Who is Kessler in The Boys season 4? Jeffrey Dean Morgan's mind-melting character, explained
Jun. 13, 2024He and Butcher go way back…
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character had been the subject of much speculation in the lead-up to the release ofThe Boys season 4.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long for the answer, as the Prime Video series quickly revealed Morgan’s mystery role in the new season. He’s actually a familiar name to fans of the comics – even if heiswildly different to the iteration found in Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s works.
But the story doesn’t end there. As The Boys does so well, one more twist remained. So whoisJoe Kessler, really? Let’s find out.
Spoilers for The Boys season 4 follow!
Who is Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing in The Boys season 4?
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is playing Joe Kessler, a figment of Butcher’s imagination acting as the devil on his shoulder.
That’s all thanks to Butcher’s Compound V-related illness, which has manifested itself as his consciousness come to life as people who were close to him that are now dead. On one side, Kessler. On the side of the angels? His ex-wife Becca.
Through Butcher’s imagined conversations, we know of the pair’s previous history. Kessler was a CIA operative and they last met 11 years ago while working together. The pair even reminisce about the time Butcher saved Kessler’s life during an operation in Afghanistan, as well as Kessler’s more,ahem, extracurricular activities. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently unknown.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Kessler first appeared to Butcher in his mind outside of a confidential meeting headed up by Grace Mallory and President-elect Singer.
During the conversation, ‘Kessler’ reveals that he wants Homelander taken out before (in his mind, at least) Supes start rounding up the civilian population and putting them into camps.
Unlike the others, who remain focused on VP prospect Neuman, Kessler seemingly prefers cutting the head off the snake.
In the third episode, Kessler supplies Butcher with carfentanil, an extremely powerful drug that can be used to subdue Homelander’s biological – and suitably superpowered – son Ryan, who’s not yet got a hang of his abilities. Once that plan goes awry, Kessler leaves Butcher with an ultimatum: “We figure out to train [Ryan] or we figure out how to kill him.”
The grand reveal arrived in the sixth episode, with Kessler finally ‘unmasking’ himself as the one side of Butcher telling him all the things he thought he needed to hear.
As of the seventh episode, he is still sticking around in Butcher’s head, and is the one causing him to unleash his Supe powers. However, as shown during the fight with Black Noir and The Deep, ‘Kessler’ can come and go when he pleases.
In the comics, Kessler also works for the CIA and provides intelligence to The Boys. It’s here where the similarities end. Not only does he have a different first name (Howard), but is nicknamed Monkey – on account of a brutal incident involving the animal at a brothel.
For more, check outThe Boys season 4 release scheduleand our picks for thebest shows on Prime Video.
I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
Invincible season 3 trailer teases darkness to come thanks to Mark’s blue suit
Ryan Reynolds told James Gunn to “get the f*** out of here” when he asked the former Green Lantern star to come back for the DCU
Kraven the Hunter called a “drag”, “disappointment”, and a “waste of Aaron Taylor Johnson” in first reactions to new Sony Marvel movie
