“She’s literally shooting puppies!”: Eric Kripke Confirms Firecracker from ‘The Boys’ is Based on Real-Life People as Creator Goes All Out War Against the Right
In the wild, irreverent world of The Boys, where superheroes are as flawed as the humans they protect, a new character’s set to ignite even more controversy! This spirited addition to Kripke’s broader narrative strategy (taking a pointed stance against the far-right) infuses the show with political commentary.
As the character’s brutal antics play out on screen, viewers are left to grapple with the unsettling realities she represents. Get ready for a season that promises to be as explosive as it is thought-provoking!
Satire on Fire: The Boys Target Real-Life Political Figures with Explosive New Character
The Boys cranks up the satire! Series creator Eric Kripke never shied away from controversy—and this time he’s targeting politicians. Recently, Kripke revealed that Season 4’s character, Firecracker, draws inspiration from ring-wing personalities, with Marjorie Taylor Greene being a significant muse (per Variety).
Eric Kripke says Marjorie Taylor Greene was the inspiration for Firecracker in #TheBoys S4
"You have these Trump spawn that are trying to outdo each other for how outrageous, sexualized, gun-toting and slavishly obedient they can be … [and] with Homelander, he would start to… pic.twitter.com/rqzibejcCJ
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) June 18, 2024
But Taylor Greene is not the only source of inspiration for the character, though. In an interview with THR, Kripke reveals,
I think it’s like [politicians] Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert. When we were writing her, [South Dakota Gov.] Kristi Noem wasn’t in our heads, but then she comes out and she’s literally shooting puppies and then it’s like, ‘There’s Firecracker!’
Per Showrunner Kripke, the character’s so explosively controversial that she’s accused of “literally shooting puppies!” But this is more than just shock value; it confirms that Firecracker is a satirical reflection of real-life individuals and ideologies.
The show deepens the mockery by delving into the character’s background, namely a terrible incident with Starlight that inspired her hatred. In addition to being politically motivated, Firecracker’s destructive tendencies are also deeply personal, highlighting a troubling trend in the modern world.
The Boys: Satire Hits a Hilariously Sensitive Spot
The Boys Season 4 is getting review-bombed but in the cutest way possible. The satirical essence of the program, which has always been about the viewers, is something they’re realizing only now.
Showrunner Kripke acknowledges that they never intended to accurately depict reality (per Variety). Before Trump, the notion of a famous person turning into a despot with an insatiable thirst for power seemed nonsensical. He laughs, “Well, it still is, but it happened!” This shocking truth forced the program to take a more critical societal stance. “We basically lucked into a metaphor for our times: celebrity worship and authoritarianism,” he remarks.
Like the political scene, The Boys changed with it. Kripke welcomed the similarities and left it up to the audience to decide whether or not they found the show’s increasingly South Park-like satire amusing. “We are holding up a mirror,” he declares, “a magical mirror that reflects reality. At least we’re not cartoons, hey!” Looks like some fans might need a few more episodes to see their own reflection. Prime Video currently streams The Boys’ Season 4!
