Until season four, we thought we knew the truth about how Kimiko lost her voice in The Boys. Her brother said that she stopped speaking after the Shining Light Liberation Army killed her parents in front of her. But season four’s seventh episode finally gives us the truth about Kimiko and why she is silent. While Frenchie and Kimiko are looking after Sameer, they have a conversation about the bad things they’ve done and forgiveness. Kimiko tells Frenchie that the story her brother told about her losing her voice is not true. In reality, she lost her voice the first night when she was taken into the army’s camp and forced to become a silent killer. And Kimiko spoke for the first time (outside of dreams) in The Boys season four finale! (More on that later.) There would be so much to explore in a Kimiko spinoff series, right?
A flashback reveals that Kimiko fought a girl and killed her without making a sound. When she was given permission to speak again, Kimiko wasn’t able to do so. So Kimiko did lose her voice due to childhood trauma, but not in the way we originally thought. This revelation brings a lot of her character arc into focus, specifically why she struggles with morality and often regrets violence. Kimiko hates herself because of her past but she’s trying to find forgiveness.
Kimiko Gets Her Voice Back in The Boys Season Four Finale
We knew it was possible for Kimiko to speak again. Mutism stemming from trauma can be addressed with a lot of therapy with a professional and patience. Sadly, Kimiko hasn’t gotten any therapy nor peace. Instead, Kimiko spoke for the first actual time (dreams don’t count) in The Boys season four finale. And it was heartbreak and trauma that broke her silence.
At the end of the episode, Frenchie and Kimiko decide to go on the run together after their kiss to avoid capture following Victoria Neuman’s death. Cate and Sam show up with the former whispering something in Frenchie’s ear to control him. Kimiko screams “no” repeatedly as the pair are separated. Her only dream was to spend a happy life with the man she loves and that’s in serious jeopardy.
We hope that Kimiko will continue to be able to use her voice and find happiness at the end of The Boys.