The final ever episode of The Boys released today, leaving fans with one burning question: what happened to Soldier Boy?
Soldier Boy's Absence in the Finale
Soldier Boy, played by Jensen Ackles, has been a pivotal figure throughout the fifth and final season of the Prime Video series. Viewers witnessed him inch closer to his son, Homelander (Antony Starr), across seven episodes. However, the concluding episode dropped today, and fans were quick to notice that Soldier Boy was nowhere to be found. So what exactly happened? Warning: spoilers for Season 5, Episodes 7 and 8 lie ahead.
Earlier Season Twist
In a stunning twist earlier in the season, Soldier Boy defied Sister Sage's seemingly foolproof predictions to help Homelander achieve immortality. His actions were fueled by his love for former flame Clara Vought (Aya Cash), also known as Stormfront, as he believed she would have wanted superheroes to rise up and dominate the world, despite his own contempt for Homelander.
Homelander's Fury
This cemented Homelander's faith in his father, ultimately leading him to incorporate Soldier Boy into his future plans, where he would be revered as a god by all. However, after being presented with blueprints for a theme park featuring a dedicated section in his honor and even a brand new suit, Soldier Boy dropped the bombshell that he intended to leave for good. This angered Homelander, who believed he had finally regained a permanent father figure in his life. In a fury, he strangled Soldier Boy until he lost consciousness before placing him back into a cryochamber. This marked the last time audiences glimpsed the character before the finale broadcast.
The Final Episode
In Episode 8, Homelander loses his abilities thanks to Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), who can now strip away powers following an experiment carried out by Frenchie (Tomer Capone) and Butcher (Karl Urban). Butcher, also rendered powerless from Kimiko's power-wiping chest blast, battles and kills Homelander, with both men clashing on equal terms for the first time. With Homelander now dead and Soldier Boy in deep slumber, his destiny remains unclear. Could he ever be awakened? Or will his choice to back Homelander ensure he remains in storage permanently? Given there are no further seasons of The Boys planned, there is no clear-cut answer for supporters.
Comic Book Differences
The nearest audiences can come to a resolution is through reading the comics, though they differ significantly from the narrative presented in the TV version. In the comic books, Soldier Boy isn't Homelander's biological father, nor is he simply one individual.
Upcoming Prequel Series
Nevertheless, audiences will see more of Soldier Boy on their television screens shortly in the prequel series Vought Rising. The spin-off, scheduled for a 2027 launch, will examine the beginnings of mega-corporation Vought, with emphasis on Soldier Boy and Clara Vought during the 1950s.
All episodes of The Boys are now streaming on Prime Video.
