Explosive Tensions Escalate Between Homelander & Billy Butcher in The Boys Season 4: A Game-Changer Courtesy of Gen V

Article Overview

In season 4 of The Boys, the escalating conflict between Butcher and Homelander could intensify, with Butcher's intense tactics possibly posing as the sole solution to curb Homelander's increasingly unstable actions. Gen V season 1's conclusion hints at the possibility of Homelander spearheading a supe domination, establishing Butcher and Homelander as natural enemies. With both characters being willing to go to extreme measures to achieve their objectives, they embody two sides of the same coin due to their shared mindset.

The series should not provide redemption for either Homelander or Butcher. Butcher serves a necessary, albeit evil, role and may eventually find closure on his mission. Meanwhile, Homelander represents true evil and is beyond any hope of vindication. Their storyline should culminate in destructive consequences rather than redemption.

The ongoing feud between Billy Butcher and Homelander in The Boys has been a highlight of the show, and it promises to be even more intense in season 4 following the Gen V finale. In season 3, Butcher and Homelander engaged in a physical fight after Butcher consumed Temp V. This confrontation provides a glimpse into what the future of the series may hold as the two men continue to harbor resentment against each other. Butcher has despised Homelander since season 1, and as he continues to disrupt Vought International and The Seven, Homelander's disdain for Butcher grows, viewing him as inferior.

Despite this, Homelander has been unable to successfully eliminate Butcher, despite the presumed ease of doing so. While it may not be his top priority, this ongoing rivalry could become even more significant in the aftermath of Gen V. The events of The Boys season 4 will revolve around the aftermath of Gen V, and as Homelander's mental state deteriorates further, Butcher's more extreme tactics may be the only means to put an end to him. Homelander has already been exposed for his murder of an innocent civilian, while the dark secrets surrounding Vought's Compound V have been brought to light. Nonetheless, Homelander continues to appear even more formidable and menacing, particularly after the conclusion of Gen V, intensifying Butcher's desperate need to halt him.

Homelander Leading A Supe Takeover Proves He & Billy Butcher Are Perfect Enemies

The conclusion of Gen V season 1 foreshadowed the potential of Homelander spearheading a supes' domination, highlighting his antagonistic relationship with Billy Butcher. Following the liberation of captive supes from the Woods by Cate and Sam, the vengeful supes resorted to killing humans to exact revenge and assert their superiority. Although the show's main protagonists intervened to halt their rampage, Homelander emerged to reprimand Marie for obstructing Cate's plot, implying his inclination towards leading a supes' takeover. This glimpse into Homelander's belief in his own superiority intensifies the possibility.

This would further fuel the animosity between Butcher and Homelander, as Butcher has been relentlessly trying to thwart the supes throughout the entire series. Initially, Butcher held the belief that all supes were inherently evil, but his perspective gradually shifts due to the influence of Kimiko and Starlight. Nevertheless, his deep-seated resentment towards them is partially justified by the realization that Homelander is instigating a conflict between supes and humans. The finale of Gen V sets the stage for a potential storyline in The Boys season 4 that delves into this battle, solidifying Butcher and Homelander as archenemies who share opposing viewpoints.

You can catch all three seasons of The Boys and the first season of Gen V on Amazon Prime Video.

Gen V Proves Butcher & Homelander Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin

The tease of Homelander's sup revolution in Gen V highlights the similarities between him and Butcher. Both characters are willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals, which are fueled by their anti-human or anti-supe views. In the first season, Butcher orchestrated the killing of Translucent, and he has been involved in the deaths of many supes in his quest to take down Homelander. On the other hand, Homelander, with less tangible goals, has murdered innocent people who either opposed him or for his own amusement. While Homelander may be objectively worse, evidence suggests that Billy Butcher, the main villain in The Boys, might be a more ruthless character.

Butcher has repeatedly used and discarded his own friends when they opposed his goals or methods. While he does care about The Boys, there have been moments where he prioritizes his ultimate goal over them, leaving them behind or going solo in his attempts to kill Homelander. This behavior is not too different from his rival. Homelander, lacking true friends, readily sacrifices his allies if it serves his cause or if they do not fall in line. Despite Butcher's comparatively greater care for those around him, his hate-fueled motivations draw several parallels to his sworn enemy.

Why The Boys Should End With Neither Character Finding Redemption

Redemption arcs are popular in TV shows, but in this instance, neither Homelander nor Billy Butcher should find redemption. Both characters play vital roles in the plot and storyline of The Boys, yet neither deserves a happy ending. Butcher, despite his flaws, is a beloved character who is easy to root for due to his unfiltered humor. However, he serves as the necessary evil needed to defeat Homelander, even if it ultimately leads to his downfall. Whether Butcher succeeds in killing Homelander or dies in the attempt, his story should come to a close, finding some sense of resolution to his mission without excessive fulfillment.

Similarly, Homelander should not find any form of a happy ending. Characters like Hughie, Starlight, Frenchie, and others deserve hopeful conclusions to their stories, but Homelander does not. The suggestion of a controversial redemption storyline for Homelander in The Boys season 4 should not become a reality. He represents pure evil in the show, and while he may occasionally exhibit moments of humanity, he is too far gone to ever truly achieve redemption. The increasing conflict between him and Gen V sets them on a collision course, and their ultimate confrontation should result in devastating consequences rather than any form of redemption for either character.

Editor's P/S

In the upcoming season of The Boys, tensions between Homelander and Billy Butcher are set to reach new heights, promising a showdown like never before. As the two complex characters navigate a world of chaos and redemption, their contrasting yet intertwined journeys will be a major focus of the season.

Butcher's intense tactics may be the only solution to curb Homelander's increasingly unstable actions, and the events of Gen V hint at the possibility of Homelander spearheading a supe domination, making them natural enemies. While some may argue that redemption is possible for both characters, it would undermine the impact of their journeys. Butcher serves a necessary, albeit evil, role and may eventually find closure on his mission, while Homelander represents true evil and is beyond any hope of vindication. Their storyline should culminate in destructive consequences rather than redemption, leaving a lasting impact on the show and its fans.