The Boys S3 Recap: Herogasm, Soldier Boy, & Homelander’s Father Revealed

The third season summary of ‘The Boys’ explores the narrative further concerning Homelander and his son, introduces Soldier Boy as another iconic hero, and depicts the collapse of The Seven. This narrative setup foreshadows an impending conflict between Homelander, leader of The Seven, and Billy Butcher and his team. At the conclusion of season 2, Billy Butcher and Homelander clashed following Becca’s death, causing Ryan to leave his corrupted father and seek refuge with Mallory, Billy’s ally. However, everything shifted in season 3.

In the aftermath of The Boys’ second season, the third picks up approximately one year later. During this time, Homelander maintains a low profile due to Queen Maeve possessing damning evidence from Season 1’s plane incident and his suspicion that Starlight may pose a threat and cannot be fully relied upon. As the story unfolds, a fresh character enters the scene: Soldier Boy, who is reawakened from suspended animation to confront Homelander. The two characters discover they share more than just clashing Superheroes, leading to an intriguing dynamic. The Boys’ third season concludes with several major deaths and a startling twist that leaves Homelander reeling.

Soldier Boy Has Arrived

An Original World War II Superhero

In the finale of Season 2, the first-ever Compound V hero, Stormfront, suffered defeat but didn’t meet her end in that battle. Later on, in Season 3, Homelander publicly humiliated a scarred Stormfront, leading to her tragic decision to take her own life. An unexpected twist came when a former Nazi superhero made an appearance to ally with Homelander and The Seven. However, the narrative of Season 3 shifted significantly, introducing a character akin to an American World War II soldier called Soldier Boy.

The shift in character portrayal for Soldier Boy from the comic books to the Amazon Prime Video series “The Boys” is quite substantial. In the comics, he was often a laughing stock, an American supersoldier who struggled to perform effectively and unfortunately led his teammates into tragic, brutal deaths due to his ineptitude. However, in the series, Soldier Boy, played by Jensen Ackles, is a genuine hero and may be the only one capable of challenging and defeating Homelander. During the war, Soldier Boy was known for his volatile nature, and most of his team, Payback, held him in contempt.

In my humble opinion, as a movie reviewer, Soldier Boy found himself ensnared by the Russians following Payback’s treachery, with the American government abandoning him in the process. The Russians subjected him to years of cruel experiments, only to keep him in a state of suspended animation until his release in season 3 for combat against Homelander. But before Soldier Boy could confront Homelander, he had some lingering matters to attend to first.

Following his interactions with his ex-teammates, it was later unveiled that he was Homelander’s biological father, as the government had created Homelander using Soldier Boy’s DNA. This surprising revelation came to light during the course of the season, and showrunner Eric Kripke mentioned in an interview with Vulture that they hadn’t anticipated this connection when they started writing the season.

I planned to narrate tales involving characters Butcher and Ryan, as well as Homelander and Ryan. Moreover, I was aware that a significant aspect of Hughie’s character development revolves around his perception of his own father. Essentially, this season seems to be brimming with complex father-son dynamics, which I found quite intriguing.

For the clarity, let me make this clear: I didn’t do it, to set the record straight. Someone proposed the question, “Could Soldier Boy be Homelander’s father?” It’s like when a puzzle piece fits perfectly into place. Initially, you might feel frightened because the idea is massive. Then, after processing it, you realize that your fear is a positive one, which happened around mid-season.

Herogasm Is The Ultimate Form Of Debauchery

The Superhero Orgy Turns Into A Superhero Massacre

Prior to engaging Homelander in combat, Soldier Boy first settles scores with those who had deceived him earlier. This incident is known as Herogasm, a somewhat contentious event within the comic book saga. In contrast, the Herogasm depicted in The Boys season 3 wasn’t quite as transgressive as its comic counterpart. Nevertheless, it served to unleash Soldier Boy’s pent-up aggression. The reason being that, in the series, Soldier Boy’s former teammates from Payback, the TNT Twins, were the ones who organized Herogasm at their residence. This provided Soldier Boy with an opportunity for retribution against those who had betrayed him.

