The Boys' Vought International releases an in-universe statement thanking Homelander for defending American values on the Fourth of July.

The following contains spoilers for The Boys Season 3, Episode 8 “The Instant White-Hot Wild,” now streaming on Prime Video.

The Boys has concluded for another season and the finale was truly amazing. It finally had a big confrontation with Homelander and Soldier Boy, and it also had Homelander showing his true colors to the public for the first time ever. Despite Homelander being truly evil and unnecessarily cruel, the finale still managed to show moments of humanization in the villain. Seeing Homelander’s more emotional side mixed in with his villainous ways was a strange, yet wonderful dichotomy. Now that Homelander is taking being a dad more seriously, this strange combination will surely persist.


Homelander is a hero created by Vought through trauma, isolation, and torture. Even if he wanted to be a good and upstanding hero, Vought denied him any chance of that life. Throughout The Boys, Homelander is shown to be unstable and without remorse or empathy. He works hard to bury away all human emotions. He believes himself to be superior and why would someone superior feel simple human emotions. His effort to bury his feelings makes it so much more powerful when he lets them loose. It displays the true depth of his character and of Antony Starr’s acting ability.

RELATED: Soldier Boy: How the Boys Hero Subverts Captain America


The first act of humanization in this episode is when Homelander is reunited with his son, Ryan. After finding out that Soldier Boy was his father, Homelander was in a tailspin. He is given the address of Ryan’s hideout and immediately goes there to talk to his son. In earlier seasons, Homelander and Ryan together was always a terrifying interaction. Yet, after Butcher abandoned Ryan, something changed. Homelander tells Ryan that he will always be there for him. He shows him some real fatherly love, and it seems genuine. Ryan senses this and opens up to his dad, going with him to Vought Tower.


Homelander is desperate for a family. It’s all he has ever wanted. He is so heartbroken that Black Noir kept the information about Soldier Boy from him, that he murders Black Noir. The murder of Black Noir was gruesome, but it still humanized Homelander. Homelander felt betrayed, he considered Black Noir to be one of his best friends. Yet, Noir purposefully left Homelander in the dark and alone. Homelander just wanted a family, he wanted to be loved and give love. While he may not know how to do any of those things, the desperation to have a family was shown when he killed Noir.

RELATED: The Boys Star Reveals Homelander’s ‘Happy Ending’


Homelander uses his family to try to appeal to Soldier Boy. He says that they can be a family, three generations of superheroes, all together. Soldier Boy takes one look at Homelander, sees him crying for a family and is disgusted. He calls him names and says he is a disappointment, just like his father did to him. This sentiment destroys Homelander, the father he always wanted, the one he didn’t know he had, hates him. Yet, even in the midst of a fight, when Ryan is hurt, Homelander drops everything to help his son. It’s very odd seeing this more tender and fatherly side of Homelander, considering that shortly after he gouges Maeve’s eye out and kills a civilian.


Homelander is the villain of The Boys, that is a fact. Yet, his characterization in the show is stunning. Just when the audience’s hate for Homelander reaches its peak, the finale took large steps to show that Homelander is human and super. He feels human emotions and is just as insecure and vulnerable as anyone else. This is incredible storytelling and elevates the entire series. Homelander is desperate for a family and will kill and maim anyone who tries to stop him from getting it.

Watch all of Season 3 of The Boys now on Prime Video.

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