Now that stan edgar has taken charge of vought and the company finally has absolute control, Iâve been thinking that they most likely have soldier boyâs unconscious body in their custody. I started wondering: what would his fate be in Voughtâs Rising? Unlike the other characters, his arc hasn't concluded yet for some reason, so Iâve come up with a theory regarding his new purpose and potential ending. Iâll touch on Vought briefly at the start, then move on to soldier boy in the following sections.
After the Homelander incident, it is clear that Vought is no longer keen on the idea of ââcreating more "supes," as the public would reject the move and the company's reputation would suffer further if they tried to recreate another Seven or another Homelander; at this point, superheroes are falling out of fashion and are increasingly viewed in a negative light. They will have to adopt a different approach to selling their productsâsince sales remain their primary objectiveâgiven that superheroes were merely mascots (the face of the company) and walking products whose misdeeds were covered up to protect the brand's legacy, a strategy that ultimately cost them dearly. The possibility of providing services to the government, military, or federal agencies is non-existent due to the massive mess Homelander left behind; furthermore, supes were never truly accepted in the political sphere or in most of those types of operations to begin with. So, what can they do to regain acceptance? They must cleanse their image of any association with superheroesâand especially with Homelanderâerasing that mistake to escape the consequences of their own actions. They might even need to change their name (rebrand), as the humiliation caused by Homelander was so severe that it disillusioned even his loyals believers and followers.
Now, what about soldier boy? The companyâs original golden boyâthe one who joined the Seven with a spotless record and won over the general public......has seen his reputation ruined all over again now that the world knows he is homelanderâs father......the man who saw himself as a god; regardless of whether he actually raised homelander, his image is now inextricably linked to the defeated hero. He could have been the perfect candidate to replace homelander, given his past popularity, but vought now wants to erase every trace of the seven's former leader. It serves no purpose for them to install a powerful supe who even remotely reminds people of the previous one; besides, that isn't what Ben wants, as he had intended to retire.
That said, I think his purpose will be dark and his arc tragic......much like that of one of the characters who inspired him. Eventually, Vought will wake him up, not to let him go, but to turn him into their personal soldierâone who wipes out any supe that has tarnished their brand, whether they know too much, are dangerous or rebellious, or are simply innocent etc. Heâll be tasked with eliminating the V1 version of every supe he encounters, as they are products that shouldn't existâall to ensure the world forgets them. Heâll do the dirty work; heâs more controllable than his son, and his identity will be kept secret so he isn't recognized.....Itâs practically a reverse winter soldier arc.
For those who don't know, in marvel canon, bucky broke free from Hydra and lives a relatively normal life. Soldier boy, on the other hand, managed to escape the russians and their torture after decades; he even achieved his goal of exacting revenge on his team and handing the V1 over to Homelander. All he wanted was to retire, only to be put back to sleep against his will and betrayed once again. Now heâll wake up under voughtâs control; theyâll have studied him and identified his weaknesses so they can immobilize him if he refuses to comply. Heâll become the puppet Homelander never could beâtheir silent corporate weapon kept up their sleeve. As for Ben, heâll turn into an executioner, a shadow in his own story; and that, ladies and gentlemen, is just as tragic as the character himself. Don't get me wrongâI like soldier boyâbut a good or happy ending just doesn't suit him. Just look at butcher and homelander; thereâs no easy way out of his current predicament, and since vought has absolutely no ethics, Ben is in a tight spot.
The reactions on Twitter have shocked me, but at the same time, made me laugh, lol. The fact that many believe Soldier Boy's decision was purely for his "beloved" Stormfront and that it's all a setup for Vought Rising shows how they catalog his decision as so superficial, without even trying to understand his true intentions or character. I understand the frustration of many because I really think the execution wasn't the best, and they should show more of Soldier Boy's thoughts and what he's going through mentally and that the stormfront plot feels kind of forced but even without that, Soldier Boy was going to look for any stupid reason to justify his decision without involving his feelings. I explain below my point of view on his decision and how it has to do with his personality and character.
