The Boys has introduced potentially the most dangerous member of the Homelander’s conspiracy yet, with Sister Sage serving as a potential game-changer in the conflict between the villain and the rest of the world — especially because of her unique motivations. Susan Heyward plays Sage, a brilliant Super whose abilities are related to her vast intellect. While she’s spent the proceeding three seasons of the show on the sidelines, she’s quickly established as a major power player after being brought onto the current roster of the Seven.

Sage is different from many of the other Supes who’ve appeared in The Boys, who’ve largely had some superpower that could be used offensively. This has meant an over-reliance on physical powers, while more mental characters like Tek Knight and Sage have largely operated on the sidelines or behind-the-scenes. This actually builds into a pretty natural motivation for the character that helps Sage stand out and doesn’t detract from her potential as the latest wildcard to join The Boys season 4.

Sister Sage Wants To Prove Her Superiority & Intelligence In The Boys Season 4

Sister Sage Wants A Chance To Test Her Theories — And Homelander Wants To Give It To Her

One of the big developments of The Boys season 4 premiere “The Ministry of Dirty Tricks” is the introduction of Sister Sage, becomes Homelander’s newest ally out of morbid curiosity. Described as the smartest person on the planet, Sage is nevertheless introduced living alone in a tiny apartment. When Homelander comes to her for outside advice, she’s able to quickly read him and decipher his current internal struggle — as well as his need for her skills. Sister Sage agrees to help Homelander’s conspiracy to gain more power, but it doesn’t seem to be because she shares his Supe superiority views.

Instead, Sister Sage seems far more interested in just proving herself. She admits to Homelander that she doesn’t have a nicer apartment because she doesn’t care about things. She’s non-materialistic and seemingly unconcerned with the opinions of others. She’s even willing to talk back and snark at Homelander, proving her confidence in her abilities and suggesting she doesn’t fear death. More than anything, she seems to be aligning with Homelander’s plan just to see if she could actually pull it off, hinting at the depths of her boredom and frustration with the world.

Sister Sage Has Been Disrespected & Overlooked During Her Vought Career

How A Drop-Out Hero Becomes The Boys’ Next Big Threat

Despite her clear brilliance, Sage is considered an afterthought by most of Vought. She was apparently briefly a member of Teenage Kix in the same period as A-Train, but she was quickly booted from the team. This plays into Homelander’s successful recruitment of Sage in “The Ministry of Dirty Tricks,” as she only seems to acquiesce to his proposal after vowing that he’ll actually listen to her. Having the tools to put her theories to action “on a global scale,” as Homelander describes it, is one of the few times Sage appears genuinely excited so far in the season.

This frustration has crystallized into a willingness to work with someone as horrifying as Homelander, for a goal that would openly turn the United States into Rome under the rule of Caesar. However, the current America is the same flawed nation that’s overlooked her and gives openly bigoted people like Firecracker a place to peddle lies and hate. It makes sense why Sage would be willing to burn it all down, especially if it proved just how brilliant she’d always been. However, by her very nature, Sister Sage might be playing a longer game.

Does Sister Sage Have An Ulterior Motive In The Boys Season 4?

How Many Steps Ahead Is Sister Sage?

The exciting prospect of a character like Sister Sage is the inclusion of a completely cerebral element to Homelander’s operation. Any decision, no matter how unlikely, can be secretly be part of her unseen plan. It’s clear from the first three episodes of The Boys season 4 that she has no moral objection to killing people as part of her schemes, fitting neatly into Homelander’s mission. It’s a ruthless but patient approach that Homelander’s grisly temper often fails to match. Her endgame remains a mystery outside its apparent shared intent with Homelander and with Supes on top of the world.

While Homelander is unpredictable in a brutal way, Sister Sage represents a chance for The Boys to introduce a genuine spanner into the works. Her machinations could be wide-ranging, and could extend far beyond what she’s willing to divulge to Homelander (and subsequently, the audience). This could allow the show to make her into a true complication. She could be a surprising thorn in the side for the Boys, a secret weapon for Homelander, or even vice-versa. Sage’s role in the series teases a much more cerebral element to Homelander’s plans, which raises the stakes for The Boys.