The Unprecedented, Game-Changing Lineup That Will Shock The Boys: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Article Overview

The introduction of Gen V brings forth Cate and Sam, two teenagers capable of enhancing The Boys' existing lineup of the Seven. With strength rivaling that of Queen Maeve, Sam becomes a formidable asset for the team.

Cate possesses an extraordinary ability to manipulate and control others with her touch, making her an extremely powerful force. She has the power to rewrite reality, and this poses a significant threat to Homelander's enemies.

In season 4 of The Boys, Gen V has strategically chosen two teenagers to join the Seven as debutantes. This new lineup has the potential to become the most formidable version of the team thus far. Within the world of The Boys, the Seven is widely recognized as the leading superhero team on Earth. However, following the events of season 3, the Seven, who were once Vought's top merchandise-sellers, have now lost much of their former glory and influence. Currently, the Seven consists of Homelander, A-Train, who is in the process of recovering from a heart transplant, and The Deep, who is often the target of jokes related to his aquatic nature. Additionally, showrunner Eric Kripke has hinted that there will be a replacement for Black Noir, further weakening the Seven.

Amazon's Gen V season 1 ending hinted at the addition of two teenagers, Cate Dunlap and Sam Riordan, to The Seven in The Boys season 4. Initially, Ashley Barrett had intended to promote Marie Moreau to Seven status. However, when Homelander expressed support for Cate and Sam's rebellion against the supes at Godolkin University, the villainous pair were proclaimed the new "Guardians of Godolkin." With the public backing their cause and Homelander giving his personal endorsement, it seems inevitable that Cate and Sam will be chosen to join the Seven. This poses a significant problem for Billy Butcher and the Boys as they are already grappling with a series of unfortunate setbacks and now face the prospect of fresh recruits entering the team.

Cate & Sam Would Massively Upgrade The Boys' Current Seven Lineup

Possible The Boys Season 4 Seven Lineup: Homelander, The Deep, Fake Noir, A-Train, Cate Dunlap, Sam Riordan

Although Cate Dunlap and Sam Riordan may be considered young and inexperienced as superheroes, it would be a mistake to underestimate their individual contributions to the Seven's overall strength. In Gen V episode 4, Andre pondered whether Sam possessed the ability to jump similar to Maeve.

Sam possesses incredible leaping abilities, akin to Queen Maeve, placing him in the same league of physical strength as the Wonder Woman parody amongst The Seven. In fact, Maeve's successful infliction of damage upon Homelander in The Boys season 3 solidifies Sam's position at the more potent end of The Boys' super-strength spectrum. Additionally, similar to Black Noir, Sam has exhibited the ability to rip adversaries apart, showcasing tremendous muscular prowess. By joining The Seven, Sam Riordan becomes a fitting replacement for both Queen Maeve and the real Black Noir, assuaging the significant void left behind by their absence.

Meanwhile, Cate Dunlap presents a contrasting nature. Although she lacks considerable strength, Cate possesses the unique ability to defeat any supes in The Boys, as long as she is able to physically touch them. Unfettered by Shetty's drugs, Cate's influence over others knows no bounds, enabling her to compel individuals to perform unimaginable acts such as self-cannibalism or stripping away their empathy entirely. Notably, Cate's utterance causing her brother's disappearance suggests that her powers extend beyond mere command obedience, allowing her words to rewrite reality itself.

Having never possessed this power within its ranks before, the Seven now possesses a newfound ability that Homelander could exploit in numerous cunning and terrifying ways. By including Cate in the Seven, Homelander gains immediate access to a superhuman who can hypnotize bothersome politicians, persuade hesitant supes to align with their cause, and redefine public perception. Cate's power is precisely what Homelander requires as he continues to assert his dominance over Vought and wage his campaign for supe supremacy in The Boys season 4.

Through Sam Riordan's physical dominance and Cate Dunlap's mental dominance, along with the presence of A-Train and The Deep, Homelander arguably possesses his strongest team of supes to date. Their strength is further enhanced by their unity, a quality lacking within the Seven since their inception in The Boys' very first episode. Should Sam and Cate join the Seven, Homelander would finally have two faithful followers who share his beliefs.

How Strong Cate & Sam Are Compared To Other Seven Members

Previous Seven members we've seen: Lamplighter, Translucent, Starlight, Queen Maeve, Supersonic, Black Noir, Stormfront

Gen V establishes a clear parallel between Sam Riordan and Queen Maeve, placing him on the same power level as her and Noir among the Seven supes in The Boys. This indicates that Sam possesses significant strength, surpassing the relatively short-lived duo of Translucent and Supersonic. Moreover, one can infer that Sam would likely overpower Lamplighter in a confrontation, considering the extensive torture he has endured at Gen V's Woods facility. It is evident that Lamplighter's flames would not be sufficient to subdue Sam.

If Sam were to engage in a fight against Starlight, during her initial tenure with the Seven in The Boys season 1, there is a high likelihood of him emerging victorious. This is because Annie's physical strength falls beneath the level of Queen Maeve's. However, Starlight's advancements in The Boys season 3 might give her the upper hand in terms of overall power, although not necessarily in an arm wrestling contest. Nevertheless, as the first-ever supe created, Stormfront is undoubtedly more potent than Sam. This is evident through her ability to withstand Homelander and the collaboration of Queen Maeve, Kimiko, and Starlight in The Boys season 2 finale, which was required to suppress her.

Comparing Cate Dunlap's power with that of The Boys' Seven alumni is a significantly more intricate matter. While Cate would undoubtedly be defeated in a direct confrontation against any of the aforementioned Seven superhumans, she also possesses the capability to vanquish each of them through physical contact. Cate has the ability to command Stormfront to incinerate herself, instruct Lamplighter to transform into her personal candle for bath time, or even manipulate Homelander into a state of mental imprisonment. In the appropriate circumstances, Cate stands as the most formidable superhuman ever to join the Seven, and her immense potential was explicitly recognized by both Dean Shetty and Tek Knight during Gen V season 1.

Sources: EW

Gen V season 1 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of The Boys, I am thrilled about the upcoming Season 4 and the game-changing lineup that will shock the Boys. The introduction of Cate and Sam from Gen V brings new and formidable powers to the Seven, making them a force to be reckoned with. Cate's ability to manipulate and control others with her touch is incredibly powerful, and Sam's strength rivals that of Queen Maeve.

The Seven has lost much of its former glory and influence, but with the addition of Cate and Sam, they have the potential to become the most formidable version of the team yet. This poses a significant challenge for Billy Butcher and the Boys, who are already facing a series of unfortunate setbacks. I can't wait to see how this new lineup shakes up the dynamics of the show and what exciting and shocking twists await us in Season 4. Bring on the chaos!