The Boys Season 4 Final: An Other Villain Shows Up
The surprising turn of events in the fourth Boys season finale left viewers wondering about the course of the show and the fate of its characters. Although Homelander, the apparently perfect Superhero, is still a big threat, the season's finale brings a new villain who might outshine him in both force and menace: Soldier Boy.
Boy Soldier: A Force Greater Than Homelander?
Soldier Boy's path in Season 4 is one of mounting resentment and wrath. Initially shown as a strong but profoundly flawed person yearning for a simpler time before the contemporary world of Superheroes and their corporate overlords, he But as the season goes on, Soldier Boy's behavior gets more erratic and violent, leading to an amazing show of power at the finale.
Soldier Boy could thus pose a more serious threat than Homelander for the following reasons:
Unpredictable Characterism and Insufficient Restraint
Homelander is driven by a need for control and a need to be appreciated even if he has great power. Often motivated by a need to keep his reputation as a hero, his actions are deliberate. Conversely, Soldier Boy seems to function on a primordial level. His actions are erratic and maybe disastrous since he is driven by wrath and revenge. He is more interested in simply wreaking havoc than in upholding a public image; Homelander is a far more mild and predictable force.
Unmatched Authority
Homelander is quite strong, but Soldier Boy's raw force is hinted at as perhaps even more potent. He exhibits an immunity to many kinds of damage, a destructive force capable of shattering buildings and concrete, and almost instantaneous healing ability. With his laser-like attention on vengeance and his total contempt for consequences, this great power could be released upon the planet with disastrous effects.
Possibility for Enhanced Control
Soldier Boy is shown as a strong force, but he is also a very wounded person who is readily controlled. Grieved and yearning for his lost family consumes him, thus he is easily manipulated by those who could take advantage of these weaknesses. This weakness could be used to make him a weapon for even more evil forces, so posing a possibly even more threat than Homelander.
The Men's Future
The Boys has always explored the darker side of superhero mythology, and the rise of Soldier Boy as a possible villain begs even more unsettling issues regarding the nature of power and the results of unbridled ambition. His erratic nature and chaotic energy could cause even more damage than anything Homelander has produced, so endangering the future of the show and its characters.
With Soldier Boy's terrible new degree of power, the last scene of season 4 sets viewers on suspense. Will there be a ray of hope for atonement or will he be the ultimate enemy in the next seasons? The Boys has become known as a show that questions assumptions, thus anything is feasible. One thing is certain as the show explores the fallout from Soldier Boy's arrival: the fight against this new villain looks to be even more difficult and destructive than anything the Boys have encountered prior.
