The boys season five: the return of Soldier Boy and the ascent of Homelander's Supe Army
The Boys' season 4 finale's post-credits sequence has rocked the fan base and created conditions for a possible epic confrontation in season 5. The scene finds Homelander, the apparently superhuman leader of Vought, tracking down his long-lost father, Soldier Boy. This disclosure has enormous ramifications for the direction of the series since Soldier Boy's special abilities and erratic behavior could tip the scales of power in Homelander's favor or, on the other hand, function as a wild card throwing his well calibrated plans into disarray.
The Boys Season 5's Return of Soldier Boy: A Game Changer
Introduced in The Boys' third season, Soldier Boy is a strong Supe capable of nullifying the authority of other Supes. For Homelander, who has become progressively despotic in his pursuit of control, this makes him a challenging opponent. While Soldier Boy was defeated and put in a suspended state by Mallory and the government in season 3, Homelander's takeover of the government has left him exposed and at the mercy of Homelander's whims.
Soldier Boy: a possible homelander ally or threat?
Whether Homelander will try to enlist Soldier Boy as a potent ally or view him as a challenge to his authority is another matter entirely. Given Homelander's narcissism and need for validation, he might view Soldier Boy as a means to at last win the father he never had approval. Soldier Boy's resentment from their last meeting, however, might cause him to turn away Homelander's approaches. Alternatively, Soldier Boy's allegiance to the United States could cause him to view Homelander's takeover of the government as an insult, so motivating him to oppose Homelander's ambitions.
Homelander & Soldier Boy: An Agent to Be Counted With
Should Homelander persuade Soldier Boy to fight for his cause, the repercussions could be disastrous for The Boys and the planet overall. Homelander's already great strength plus Soldier Boy's ability to neutralize the abilities of other Supers would make them an almost perfect team. The boys would be in a very dangerous situation under this alliance, maybe leading them to turn to Butcher's terrible scheme to eradicate all Supes, a desperate action with a great moral price.
The Supe Army Threat of Homelander
Already, Homelander has gathered a strong army of Supes comprising Black Noir and the Deep. Including Soldier Boy on this list would greatly boost their strength and make them almost unstoppable. The Boys would have to contend with an apparently insurmount opponent, their chances of success declining with every moment.
MM's Possibility of Retaliation
The return of Soldier Boy might also mean that MM, who has been tormented by the terrible loss of his family at Soldier Boy's hands, at last gets his chance for retribution. Deep-seated animosity for Soldier Boy could cause MM to confront him, so fueling the story of vengeance and retribution that drives The Boys.
The Boys: confronting the unthinkable
The Boys have always been a show on the moral complexity of pursuing justice; the possible alliance between Homelander and Soldier Boy will challenge these complexity to their boundaries. The Boys will have to face their own personal demons and choose whether they are ready to give all to stop Homelander's vision from materializing as the planet approaches a supe-dominated dystopia.
The Boys' Future: A World on the brink
Season five of The Boys looks to be one with great suspense and dramatic turns. The distinction between good and evil gets more hazy with Soldier Boy back in the picture. Only the Boys stand in the way as Homelander's power keeps expanding the planet is poised on the brink of a dystopian nightmare.
