Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 4 finale and The Boys comics.
Summary
Billy Butcher has been one ofThe Boys’key protagonists since the show began, but season 4 may have teased his surprising killer. Having developed a tumor that was slowly killing him, Butcher’s days looked numbered, butThe Boysseason 4’s endingcast doubt on whether he was really dying. During the finale, Butcher seemed like he was on his way out and even called Hughie to say goodbye, yet he shockingly showed up moments later looking healthier than ever. Alongside this,Butcher showed off his new powers inThe Boys, which suggests Compound V was pivotal to his survival.
While it initially appeared as though the substance had no effect on him or his tumor, the show revealed that Joe Kessler - a figment of Butcher’s imagination - was the key to unlocking his full potential. Despite the bombshell thatJoe Kessler wasn’t real, he represented Butcher’s darkest thoughts and desires, and with the protagonist finally embracing him in the finale,Butcher gained full control of his powers. This seemed to slow down his illness, making him more dangerous than ever, but season 4 hinted at one unlikely source being the one to take him down for good.
Victoria Neuman’s Death Means Zoe May Seek Revenge In The Boys Season 5
Zoe Could Go After Butcher In Season 5 After He Killed Victoria Neuman
The big reveal of Butcher’s powers came at the expense of Victoria Neuman, who was brutally killed by the protagonist. Although this was The Boys' main objective for the entire season, the group reluctantly agreed to work with Victoria, only for Butcher to arrive and take her out with ease. The scene was not only crushing because it undermined Hughie’s speech and ruined the group’s plan, but it was even more horrifying given Victoria’s daughter was there to watch.Zoe tried to intervene during Butcher’s attack but was easily swatted awaybefore her mother was ripped in half.
Experiencing such a traumatic event gives her the perfect motivation for revenge, which is exactly what drove Butcher to this point in the first place. Zoe’s powers have the potential to be terrifyingly strong, and with the right support, she could take him down. She may ally with The Boys, Homelander, or potentiallyGen V’s protagonists, all of who will be trying to stop Butcher in their own ways.Butcher’s villainous turn duringThe Boysseason 4’s endingmakes him a very wanted man, but Zoe could be an unexpected threat who has a justifiable reason to want him dead.
Butcher Is Destined To Die In The Boys Season 5 - It’s Just A Matter Of Who Kills Him
Butcher Will Have Plenty Of Enemies In The Boys' Final Season
With Butcher fully embracing his darker side, his death looks inevitable, but the real mystery revolves around who will kill him. Despite looking healthier during the season 4 finale,Butcher is still dying inThe Boysas his cancer hasn’t officially gone, meaning his time is still limited. Even if he manages to survive his impending battles in season 5, his tumor will still claim his life, but his death is more likely to come at the hands of his enemies. Homelander and his army may beThe Boys' most dangerous characters, but Butcher is still capable of defeating them.
His powers indicate that he can go toe-to-toe with the strongest supes, and being killed by a weaker villain would feel unearned. Likewise,Homelander killing Butcher would be an anticlimactic way to end their story, making his killer more likely to be someone close to him. Ryan could potentially be the one to put him down, as Butcher cares too much about him to fight back, which could lead to an emotional confrontation. Hughie also falls into this same category and could act as the distraction for Starlight or Kimiko to deliver the finishing blow.
There are a lot of candidates who could potentially take down Butcher, and uncovering this will be one of the most exciting aspects ofThe Boys' final season.
Although it will be hard to trulydislike Butcher inThe Boysseason 5, he looks destined to have a full-blown villain arc; therefore, he may become just as big of an antagonist as Homelander, all but confirming his death is coming. Clearly, there are a lot of candidates who could potentially take down Butcher, and uncovering this will be one of the most exciting aspects ofThe Boys' final season, but that makes a rogue character like Zoe all the more interesting as she could play a major role in his demise.
Why Zoe Killing Butcher Would Work (Despite Changing The Comics)
Zoe Killing Butcher Would Be Justified After The Boys Season 4’s Finale
Zoe killing Butcher may not be the obvious choice, but it could still work given her overall role in the show. Although she has killed her fair share of people as well,Zoe is one of the few characters left inThe Boysthat could be considered innocent. She is still a child who was given Compound V for protection and has been dragged into this violence due to her relationship with Victoria Neuman and Stan Edgar. Being part of such an influential family has made her collateral damage in The Boys' war against supes, making her story incredibly tragic.
Although Butcher may finally kill Homelander in season 5, his bloody path to get there will prove he actually achieved very little.
It seems like the show is lining up for Butcher for his comic ending, and while Hughie killing him still seems like the most logical choice, giving Zoe this moment could be even bigger, especially asThe Boyshas an entire season to build up her character. Although Butcher may finally kill Homelander in season 5, his bloody path to get there will prove he actually achieved very little. Zoe murdering Butcher would show this never-ending cycle of violence and revenge didn’t end with Homelander, and it would provideThe Boyswith a dark yet fitting ending.
The Boys
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