Even Jensen Ackles said that the entire scene was something no one could ever forget:

I’m really looking forward to seeing Herogasm, and I imagine many others feel the same way. I was quite intrigued about how it would be portrayed. Even the director seemed unsure, and our team looked quite unsettled. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. It’s like a toothpaste that once squeezed out, won’t go back in the tube.

As a die-hard fan, I’d say it goes like this: In the series, I, Soldier Boy, kick-started the wild bash known as Herogasm. My ex-teammates who backstabbed me carry on the tradition, oblivious of my presence. Just like in the comics, it’s a superhero orgy, but Vought didn’t sponsor it this time around, unlike they did in the source material to help the Supes release their built-up tension. However, things took a dark turn when I showed up, coldly executing the TNT Twins and targeting other former Payback members. This rampage left 12 dead and many more wounded, forcing Black Noir into hiding.

In this episode, A-Train unexpectedly kills a racist superhero in a brutal act, only to succumb to a heart attack shortly afterward. The main confrontation, however, occurs when Soldier Boy targets Homelander. Interestingly, Billy Butcher gains temporary laser eyes due to Compound V and participates in the fight. Ultimately, Soldier Boy and Billy Butcher nearly defeat Homelander, but he manages to slip away, promising more battles to come.

The Boys Take Their Own Compound V To Gain Powers

Billy Butcher Ends Up With Tumors Thanks To The Drugs

In the heat of battle against Homelander and Soldier Boy, Billy Butcher was endowed with extraordinary abilities. This was made possible because The Boys obtained a variant of Compound V called Temp V, which temporarily grants individuals superpowers for 24 hours. For Billy Butcher, this manifested as laser eyes, and he shared an electrifying moment with Homelander during Herogasm, where they both unleashed their lasers at each other. However, there’s a catch — exceeding three to five doses could prove fatal.

In the third season of “The Boys”, Billy Butcher consumes at least six doses, leading to multiple brain tumors that give him a life expectancy of only 18 months. His excessive use of the drug to counter Homelander’s influence results in hallucinations and a fourth-season narrative where he imagines Jeffrey Dean Morgan as an ally, signifying his deteriorating mental state due to his fixation. Meanwhile, Hughie also ingests Temp V, which grants him powers, but this is partially because of his lingering insecurity about needing Starlight’s assistance to save him.

Starlight Joins The Boys

Starlight Finally Comes Into Her Own As A Hero

Initially, Starlight found herself stuck between The Boys and The Seven, experiencing both assaults and humiliations from The Seven, even as she learned that Hughie had been deceiving her about his involvement in the fight. However, in “The Boys” season 3, Starlight made a decisive move and allied with The Boys, turning against The Seven and ultimately gaining fame for herself after being acquitted of all charges once Stormfront was exposed as the one who framed her for her misdeeds. As Eric Kripke shared in Business Insider, this third season primarily revolved around Starlight discovering her identity.

In the third season, Starlight’s journey primarily revolves around claiming her power autonomously rather than relying on others for it. This is the main development in her character. Initially, she believes that power can be granted by external entities like Vought or Stan Edgar. However, this approach clearly fails because, firstly, the system is corrupt, and secondly, the power isn’t originating from within her; it’s being imposed upon her rather than chosen by her.

Afterward, she has an impactful confrontation with Neuman where she gradually understands who she truly should become. Consequently, we carefully crafted this pivotal moment. From that instance on, when she decisively stands up to Neuman, she begins to accumulate victory after victory and ultimately asserts her own power, demonstrating how she will exercise her power effectively as a strong female character.

But unfortunately, this doesn’t turn out favorably for Starlight’s ex, Supersonic. When A-Train informs Homelander about Starlight and Supersonic attempting to persuade him to betray The Seven, Homelander brutally beats Supersonic to death and removes pieces of his body using his laser abilities. Later, he takes Starlight to the rooftop to demonstrate his actions as a stern warning not to challenge him.

