complains that he doesn't know what they want from him. He's obviously willing to play and even kill, but he also annoys everyone around him. It might be someone we've met before, but it's likely a new character whose face we'll see in the near future.
There's still one spot open on the Seven, so we'll have to see who takes that final chair at the Homelander madness roundtable.
