The boys season 4 homelander's presidential power grab
Homelander is in a position of great power at the end of The Boys season 4, but the issue of whether he is formally the President of the USA is still somewhat debatable. The season's last throws a wrench in Homelander's first presidential ambitions, producing an unexpected and startling result.
Homelander's Dominate Over the USA
Homelander may not be seated in the Oval Office, but he absolutely shapes the United States. After Victoria Neuman dies and Robert Singer is arrested, Senator Calhoun rises to become President. Calhoun has already promised his allegiance to Homelander, thus he is quite grateful to him. Calhoun is thus only a puppet president under Homelander's will, a mere headpiece. This is abundantly evident all through the season, particularly when Homelander calls on Calhoun about Soldier Boy later on after ignoring him during a speech.
Homelander's Possible Rising to the Presidency
Calhoun's position as a "patsy" points to his perhaps brief tenure in office. He provides a handy steppingstone so that Homelander and Sister Sage's takeover looks official. This approach avoids any criticism on Homelander's possible ascent's undemocratic character. Particularly after Homelander is given an official government post, the change from President Calhoun to President Homelander seems a logical and direct one.
This façade could fall apart in season five of The Boys, maybe resulting in the official inauguration of Homelander as President. Sister Sage might be referring to this as the "phase 2" she mentions in the finale. Homelander's hold on power would be strengthened, so deviating from the original comic book.
Comic Book Adaptation: Homelander's Power Grab
Though it does follow Homelander's yearning for control, the way the Boys Season 4 depicts Homelander's power grab is not a straight copy of Garth Ennis's comic book tale. The comic rendition showed Homelander gathering an army of superheroes and forcibly occupying the White House, leading to the terrible death of President Victor Neuman.
The television version presents the complex scheme of Senator Calhoun and Sister Sage, so creating a more realistic and sophisticated picture of the coup. The television series produces a more subdued and sly takeover, with Homelander finally dragging the strings from behind the scenes, while the comic book shows a straight confrontation.
The Presidency of Homelander: Future
Season five of The Boys looks to deviate greatly from the comic narrative. Without Black Noir, the main story point of the comic, the television show has to investigate Homelander's presidency in an original and surprising angle.
The Boys' universe darkly turns under Homelander's rule over the United States. His ambition and merciless nature have opened the path for a dystopian future whereby superheroes control human destiny. The Boys season 5 will surely address whether Homelander's hold on power will be contested or whether he will keep tightening his control.