Victoria Neuman Goes To The White House

Victoria Neuman Running For Vice President

In the continuation of The Boys season 3 narrative, the focus shifts to the character Victoria Neuman and her journey towards the White House. Previously revealed in season 2, Victoria was a hidden Supe with the ability to detonate people’s heads. This time around, though, she’s given a more significant opportunity than merely targeting Vought and The Seven as a congresswoman. Robert “Dakota Bob” Singer selects her as his vice presidential candidate while he seeks the presidency of the United States. Eric Kripke, the creator, hinted at this storyline, stating…

Readers familiar with Garth Ennis’ works are aware that a significant plot point, appearing later in the series, involves the presidency of Dakota Bob, accompanied by a Vice President Neuman who covertly serves as a Vought operative, working towards seizing the presidency for themselves.

Despite our unconventional approach, we’ve managed to strategically arrange the chess pieces in a manner that allows us to begin unfolding the story. The significance of the situation is immense due to the covert Superhero residing in the White House, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and influence. Having a superpowered individual in the Oval Office seems incredibly dangerous given multiple potential repercussions.

In the upcoming season, this path takes an intriguing turn. Stan Edgar, who was once CEO of Vought International, adopted daughter Victoria, have contrasting views on Compound V. While Edgar aspires to legalize Temp V for public use in “The Boys” season 3, Victoria’s objectives remain unclear at this point. However, with Temp V proving lethal to Billy Butcher, it becomes evident that neither Edgar nor Victoria prioritize the well-being of the general populace.

Homelander Loses Control & Faces No Repercussions

He Commits Several Murders & His Popularity Increases

Homelander’s limits are tested significantly when he discovers, or rather learns of the genetic connection between himself and Soldier Boy, who may be his father. Yet, Homelander yearns for a heartfelt reconciliation with Soldier Boy, a World War II veteran. However, contrary to Homelander’s expectations, Soldier Boy dismisses him as pathetic and suggests that if he had been there to raise him, he could have done it more effectively.

It’s unfortunate that I’ve missed out on so many moments with you. If only I could have been your father and taught you the ways of life. Perhaps I could have molded you into a stronger individual, instead of someone who seems to lack resilience and is seeking attention. Unfortunately, there’s no changing the past… You’ve let me down significantly.

Homelander struggles greatly with the revelation. In an unexpected turn of events, he brutally killed his comrade Black Noir because he discovered Soldier Boy’s secret about him and Homelander, which Black Noir chose to keep hidden from him. However, since Black Noir remains unidentified, The Seven can effortlessly replace him without anyone noticing. This situation culminated in a massive confrontation towards the end involving Homelander, Billy Butcher, Soldier Boy, and Queen Maeve. In the heat of battle, Billy turned on Soldier Boy before he could defeat Homelander, doing so to shield Ryan from harm.

In their ongoing confrontation, Homelander and Queen Maeve clashed violently, while Butcher and Soldier Boy engaged in combat separately. The outcome was grim as Homelander blinded Maeve by gouging out one of her eyes. Just when he was poised to deliver the final blow, Maeve perceived that Soldier Boy was preparing to detonate himself, potentially causing mass destruction within the building. Acting swiftly, she tackled him and thrust them both out of a window, seemingly sacrificing herself to save everyone present. Fortunately for her fans, it turned out she had managed to survive, disappearing from public view and leaving people around the world to believe she was deceased.

In an unexpected turn, Homelander found himself surrounded by the common folk, with Ryan at his side. “I don’t blunder; I’m not like you all — I’m superior, I’m wiser, I’m greater,” he declared. This statement was met with applause from the powerless populace. However, when someone hurled a can and struck Ryan, Homelander vaporized the man’s face, and once more, the crowd erupted in cheers. In the eyes of the masses, Homelander had murdered a man publicly yet was hailed as a hero. According to Eric Kripke, this scene was pre-planned since the first season (as reported by Vulture).

Let’s discuss the well-known quote attributed to Donald Trump, where he said his supporters would still be loyal even if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue. This could be a sign of the real threat Ryan is facing. The fourth season primarily revolves around Ryan, as his actions significantly influence the destiny of the world. It’s about whether there exists another Homelander or someone capable of challenging Homelander.

The finale of the third season showed Homelander committing a cold-blooded murder, which left Ryan grinning. This raised many doubts about whether Ryan would emulate his father or rebel against him. The fourth season unveiled what caused the turning point. For this final episode of The Boys, however, Homelander solidified his status as the series’ main antagonist, and the public adored him even more for his villainous actions.

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2025-04-28 16:42

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