Season 4, episode 6 of “The Boys” already cemented that Homelander (Antony Starr) attempted to rally supporters in favor of a “Supes-first” America, where he renounces the tenets of democracy for a puppet dictatorship of sorts with the Supes invading every administrative and judicial branch of the country. When Homelander is unable to convince party members in favor of his vision, Vice President-elect Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) steps up and lays out a strategic plan, providing Homelander the political backing required to spring his schemes into motion. The assassination of President-elect Robert Singer (Jim Beaver) is discussed, and the same is attempted in the season finale, with the shapeshifter assassin replacing Starlight/Annie (Erin Moriarty) to infiltrate Singer’s protected bunker.

As The Boys were already aware of the probable attempt on Singer’s life (as they had bugged Tek Knight’s place in episode 6), they rally together to protect Singer, while Hughie (Jack Quaid) realizes a little too late that the “Annie” in the room with them is the shapeshifter they had encountered in the previous episode. While Hughie and MM (Laz Alonso) try to fend off the assassin, who shoots Singer but misses, Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) guides Singer to safety while also fighting the incredibly strong shapeshifter. In the end, the real Annie intervenes and saves the day.

On the flip side, Neuman contacts Hughie after fearing for her daughter’s life, and The Boys (sans Butcher) agree to make a deal, with the airborne virus used as leverage against her. However, Butcher (Karl Urban) gives into his worst impulses and tears Neuman apart, snuffing out the only hope against Vought’s increasing tyranny that grips the nation. The ending is also incredibly bleak, with most of The Boys taken into Vought custody.