First, it's necessary to understand the psychological relationship between Soldier Boy and Homelander, as it's inappropriate on several emotional levels. To explain, this dilemma he faces between Stormfront and Homelander is a problem of emotional roles; he doesn't know where to place these two figures who are now so important. It doesn't help that they both had a relationship with the same woman and that she said the same things to them and I would say that they were clearly manipulation tactics (Soldier Boy himself says that she said "the most crazy shits" meaning that the gaslight she did to him was diabolical) and that she knew that these two men are deeply vulnerable and insecure, the fact of telling them that they was the best supes fed their endless egos and she knew exactly what she was doing (Plus, her Nazi mentality makes the situation even worse)
Soldier Boy has faced a lot of vulnerability this season, something he hates and fears because it goes against his "manly" persona (he's basically the embodiment of toxic masculinity). The constant mention of Stormfront has made him revisit the past and even question some things along the way, and that has made him emotionally vulnerable. On the other hand, there's Homelander, who can easily show vulnerability to him and isn't afraid of that feeling. For example, the inappropriate scene where Homelander was in his bathtub of breast milk, talking to Soldier Boy, and homelander stood up and exposed himself, was a mind game played by Homelander on Soldier Boy. He used his vulnerability as a weapon, showing how he wasn't afraid of the feeling, but Soldier Boy was, and in that same scene, Homelander verbally attacked his "tough guy" persona, so this is all connected.
In short, the relationship between Homelander and Soldier Boy suffers from emotional incest. Soldier Boy can't express his feelings without mentioning something sexual or violent, a product of his toxic masculinity (this is most evident in the scene where he defended his son from Mr. Marathon), and he doesn't know how to be a father, just as Homelander doesn't know how to be a son. If Soldier Boy now feels pride, it's because he sees his own image in Homelander, not a son (the definition of a complete narcissist), and the two are always fighting for power, not for a genuine healthy relationship and anyone who is normal knows that their dynamic is strange and unhealthy, Homelander is emotionally dependent on Soldier Boy and the other is slowly doing it but doesn't really want to admit it.
And that explains Soldier Boy's decision. He doesn't want to admit out loud the whirlwind of emotions he's feeling, not only because of Stormfront, but also because of Homelander. He can't separate the love he had for a partner from the love he has for his son (it doesn't matter if they were with the same person, those things shouldn't be mixed). It's easier for him to say that everything is for the love and purpose of a woman than for the well-being of his son and that folks, is emotional incest but more intensified lol. Stormfront is just a shield for what he truly feels, and in his mindset, as a man who shouldn't cry and should appear strong, it's more honorable for him to do something for a woman than for a man (just like men went to war with the purpose of seeing their wives and families afterward; it's something similar). Soldier Boy is a complicated character and every action he does has an internal motive, he is not reckless like Homelander and even with him he has his differences so it is not so easy for him to make that decision really.
Episode 7 is approaching, and it's one of the most anticipated because of its title:
"The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man Called Mother's Milk".
There's no doubt that something shocking will happen; At this point, many are expecting the worst and the tension of the approaching war is just around the corner.
But one of the things that could happen, and which would be a total twist, is that the cancer takes control of Butcher, again due to his vulnerability and hatred of the Supes, more or less repeating the end of season 4:
Butcher vs. the Boys vs. Homelander and Soldier Boy. And I have a theory about what that definitive reason will be, and something that would be shocking if it happens.
(Warning: Episode 7 leak mentioned at the end)
I'll say upfront that yes, Butcher cares about all the members of The Boys, but it's clear he has stronger emotional connections with some, and he most likely become villain if they die:
Hughie and Mothers Milk
The first one, butcher considers him as his reincarnated younger brother, is the axis of hope in the group, in addition the "canary" as MM considers him. Then there is the second one, the man who still has a family and is almost the leader of the group because he is the moralist and the one who brings Butcher to his senses in most situations and who have now got very close to butcher this season
If one of them dies, it's guaranteed that Butcher will become a villain, but... I doubt the writers will do it, because it's clear they have other plans for them. This change that MM has, which the Legend noticed in the last episode and told him that it is not him, is clearly meant to help him return to his former self, and this is a different path, not one that leads to death. And Hughie is like the golden child of the serie, the protagonist and the writers wouldn't dare so much honestly.
Furthermore, if another member of the Boys (Kimiko, Starlight, and Frenchie) were to die, I don't foresee Butcher reacting with such a strong emotional response. He'd care about them in his own way, but not that much, if you know what I mean. He might feel sorry for them dying unjustly, but it wouldn't be the turning point that drove him to madness. Then to rule out, I doubt that due to the death of his dog, terror is what loses his humanity because if so, it would honestly be predictable and boring.
So I thought of another possibility and created a theory.
Antony Starr said something important about this season; Homelander hasn't done his worst act of this fifth season yet, and that made me think......
