The Boys Season 4's Soldier Boy Saga: A Thrilling Antithesis to Stormfront's Controversial Comeback

Following his miraculous survival in The Boys, the future of Soldier Boy's narrative will need to diverge from how Stormfront was utilized in season 3. The Prime Video series garnered significant acclaim with its initial two installments, and it amped up the intensity by introducing Soldier Boy (played by Jensen Ackles), a character who brought much-needed firepower to the vigilantes' side and stood as the only one thus far capable of physically challenging Homelander. However, in the climactic battle against Homelander, Billy Butcher turns against Soldier Boy upon realizing the latter's willingness to ruthlessly sacrifice Ryan for victory. Homelander manages to escape, leaving Soldier Boy defeated and seemingly dead, until a surprising revelation at the end.

While season 3 continued to receive critical acclaim and showcased some of the show's most outrageous episodes, The Boys faced criticism for its reluctance to follow through on character deaths. Deaths were teased not only for Soldier Boy but also for A-Train and Queen Maeve. After the early reveal of Stormfront's survival in season 3, it felt redundant to tease Soldier Boy's demise only to swiftly debunk it. Controversially, Stormfront was brought back briefly before meeting an off-screen demise, serving mainly to advance Homelander's story arc for the season. Hopefully, if Soldier Boy makes a return, his storyline will be further explored and expanded upon.

Soldier Boy's The Boys Return Can't Be Like Stormfront's... Right?

Stormfront's reappearance in the story added little to her character and seemed to solely serve Homelander's storyline. It was astonishing that she managed to survive such severe burns for an entire year, only to meet her demise later in the episode. Given that her story was already concluded in season 2, the decision to bring her back only to immediately kill her felt unnecessary and generated controversy among viewers. With numerous characters surviving near-death situations, it is hoped that their survival will serve a purpose in the future narrative or, in the case of Queen Maeve, bring closure to their storylines without fatal consequences.

As season 3 concluded with hints of Soldier Boy's survival and potential return, there is anticipation that he will play a significant role in upcoming seasons. After all, he has familial connections to the main antagonist and is one of the most powerful beings witnessed on the show thus far. Jensen Ackles' portrayal of Soldier Boy was immensely enjoyable to watch, and the character deserves more than the brief comeback that Stormfront received. Additionally, Soldier Boy was revealed to possess depth and intriguing redeeming qualities that piqued viewers' curiosity, suggesting that further development is possible.

Soldier Boy Needs A Proper The Boys Season 4 Story

Soldier Boy, although far from being a virtuous man, fought alongside the protagonists and had certain moments that elicited sympathy, setting him apart from the show's other villains like Homelander and Stormfront. While it is questionable whether Soldier Boy can truly be redeemed, there remains potential for his character to be further developed and his complexity explored. As a traditionally masculine soldier, he grapples with a drug addiction and unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage his anger. Essentially, he embodies an exaggerated archetype, and The Boys excels at showcasing how individuals with certain traits would behave if granted superpowers.

However, many of Soldier Boy's heroic feats, including his involvement in World War II and the events in Nicaragua, are largely Vought propaganda. In reality, his backstory reveals a careless approach to battle, resulting in the unintended deaths of innocent civilians due to collateral damage. What sets him apart from typical villains is his lack of sadism. He adheres to a code of honor and possesses strong values, such as honoring his word. Additionally, unlike Homelander, Soldier Boy has the capacity to feel remorse for his actions. These conflicting qualities make him a captivating character for audiences, and hopefully, his survival will lead to a deeper exploration of his psyche.

What Soldier Boy's The Boys Season 4 Story Could Be

In The Boys season 4, Victoria Neuman, the central antagonist, may consider using Soldier Boy as a backup plan against Homelander. With her new role as vice president, she will have the authority to access Soldier Boy from the CIA whenever needed. Their shared opposition to both Homelander and The Boys aligns their goals, potentially leading to a three-way confrontation. This could inject fresh energy into the narrative, as the ongoing conflict between the vigilantes and Homelander starts to lose its impact. Alternatively, if Homelander were to meet his demise, Soldier Boy could resurface after being betrayed by Billy Butcher and become the show's primary villain.