'The Boys' Season 4 Episode 1 Takeaway: Homelander's son's bold move hints at major villain arc
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Prime Video just dropped the first 3 episodes of their highly anticipated superhero show 'The Boys' Season 4 on Thursday, June 13 and it is getting diabolical!
'The Boys' Season 4 Episode 1 kicks off with the team plotting to switch Victoria Neuman’s eye drops with acid. Butcher (Karl Urban) joins Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) and Frenchie (Tomer Capone) as they infiltrate the hotel hosting Victoria’s election party. Their plan hinges on blinding her, thus preventing her from using her powers to explode anyone’s head.
Homelander (Antony Starr), visibly disturbed by losing his pubic hair, enters the party with Ryan (Cameron Crovetti), prompting Butcher to stay behind.
Butcher finds Ryan and begs him to return, only to be stopped by Homelander
Victoria, needing to speak with Homelander due to his unexpected arrival, sends her daughter Zoe and Ryan to the pantry for ice cream.
Butcher enters the pantry and politely asks Zoe to step out momentarily so he can talk to Ryan. Despite Butcher's efforts to convince him that his father is the true villain and facing murder charges, Ryan hesitates and refuses to comply.
Butcher goes as far as pleading with Ryan, offering him a deal: if Ryan comes with him and is handed over to Grace, he'll never have to see Butcher again. Despite Butcher's earnest plea, Ryan shows no signs of budging.
However, their conversation is abruptly interrupted as Homelander strides into the room. He immediately steps in, preventing Butcher from influencing Ryan further.
With a cold edge to his voice, Homelander points out Butcher's deteriorating health, mentioning the clot in his brain that threatens his life. He also argues that Butcher's own condition disqualifies him from being a reliable guardian for Ryan, casting doubt on Butcher's intentions and abilities to protect the boy.
Given the option, Ryan chooses to leave with Homelander, walking out while holding his hand.
Why did Ryan reject Butcher's offer to join him?
Ryan, initially finding a father figure in Butcher, is deeply hurt when Butcher, grappling with the effects of 'Temp V' and haunted by his past, blames Ryan for Becca's death against her explicit wishes.
This emotional outburst pushes Ryan towards Homelander, who unexpectedly provides him with acceptance and love. 'The Boys' Season 3 explores Butcher's troubled upbringing, revealing unsettling parallels between him and his abusive father.
Despite Butcher's genuine intentions, his unresolved trauma leads him to repeat his father's destructive patterns in his relationship with Ryan.
Will Ryan follow in his father's footsteps and become a villain?
'The Boys' showrunner Eric expressed skepticism in an interview with Distractify that Ryan would follow a dark path akin to Anakin Skywalker's. He stressed Ryan's crucial need for a father figure and pondered whether Butcher could step into that role effectively.
At the time of the interview, Season 4 of 'The Boys' hadn't been confirmed, leaving Ryan's storyline uncertain.
As Ryan matured, he found himself inexorably shadowed by the formidable legacy of his father, Homelander. Despite the nurturing environment provided by those closest to him, the specter of his father's malevolent exploits cast a profound influence on his psyche.
As Ryan grew up, he couldn't escape the influence of his father, Homelander. Despite the love and support from those around him, his father's dark past weighed heavily on his mind.
In a world where power often seemed more important than doing what was right, Ryan faced a tough choice. Would he follow in his father's footsteps and embrace a path of darkness, or could he find a different way forward?
His future solely depends on the decisions he would make and the people who will shape his journey.
3 Episodes of 'The Boys' are available to stream on Prime Video from Thursday, June 13
