Butcher & Homelander’s Confrontation Scene Suggests The Boys’ Ending Will Have A Surprise Twist

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Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 5, episode 4, “King of Hell.”

As a huge fan of The Boys, I’m already reeling from being halfway through the final season! Of course, Billy Butcher and Homelander had another face-off, but their talk in the latest episode, “King of Hell,” has me thinking the show might not end with the showdown everyone’s predicting. It feels like things are heading in a completely unexpected direction, and honestly, I’m here for it!

Though The Boys has featured many conflicts – like those between Hughie and A-Train, Starlight and Firecracker, and Mother’s Milk and Love Sausage – the rivalry between Butcher and Homelander has been the most significant. Butcher’s intense personal hatred of Homelander has been a central force in the show, and Homelander seems to enjoy having an opponent he considers a worthy match.

As a huge fan of The Boys, I’ve noticed something really interesting this season: Butcher is starting to mirror Homelander in a lot of ways, which makes their scenes together even more compelling. The latest episode delivered another fantastic moment between them – they finally confronted each other in Fort Harmony, though thankfully a sturdy door kept things from escalating immediately.

Homelander and The Boys were both trying to find the last of the V-One compound. However, after the group fractured and went their separate ways, Butcher found himself on his own. At the same time, Soldier Boy trapped Homelander in a chamber filled with uranium, leaving him helpless and in pain.

Butcher unexpectedly found Homelander trapped in a cell designed to hold superpowered individuals, and immediately began to torment him. He enjoyed seeing Homelander helpless and suffering, relentlessly mocking him and promising to bring the super virus and watch him succumb to it.

Homelander was surprised to discover Butcher no longer possessed the virus, but enjoyed seeing his enemy rattled anyway. While this might seem positive, it could be an early hint that a significant plot twist is coming in The Boys.

The Boys Season 5, Episode 4 Suggests Butcher Will NOT Kill Homelander In The Ending

With the latest season of The Boys unfolding, viewers are starting to speculate about how the series will end, and many believe Homelander won’t survive. While Butcher seems most likely to be the one to defeat him, their intense battle in the episode “King of Hell” hints that things might not go as expected.

While it wasn’t a total win, Butcher relishing Homelander’s pain was a long-awaited moment for him, something he’d wanted throughout the whole series. It wasn’t as fulfilling as seeing Homelander defeated outright, but it was exactly the kind of outcome Butcher had been hoping for.

Honestly, I have a feeling this might be as close as Butcher ever gets to actually defeating Homelander. While everyone will probably be thrilled to see Butcher get the upper hand again, it felt like a real win this time, and I don’t think the show can realistically top it. It’s a little bittersweet, knowing this might be the peak.

The Boys Season 5 Episodes IMDb Rating
Episode 1 — “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite” 9.0
Episode 2 — “Teenage Kix” 8.6
Episode 3 — “Every One of You Sons of Bitches” 8.5
Episode 4 — “King of Hell” 8.0
Episode 5 TBC
Episode 6 TBC
Episode 7 TBC
Episode 8 TBC

It’s unusual to see anyone challenge Homelander like Butcher did, and even though it didn’t last long, Butcher clearly relished the opportunity. This will likely make Homelander even more determined to prevent future challenges, suggesting someone else might ultimately be responsible for taking him down.

With only a few characters realistically capable of defeating the strongest superhero in The Boys season 5 – both in terms of strength and story impact – it would be surprising if Butcher wasn’t the one to do it. However, it feels repetitive and unlikely that the show would have Butcher repeatedly mock a defeated foe, especially so soon after a previous instance.

Because of this significant interaction between long-time enemies, I believe The Boys is setting up a major twist: Homelander will be defeated by an unexpected character.

The Boys Still Has To Give Us Butcher Vs. Homelander At Some Point

As a huge fan of The Boys, I really think Butcher and Homelander have to have a proper showdown, even if Butcher isn’t the one who ultimately takes Homelander down. The show doesn’t give us massive superhero fights all the time, but from the very beginning, it’s felt like these two were on a collision course. It just feels inevitable, and honestly, I’m really looking forward to seeing it!

Back in season 3, Butcher and Homelander vowed to completely destroy each other, a conflict Karl Urban has frequently highlighted as we approach the show’s finale. Because Butcher is the only one Homelander considers a true rival, Homelander will likely want to personally kill him and finally eliminate this ongoing problem.

From the very beginning, Butcher has been determined to make Homelander answer for his actions, and he’s compromised his own values in the process. A showdown between them is inevitable, and fans deserve to see a full-on, unrestricted fight, even if it’s mostly a verbal confrontation.

It’s possible neither Butcher nor Homelander will die in their confrontation. Butcher might be able to distract Homelander long enough for another hero to finish him off, or Homelander could even spare Butcher, as their rivalry is one of the few things he still enjoys.

It feels like a missed opportunity to give Butcher the abilities that defeated Victoria Neuman and then not use them in a confrontation with Homelander. Their recent conversation clearly shows they understand each other, and a battle between them seems unavoidable.

Before The Boys finishes its run on Prime Video in May, a final showdown between Homelander and Butcher is essential to wrap up the story. Their confrontation in “King of Hell” could be a preview of the intense action still headed our way.

If Not Butcher, Who Will Kill Homelander In The Boys Season 5?

As The Boys heads into its fifth season, very few characters realistically have the power to defeat Homelander. While several could potentially do it, Ryan seems like the most likely candidate. He possesses the necessary abilities and strength to challenge Homelander, and he also has a strong personal reason to try.

Butcher’s hatred for Homelander extends to Ryan, because Homelander has deeply damaged his son’s life. The recent near-fatal attack could be the breaking point for Ryan, who likely wants both revenge and a way to escape his father’s legacy, fearing he’ll become just like him.

Starlight and Hughie both offer compelling paths forward, but for different reasons. Throughout much of The Boys, Starlight has served as a direct contrast to Homelander, offering a beacon of hope to those who distrust him. She’s become a symbol of resistance almost by accident, and her powers could potentially defeat him if used strategically.

Throughout the series, Hughie has consistently been the most ethical member of The Boys. Even though he’s taken lives, he’s fundamentally a kind person. Despite being just a normal human, he has the potential to become a true hero by defeating the main villain, possibly using the supe virus or a modified version of Compound V.

Ultimately, The Boys allowed Soldier Boy to kill his son, likely setting him up for a larger role in a future spinoff. While it would be somewhat anticlimactic for one major villain to simply kill the other, a mutual death could provide a fitting and dramatic conclusion for both characters.

Throughout the series, Butcher has seemed like the most likely person to stop Homelander. But as we head into the final episodes of season 5, expect another character to potentially be the one who ultimately defeats him.

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2026-04-25 18:41