That his worst act would finally be killing his son, Ryan. Think about it: homelander in his state of despair and "praying," he said that he sacrificed his son (meaning he believes Ryan is dead, a parallel to the story of Abraham in the Bible, when he was going to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a test of faith commanded by God). It seems he now has "plot armor" because he escaped and his whereabouts are unknown, but that's just a trap. He will be the key to the separation between Homelander and Soldier Boy. Two situations can occur here: A, if Soldier Boy finds out what Homelander did to Ryan, he may turn against him for being an abuser because he considers him family, just like Homelander; or B, Soldier Boy starts treating Ryan like a son, and Homelander becomes jealous and it can end very badly for Ryan. Regardless, it's also possible that Homelander finishes the "job" and eliminates his biggest obstacle; that needs to be considered. And if Ryan dies...
the only thing left of Becca disappears, the promise that Butcher made to her is broken, and finally, Butcher mentally collapses, and then... Scorched Earth would only be the beginning of chaos. That would be death to the little humanity that remains in him.
It would be pretty unpredictable, and a good reason why Butcher would stop giving a fuck about anyone else.
I don't want Homelander's "worst" act to be killing a member of the boys because then, I would find it disappointing, and I don't know if the writers realize that the fans are on their knees, begging them to kill someone from the boys at this point lol.
(Mention of leak for episode 7)
According to the information that's been said, it's Frenchie who will die, and if so, there were already some clues, like when MM told Kimiko and him that they resembled Romeo and Juliet, in addition to the clear separation they've had this season. Frenchie might die sacrificing himself for Kimiko or something like that. It will be sad and will affect the group a lot.
I have to admit that I'm a little annoyed by the lack of mention of her in the series, although I understand that she's a secondary character from another show. Why hasn't there been a single discussion about her in the group? Why is there so much focus on a virus and not on the second most powerful person in the world? (aka almost on the same level as Homelander) Now it's not even worth mentioning her because Homelander got what he wanted and has already reached his full potential, meaning he's harder to defeat. But really, I don't want to discuss that, but rather how she can actually help in the future
I don't want her role to be limited to just helping defeat Homelander and that's it, because then I'd be wasting her character. I also have to mention the fact that Gen V was canceled; There's no chance of seeing her and her friends together again later on. So I've been thinking about what kind of ending would be truly fair and consistent with her character: one where she takes Homelander's place
Many speculate that Ryan will take Homelander's place, becoming the true "superman" everyone needs, but I don't really see it as possible. Ryan wants to forge his own path, and I don't think the idea of being a "superhero" appeals to him, not when he's constantly reminded of his biological father and the trauma he suffered as a child. Besides, he's a minor; he's not ready to "replace" Homelander right now and I have another theory for him. On the other hand, there's Starlight, the face of the opposing side to Homelander, and some might say she's the most suitable, but that's not the case either. She's said multiple times that she doesn't want people to see her as "Starlight" but as Annie, someone who isn't a superheroine and is more of an equal seeking to destroy Vought's corruption. Her purpose in the story is different and I think it is very clear, so I came to the conclusion that...
Marie is the most suitable; she shares Annie's values, genuinely protects and helps people, and at one point she wanted to be a superhero, even if it was just to be accepted, but her mindset has changed. She doesn't see the negative aspects of the world, only its positivity, and she truly is the superhero everyone needs. His power is to control life (blood), not destroy it like Homelander and ironically, her powers bring more benefits to others than Homelander's. Even her friends can become the new seven (without vought's corruption obviously) and they can have a good conclusion too.
You guys joke about the scene where Grace calls Leo her mom, but lowkey I really wanted a scene where Leon comforts Grace. Like, the mommy issues this girl has are huge, and I have no doubt that in that scene where she fainted, when she woke up, her mind would still be shattered and clouded by the pressure of everything, and in a twisted vision, she'd see Leon as her literal mom. The psychological game they could play with this would be insane and would definitely get a lot of mixed reactions, but it certainly be interesting for sure.
A "what if" scenario I was thinking of, which would have been cool to see in Resident Evil Requiem, was seeing the final transformation of the T-virus spread throughout Leon's body, like another kind of bad ending that provides a different perspective just as brutal as the other one. It would be quite interesting to see if Leon became a zombie who, deep down, sees everything, or a rare case where the virus didn't cloud his judgment, like Zeno or Dr. Gideon but maybe Capcom will choose the first one, to make that ending as melancholic as possible lol.
It's the fact that Pennywise left her alive despite showing annoyance towards her at multiple times (her fate wasn't the best, but if she simply hadn't grabbed his arm, she wouldn't have shown any kind of fear. Her sanity would have remained intact and literally, Pennywise would have given her the green card again lol, even though it was total manipulation. Being the first person who didn't suffer anything being in his presence for more than once but on this occasion, her luck was not on her side)
Another reason is, what exactly would Pennywise benefit from leaving her alive and using her after 27 years if she was already going to be an old granny? I don't think he'd be making much use of her...really. So this makes me think she was incredibly lucky, even if she didn't realize it.
