The Boys Season 4’s finale has pulled off some insane twists that may prove instrumental in the Amazon Prime series’ final season. Despite garnering a mixed reception for its slow pacing and political undercurrent, the finale has established some key players for the impending endgame.
Billy Butcher was one of the characters who did not seem to be in excellent shape for most of Season 4. However, after that surprising finale, it looks like he and another character will be instrumental in bringing Homelander down.
The Boys started as a gore-filled satire on the concepts of superheroes cemented by Marvel and DC. As Eric Kripke has finally stated that the saga will finally conclude after five seasons, the makers are burdened to give a worthy farewell to our favorite characters. Now, season 4’s finale episode has made it clear that they have already started planning for it.
Billy Butcher and Ashley Barrett surprise everyone in The Boys Season 4 finale
Billy Butcher had a very interesting journey in this latest season of The Boys. It was already established in the concluding portions of Season 3 that the overuse of Temp V led him to develop cancer, with only 18 months left in his hands. Most of Season 4 also saw the character’s health deteriorating until the finale.
In early Season 4, it was also revealed that Billy Butcher also took Compound V to cure his illness but it only accelerated it. However, be it the incident with Ezekiel or his interactions with Jeffrey Dean Morgan‘s Joe Kessler, we were given many hints to establish that he is a Supe now. Season 4 Episode 8 finally revealed his true powers when blue tentacles emerged from his chest and ripped Victoria Neuman in half.
Karl Urban‘s character always possessed a gray side. His interactions with Joe Kessler repeatedly showed how his subconscious was trying to take over him. Ryan’s killing of Grace Mallory was the final point where Butcher understood he couldn’t hold it back anymore. He is now under full control of the Joe Kessler persona and will rip any Supe that comes his way to Homelander.
However, Billy Butcher is not the only one who surprised everyone. Vought’s present CEO, Ashley Barrett also injected herself with Compound V and it looked like something horrid was happening with her head. Given how she suffered from hair loss, it is theorized that she may have powers related to her brain or hair.
It is a possibility that she may be the Vought counterpart of Marvel’s Leader. We already know that she has a compassionate side as she saved Maeve in Season 3. Besides, she is also shown as an intelligent survivor who managed so many years at the evil corporation.
All of these hint that she will probably side with The Boys in Season 5, and contribute with her telepathic or mind-reading skills. As she is an original character for the series, it is tough to predict what powers she will be getting from V. It can be also something related to hair like Marvel’s Inhuman Medusa. But no matter what her powers are, we can expect her to get a proper redemption arc like A-Train.
It will be a tough battle against Homelander and Co.
With Homelander now at the top of the US Government with the President as his puppet, we have already seen a bleak ending for The Boys group in Season 4’s conclusion. Except for Billy Butcher, Kimiko, and Starlight, everybody on the team was picked up by Vought soldiers. On top of that, with Antony Starr‘s Superman knock-off’s probable team-up with Soldier Boy will need Billy Butcher to use his full power.
Although we saw Billy Butcher ripping Victoria Neuman in halves, it will be exciting to see if his tumorous tentacles can also do the same for Vought’s strongest superhero. We are yet to know about Ashley’s powers as well but she and Butcher may likely give an epic competition to Homelander.
Interestingly, A-Train still survives after everything he did with the Seven. It will be looked forward if he can also prove to be a powerful ally or ends up being crushed in the hands of his former colleagues. While we have to wait till 2026 to get the group’s final endgame against the evil Supes, something about the whole setup guarantees an epic gore-fest to end one of the most unique superhero shows ever.
The Boys can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
