“Hannibal Lecter or Robert Patrick in T2”: ‘The Boys’ Star Erin Moriarty Robbed the Fans of an Iconic Arc in Season 4 By Completely Reversing Eric Kripke’s Brilliant Decision
- Eric Kripke wanted Shapeshifter to be eerily calm.
- However, Erin Moriarty portrayed the role with a twisted energy.
- Fans loved Moriarty's performance as Shapeshifter.
The Boys season 4 has caused chaos in the fandom with that epic finale and even better cliffhanger that has fans on the edge of their seats. Showrunner Eric Kripke has been quite active since the premiere of the finale and has shared some brilliant behind-the-scenes tidbits to intrigue fans further. The most recent one involved Erin Moriarty and her performance as Shapeshifter.
The makers brought on some great changes in the dynamics of the show in both at Vought and in the Boys’ crew. With season 5 being the end of The Boys, everyone is looking forward to seeing how the showrunners cap such an iconic show with a satisfying ending.
Eric Kripke reveals the initial thought behind Shifter’s demeanor
Most fans must have already binged the entire show by now, but for those who haven’t, beware of spoilers as we dive into the finale of The Boys. we are introduced to another Supe in The Boys season 4 who has one of the most incredible powers among all characters. The unnamed shapeshifting Supe can disguise themselves into any face and person to escape tricky situations and manipulate people.
Shapeshifter is an incredible ally to have on your side since the enemy will not even know who they are looking for since they tend to shed skin on command and embrace a new disguise with ease. While developing the character, showrunner Eric Kripke initially wanted Shapeshifter’s personality to be calm and composed which can further disarm the enemy. However, as we see Shapeshifter become Annie in The Boys, actress Erin Moriarty had a different approach in mind.
Fun BTS: at first, I thought the shifter should be eerie calm, like Hannibal Lecter or Robert Patrick in T2. Erin had the idea to make her wickedly playful & energetic. Then she worked her ASS off to make it work. She deserves this one. @TheBoysTV #TheBoys #TheBoysFinale https://t.co/CymhrzxMlJ
— Eric Kripke (@therealKripke) July 20, 2024
Rather than being inspired by iconic villains like Hannibal Lecter or Robert Patrick, Moriarty chose to model her Shapeshifter behavior after Joker and more hyper villains who love being energetic. Moriarty’s acting as Annie and then as the Shapeshifter is exceptional. For anyone who doubted her skills as an actor, fans are now hailing her performance as one of the best ones in a long time.
Fans appreciate Erin Moriarty’s performance as Shapeshifter
The Boys fandom is finally happy to see Erin Moriarty’s real acting prowess as she tackled such a complex and intricate role. Playing two polar opposite parts at once is no easy feat, but Moriarty pulls it off seamlessly.
Fans are happy Moriarty took this call and even Kripke appreciates her for bringing a new dimension to the role. She took it to another level, adding more vibrancy and electric energy to the part. The nuanced difference between the real Annie and the Shapeshifter is evident, but very subtly.
She was SOO good in that scene, holy shit. The fact that Erin could play a shifter, playing a shifted Annie like she was real Annie was really good acting.
— Chris (@iamchrispaezjr) July 20, 2024
It definitely worked. Great performance, gotta give'er that. 👍
— Z.J. Majewski (@ne0mega) July 20, 2024
She really shined this season, especially in the last two episodes.
— 🇺🇲 The Mid Ground 🇨🇦 (@MidGround_) July 20, 2024
Her acting as the shifter was soooooo amazing ! It gave me Natalie Portman in Black Swan vibes ! She always continues to impress me! 🖤🖤🔥
— Sara 🎬💖👑💋 (@writtenbysara) July 20, 2024
The consequences and the effects of this arc would be far-reaching as the Boys and Homelander are finally tied in a win-or-die battle. Season 5 of The Boys promises a thrilling ride as the show finally comes to an end and tells us what causes it all to collapse.
All four seasons of The Boys are streaming on Prime Video.
