Does Soldier Boy Care About Homelander in ‘The Boys’ Final Season?

The father-son dynamic at the heart of ‘The Boys’ final season is one of the most psychologically complex relationships the series has ever depicted, and the question of whether Soldier Boy truly cares about Homelander lacks a straightforward answer. It never could, given the deep-seated issues both characters face.

When ‘The Boys’ season 3 revealed that Soldier Boy is Homelander’s biological father, it reframed their shared experiences, from their status as Vought’s golden boys to their parallel betrayals by the women they loved. This revelation was particularly painful, as Vought exploited Soldier Boy’s genetic material without his consent, with Vogelbaum misleading him into believing it was for research. The company then used it to create a superior replacement, effectively robbing Soldier Boy of his legacy to forge his own son.

Showrunner Eric Kripke explained that the connection between Soldier Boy and Homelander emerged from the season’s overarching theme of fathers passing trauma to their sons, with toxic masculinity at its core. He noted that Homelander, similar to Butcher, Hughie, and Mother’s Milk, needed to confront his parental issues, and the idea of making Soldier Boy his father clicked into place.

The emotional weight of the ‘The Boys’ season 3 finale lies in Homelander’s vulnerability as he approaches Soldier Boy for the first time. He seeks a father figure, craving the validation he has always yearned for. Watching old promotional footage of Soldier Boy, he attempts to connect with the man who fathered him.

But then Soldier Boy shatters that hope.

Instead of providing the acceptance Homelander has longed for, Soldier Boy looks down on him, calling him a disappointment. This rejection mirrors Soldier Boy’s own experiences with his father, who dismissed him even after he became the most powerful supe in the nation. Soldier Boy’s father labeled him a disappointment, claiming that a true man would never have taken shortcuts like Compound V to achieve greatness.

The finale encapsulates a tragic reality. Soldier Boy echoes his father’s harsh words, his face contorted with rage and grief, unable to rise above his own pain to offer his son anything different. He is not a monster choosing cruelty; he is a wounded individual who never learned a better way to express himself.

As ‘The Boys’ final season unfolds, Soldier Boy and Homelander share a deeply uneasy relationship. After being frozen at the end of season 3, Soldier Boy is initially repulsed by the idea of collaborating with his son when he is released.

Showrunner Eric Kripke confirmed that as season 5 begins, Soldier Boy harbors outright hatred for Homelander, only agreeing to join the mission to Fort Harmony to thwart his son’s ambitions, not to assist him.

However, a shift occurs. In episode 4, Soldier Boy locks Homelander in a uranium chamber to weaken him, leading to an unexpected emotional breakdown as he confronts his past. When Homelander finds him in tears and chooses not to retaliate but instead gives him space, it marks a rare moment of restraint from a character not typically known for it.

Jensen Ackles discussed this pivotal moment in an interview, explaining that this change prompts Soldier Boy to start “questioning” whether there is something worth salvaging in their relationship. Ackles noted that prior to this moment, Soldier Boy wished for Homelander’s demise, but now he feels uncertain.

Ackles has also emphasized that Soldier Boy’s disdain for Homelander stems partly from the fact that Homelander reflects his own flaws, a theme that the prequel series ‘Vought Rising’ will delve into further. The neediness, the craving for approval, and the underlying rage beneath a polished exterior all disgust Soldier Boy because he sees them in himself.

In a separate interview, Ackles was candid when asked if Soldier Boy cares about Homelander’s escalating messiah complex. He described their dynamic as a blend of anger, jealousy, and disappointment, noting that Homelander’s claims of godhood push Soldier Boy closer to the edge of completely walking away.

Even as the season progresses, Soldier Boy’s loyalty to Homelander remains transactional, as he breaks the neck of a supe who threatens his son not out of love but from cold, self-serving logic.

‘The Boys’ has always been clear about its themes, and the relationship between Soldier Boy and Homelander serves as one of its most poignant arguments. The show uses their connection to explore how parental abuse is perpetuated through generations, with each man projecting his self-doubt onto the next, ensuring the cycle of damage continues. Soldier Boy does not need to love Homelander for this to hold true. The wound is passed down regardless.

Whether he can break this cycle before ‘The Boys’ concludes its final run is the pressing question, and at this moment, the answer feels decidedly negative.

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