I've spent most of this episode trying to remember what happened with the story this far as it's been a while since I watched S03. With that being said, here are my loose thoughts (which are mostly questions):
- Was it previously established that Starlight can no longer be tracked by Vought? I assume the CIA removed her tracker but don't remember it happening.
- Was Victoria Neumann's supe origin ever established? She seems like she's a naturally-born supe but Hughie made a comment where he asked her if she had shot her daughter up with V, which to me implies that she's on V herself.
- Speaking of Neumann - her Supe status isn't known by Vought right?
- I'm interested to see where the storyline of Homelander's kid goes. On most shows he'd realize the truth about his bio dad and turn against him. With this show, though, I can just as easily see him going full Sith.
- It felt inevitable that Homelander would escape justice for that murder. This show parallels modern-US politics pretty brazenly, and people like that constantly escape real justice in real life.
- "An eye for an eye might be in the Jew section of the Bible, but it's still in the Bible." Jesus, this show never fails with quotes like that. I can literally see that being said by a modern talking head on TV.
- I really missed the Ashley Barrett character (the redhead Vought exec). That actress is so great. Her facial expression when The Deep was about to go down on A-train was hilarious.
- I don't understand why Sage would even consider joining the Seven. If she's that smart I feel like she'd instantly know it's bad news. Unless maybe she feels like she can take it down from the inside, but based on her actions this episode she seems like a true believer. *The scene where Homelander ordered the other Supes to beat those guys to death, A-Train hesitated and didn't end up directly killing anyone himself: I suspect a redemption arc in his future. I don't expect it until late in the season though.
- That plot point also seems to heavily parallel modern conservative politics. The unwashed masses are all just tools to them, to be used and disposed of as needed.
Overall I think it's a strong start to the new season and I look forward to seeing how it develops. I understand it'll end after season 5, so I expect things to progressively get crazier leading up to that.