I feel like there's still more to explore about her character, more depth to her story, and a different perspective on why she behaved the way she did. Not just leaving her as a poor, delusional woman who ignored all the clear signs that he wasn't her father. Hopefully, in the upcoming seasons, she'll reappear, even if she's committing atrocities. But this time, her character will be improved and better told from a story perspective and made more interesting.
I watched the trailer for It welcome to derry, midseason and i just connected some dots. This must be the scene where the military releases THE MIST (something tells me their intentions weren't to open a portal to another universe lol something went wrong and their intentions were different, that's my theory)
And we're practically seeing the prototype of this project, which will be repeated after a few years.
Now, the object I believe they used was this
One of the 13 slots mentioned in Chapter 4. These slots are made from the star where IT crashed and resided, possessing immense power enough to trap him. IT originates from the Macroverse, and I theorize that the star contains material from that universe and was the source that allowed the portal to open and that all these monsters would be unleashed.
By that point, the military already has a weapon just as powerful as IT, and I wonder, why would they continue searching for IT? They've already found something that guarantees their victory in the war. I think it depends on when this happens, but I wouldn't find a logical reason afterwards. Perhaps it's because this weapon is harder to control than IT, which they can control with the slotsâthat's what I think. I was also wondering, how did they recreate the mist again, since they would need something from another universe? Maybe those details are in the book and I'll have to look for it, but if someone could tell me, I'd appreciate it.
I remember when people said Greg had a Homelander vibe, and I didn't really believe it, but in this episode, I did. Especially because of the way his blonde hair was slicked back, lol. Also, his way of acting continues to get weird, we still don't know absolutely anything about him, only that he's Ally's brother and a starlighter but nothing else. What really is the future of this character mhmm....
Side note, that scene of Sam and Greg fighting over who was carrying Emma seemed funny to me but a little childish (I compare it to two 5-year-olds fighting over a candy lol)
This episode had good moments as well as ones I didnât like much. I liked the cameo from Stan Edgar and Zoe Neuman. Now Stan Edgar is someone who plays both sides (as he taught Victoria Neuman), and Marie made a good decision not to fully trust him even though he offered her shelter. Heâs a morally gray character who, while heâs done some good things, has also done bad ones. He makes it clear that everything he does is for his own personal benefitâhe helps only when it suits him.
Itâs said that Marie is going to make bad decisions, and I think one of them was what she did at the end. She once again abandoned all her friends without saying anything. And just like sheâs stubborn, her friends are tooâthey wonât hesitate to go looking for her again (repeating the same situation from the first episode).
One moment I didnât like was how easily they escaped from prison. Marie had escaped before, but she was aloneâthis time it was a group of five. Apparently, Cipher didnât plan for them to escape, which felt strange because even the group thought the lack of security was another test (which explains when they found Annabeth dead), and they expected to be caught easily. But it seemed the plan didnât go well. Theyâd been locked up in Almira for a while before, so I thought escaping wouldnât be easyâbut suddenly, they managed to escape in the most convenient way possible lol.
Now theyâre trying to revive the dead romance between Emma and Sam. Donât get me wrongâthey were a good couple in season one, but it doesnât feel the same anymore. Even if they reconcile, it would have to happen in just two episodes, and I think itâll feel rushed and unnatural compared to season one. I bet Greg will do something to ruin Emmaâs relationship and sheâll go back to Samâmost likely.
To wrap up with a moment I did like: the explanation of Cipherâs intentions and his connection to Thomas Godolkin added another layer of intrigue to his character. At first, I didnât like it much because I was confused, but I realized they gave his character more depth (and unpredictability too). Cipher did reveal his true plan at the end, but I think more explanation is neededâheâs still a huge threat. Itâs worth noting that Stan Edgar mentioned he could defeat Homelander â ïž which means he could be useful for season 5 of The Boys⊠now I believe even more that he shouldnât die.
Overall, Iâd give the episode a 7/10âa fair score for this one. Thatâs my final conclusion.
What would Hughie be like if he took Butcher's place in the future? Would he adopt Butcher's methods or not? He would follow his morals or change completely.
*I'm making a fanfic about it and since it's my first fanfic, I'd like to know if it's an interesting idea. (and if you could give me writing advice, I would be grateful) *
