Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Season 4 ofThe Boyshas officially ended with a lot of shocking revelations, more gruesome killings, and a country which was thrown into deeper chaos. With Billy Butcher on a murderous rampage to get his revenge on the chilling Homelander, the 5th and final season of the show is being set up delectably.
The season ended with a post-credit scene that confirmed the return of Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy, who was a pivotal character in season 3. His absence in the 4th season was questioned by a lot of fans, especially since he had close ties with Homelander. Showrunner Eric Kripke elaborated on why the character needed to be brought back for the final showdown.
Why Eric Kripke Was Insistent On Getting Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy Back In The Mix
In season 3 ofThe Boys, fans were introduced toSoldier Boy, the MVP of all Supes played byJensen Ackles. This foul-mouthed war hero is seen in the series as the first American non-aging Supe who was created by Frederick Vought during World War 2. Laz Alonso’s Mother’s Milk holds him responsible for destroying his family.
While working with the CIA during the Cold War as the leader of Payback, Soldier Boy was betrayed by the Russian government and experimented on for forty years. He is inadvertently freed by the vigilantes in the present-day, who realize that he is the only one who can kill Homelander.
More significantly, Soldier Boy is discovered to be the biological father of Homelander, whose parental complexes are further heightened when he is rejected and insulted by him. His absence in season 4 surprised a few fans, before they realized that the post-credit scene would bring him back in a major way in season 5.
It was a mistake not to have Soldier Boy in#TheBoysSeason 4pic.twitter.com/cWezuiGr0X
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel)July 29, 2025
We could’ve had him instead of those boring subplots
— Sir Alex (@FergHassan)June 19, 2025
omg yasss! 😍 can’t wait to see jensen back as soldier boy
— Natalie May (@babenataliemay)July 30, 2025
They had to. They couldn’t have the final season without him.pic.twitter.com/nBh25c8ifW
— OurMovieGuide (@OurMovieGuide)July 27, 2025
For fans, the development of Soldier Boy’s dynamic with Homelander was a pivotal factor in how their relationship could pan out. This was exactly what showrunner Eric Kripke also had in mind when he decided to bring back the character for the final season.
“Are you really sure it can’t go on?”: Eric Kripke’s 1 Call Saved ‘The Boys’ from Being Exploited Like Jensen Ackles’ ‘Supernatural’
Kripke echoed viewers thoughts when he spoke toGames Radarat the San Diego Comic-Con. He believed that there were a lot of complex emotions to be developed and fleshed out between the two characters.
You know, what we realized was we really hadn’t explored the father-son relationship much between Homelander and Soldier Boy. There’s a lot of material there, how soldier boy feels about Homelander, how Homelander feels about his dad, and so we really wanted to dig into that relationship.
With this exciting revelation, fans will be eagerly awaiting the showdown between Ackles’ Soldier Boy and Antony Starr’s Homelander, along with the culmination of the other character arcs in the series.
Eric Kripke Realized The Responsibility He Had WithThe Boys
A bunch of rogue superheroes wreaking havoc with their powers through their telling actions that have an impact on the political system and society, isThe Boysin a nutshell. Based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson that was well ahead of its time, the television adaptation envisioned byEric Kripkebecame a huge sensation with fans.
In a pretty ironic turn of events, the show which also took an unapologetic dig at the godly figures ofMarveland DC, has become a cult franchise in itself. It is now looked at with high expectations from fans after giving rise to various spin-offs, includingGen VandThe Boys: Diabolical.
Ahead of season 4 in an exclusive interview withEmpire, Kripke admitted that he was fully aware he now had the responsibility to ensure that every future season ofThe Boyslived up to the reputation of its predecessor. The creator though, had a clear plan in mind about bringing the narrative a full circle when the series ultimately neared its end on Amazon Prime.
you’re able to’t build a show that’s about these two forces of Homelander and Butcher slowly closing in on each other without bringing that to a head. Whenever that last episode occurs, I know what happens.
The fact that a satirical show of this nature became a cult phenomenon with audiences was also not lost on Kripke, which made him even more determined to giveThe Boysthe best farewell possible. Talking about staying true to the essence of narrative without compromising on the nuances of the characters, he said,
I think about it every day, how important it is: even if we’re telling more stories in this world, that we don’t f**king sell out.
“The Boys are at their lowest points”: Eric Kripke Says There is No Way He Can Drag The Boys For 1 More Season After Season 4’s Finale Gave Homelander Everything He Ever Wanted
In almost clairvoyant fashion, season 4 ofThe Boysserved as a mirror to the sensational political events that continues to unfold in the USA as part of the Presidential elections. With the series having been renewed for a 5th and final season, it will be intriguing to see how Kripke puts his words into action.
All seasons ofThe Boysare streaming on Amazon Prime.
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
