'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 3 ending explained: Is Ryan dead? And how is Soldier Boy still alive?
Contains spoilers for 'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 3
Harsh truths, lingering daddy issues, and some high-octane action make 'Every One of You Sons of Bi***es' a compelling watch. 'The Boys' Season 5's episode 3 picks up after the explosive two-episode season opener, placing focus on all the major characters who are navigating their own challenges. While it can be described as a filler episode of sorts, it also sets the tone of what to expect in the remaining five episodes. With the latest chapter now streaming on Prime Video, here are some of the major takeaways from episode 3.
How is Soldier Boy alive?
Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy was not woken up from cryosleep just to be killed by a virus. The final seconds of episode 2 reveal the veteran supe is alive. The third chapter reveals that Soldier Boy was one of the handful of test subjects injected with V1, the original and volatile compound used to create supes. Designed to withstand any threat, the formula was made to be a lot more formidable than Compound V, making him immortal. This prompts both the boys and Homelander (Antony Starr) to start a desperate search for the original compound.
Stan Edgar returns, but for how long?
Giancarlo Esposito's Stan Edgar was never gone for good. Smug and sardonic as ever, the character returns with his own agenda to run Vought when the dust has settled after the war between the boys and the Supes. He is also shown to be taking care of Zoey and Maverick, the children of Victorua Neuman and Translucent. However, it's a contrasting end for both characters, with Maverick meeting his maker after dying a hideous death. Edgar's base gets invaded by Deep (Chace Crawford), Black Noir, and Cindy (Ess Hödlmoser). After learning the truth about his father's death, Maverick is killed by Cindy, who, seconds later, is killed by Annie/Starlight (Erin Moriarty).
Homelander, Soldier Boy, and daddy issues
It's well documented that Soldier Boy was never proud of his son. Homelander, on the other hand, felt differently and was always the son who wanted to prove he was every bit as good as his superhero dad. This reveal comes after Soldier Boy and Firecracker (Valorie Curry) share a steamy moment where she reveals the supe's true feelings about his father. That said, it is unlikely that the complicated father-son dynamic will resolve.
'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 3 ending explained: Is Ryan alive?
Barely. After confronting Homelander about the supe's affair with his mother, Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) launches a no-holds-barred assault, only to be pinned down and brutally punched inches from dying. Moral victory: He burns a fragment of Homelander's suit and punches him in the nose, indicating that 'gods do bleed.' In some ways, Ryan's bludgeoning at the hands of the supe was a direct result of his complicated encounter with Billy Butcher (Karl Urban). With the latter laying out the grim reality that Ryan was a necessary sacrifice in killing Homelander, he doesn't paint the full picture, leaving Ryan feeling manipulated yet again. He takes off on his own, and now his survival is in question.
