Television Superhero Shows
Valorie Curry Bids For Firecracker’s Fate In The Boys Season 5
By Devin Meenan Sept. 29, 2024 8:45 am EST
With each new chapter of “The Boys,” viewers are introduced to a fresh set of despicable supes. Season 4 saw the emergence of Firecracker, portrayed by Valorie Curry. True to her name, Firecracker possesses the ability to create sparks with a finger snap, yet in the realm of superhero powers, she’s reminiscent of neither Jubilee nor Roy Mustang. Her true strength lies not in her abilities but in the legion of followers she commands as a conspiracy-driven streamer. Following the departure of Stormfront (Aya Cash), Firecracker takes up the mantle as the Seven’s voice for the far-right.
At this juncture, “The Boys” has transcended mere satire regarding American right-wing politics and moves into the territory of outright mockery. Firecracker serves as a textual stand-in for Republican figurehead Marjorie Taylor Greene, a woman known for her radical beliefs and her association with a Donald Trump analogue, Homelander (Antony Starr).
Against the show’s notorious penchant for shocking fatalities, Firecracker surprisingly emerged unscathed from season 4. In fact, some of the closing lines from the season belong to her as she promises to revitalize America and make it “super” again amidst the chaos brought on by Homelander’s enforcement squad. As “The Boys” sets its sights on season 5, creator Eric Kripke hints at a blood-soaked conclusion. Firecracker is likely a prime candidate for a brutal exit; while detestable enough to merit a dramatic downfall, she lacks the narrative weight to ensure her survival.
In a candid moment with the Hollywood Reporter, Valorie Curry expressed her desire for Firecracker’s demise in season 5, stating, “I hope [Firecracker] dies. She has it coming from many people. She’s awful. She’s horrible.” Yet, she emphasizes that the manner of her death should catch viewers off guard.
A significant plotline involves Firecracker’s attempts to get closer to Homelander. Initially uninterested, Homelander becomes intrigued in the episode titled “Dirty Business.” Aware of his peculiar milk and breastfeeding fetish, Firecracker begins taking Metoclopramide to induce lactation. She mentions the medication slightly enlarges her heart, leaving her visibly unwell during the season 4 finale. This narrative seems to set the stage for the potential peril that could culminate in her demise during the upcoming season.
Curry suggests it should be Sister Sage (Susan Heyward) who takes the final shot at Firecracker. “It should be Sage, right? It should be Sage, and then she should survive and have a spinoff,” Curry articulated. Sage is responsible for bringing Firecracker into the Seven, influenced by Firecracker’s appeal to her alt-right followers, but she does not harbor any personal fondness for her. The notion of Sage eliminating Firecracker to tidy up the loose ends seems plausible.
The idea of a Sage-centered spinoff, however, raises eyebrows. While the character and the actress faced unexpected backlash from fans reluctant to see a black woman portrayed as “the smartest person in the world,” her portrayal as a brilliant strategist has often felt overemphasized rather than demonstrated. Comparatively, her interactions with Homelander have not resonated as strongly as those with other characters like Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) or Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit). Nonetheless, Amazon appears eager to keep expanding the “The Boys” franchise, so a potential spinoff titled “The Boys: Sage” may be on the horizon. However, Firecracker lacks the charisma to shine as a lead in such endeavors.
Catch all episodes of “The Boys” streaming now on Prime Video.
