STACK #251 September 2025

TV FEATURE

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GENRE: Drama RUN TIME: Series

Cameron Crovetti and Antony Starr

THE BOYS: SEASON 4 LIKE FATHER, LIKE MONSTER If it’s even possible, season four of The Boys is more insane, blood-soaked, jaw-dropping, and chaotic than anything we’ve seen before.

T he scariest part? The show makes it all feel uncomfortably close to real life. With a fifth and final season still to come, The Boys continues to unfold in a world where superheroes, known as “Supes,” are far from the noble figures typically portrayed in popular culture. Instead, they are morally corrupt, self-serving, and controlled by Vought International, a powerful corporation that monetises their existence. As the show pushes boundaries, it delivers a provocative take on what it truly means to be a hero. It’s also wild to think that this massive Amazon hit stars not one but two Kiwis in the lead roles: Karl Urban as English vigilante Billy Butcher and Antony Starr as the psychopathic Supe leader, Homelander.

The introduction of Homelander’s son, Ryan, played by young actor Cameron Crovetti, has been a game changer for Starr. “It’s a complicated relationship between the two characters, and I’m very interested in the role of the father, and the potential absence of that, and what damage that does, where that sits,” says the Kiwi actor. “I think there’s a really great parallel with a lot of social issues, not just where I come from, in New Zealand, but across the board globally,” Starr reflects. “I think the absence of the father is a big issue at the moment. A lot of men are going through an identity crisis, not knowing who or what to be, or where to place themselves. And I like playing

around in that world. I like exploring the cause and effect of the father-son relationship.” With season five set for release next year, the tight-knit cast is sad to see the end. “There’s a level of complexity in this character, in this show, and in the other characters that you simply don’t get the opportunity to explore... I’m going to miss it,” says Starr.

We can’t wait to see what horrifying thing they do next. Gill Pringle

• The Boys: Season 4 is out Sep 24

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THE FINAL RIDE YELLOWSTONE SEASON 5, PART 2 It’s a messy farewell for one of television’s greatest sagas, but the heart of Yellowstone still beats strong. GENRE: Drama RUN TIME: Series

I f you haven’t been paying attention, there’s a reason why the second part of the final season took so long to arrive, and it all boils down to a rift between showrunner Taylor Sheridan and lead actor Kevin Costner. Costner exited the series when production on the back half of Season 5 was delayed. Already committed to his passion project Horizon - a sprawling epic western spanning four films - he was ultimately unable to return, despite efforts from Sheridan and the network to keep him on board. As a result, the arc of John Dutton, patriarch of the Yellowstone ranch, was concluded off-screen and without fanfare. Yet while absent from the screen, Dutton’s (and Costner’s) presence lingers heavily over each episode. Now, with the ranch’s future

uncertain, John’s children Beth and Kayce find themselves locked

in a high-stakes battle of political manoeuvring, facing off against their estranged brother Jamie and forging uneasy

• Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 is out Sep 17

Also in the works is The Madison , a series set in the same timeline, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, and Beau Garrett, with Kurt Russell reportedly in talks to join. But wait, there’s more! Also on the horizon are three additional spin-offs: 1944 , a sequel to 1923 ; Y: Marshals , a police procedural following Kayce Dutton; and 6666 , set on the Four Sixes Ranch featured in Yellowstone . Glenn Cochrane

alliances with former enemies. Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, Yellowstone ’s final chapter remains as gripping and dramatic as ever, with characters pushed to their limits and fresh directions explored. The finale also lays the groundwork for the next chapter in the ever expanding Yellowstone universe, with a new spin-off series in development starring Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, reprising their roles as Beth and Rip.

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86 SEPTEMBER 2025

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