The Boys are caught up in a chaotic struggle involving Homelander, Soldier Boy, and, well, each other. The root of this conflict centers around V1, a type of vintage kill juice that no one seems to have stumbled upon yet. Homelander craves the absolute supremacy it promises, while Soldier Boy is more interested in undermining it and enjoying his immortality free from Homelander’s influence. Their search through the decayed labs of Fort Harmony—where Vought’s initial super-experiments unfolded—unveils more than just the rusty vials; they also face unsettling side effects of V1.
But to kick things off, there’s a rather amusing whiteboard session at Vought HQ that explores how to market Homelander as a sort of savior figure. It includes some, uh, colorful typos that only add to the absurdity.
“I am the Messiah! And I have chosen you to spread the word of my coming.” Firecracker, facing her unstable boss’s grand narrative, cleverly conceals her fear. It turns out, when it comes to religion, marketing is key. She explains that to construct this latest ridiculous idea, you need some audience metrics. According to her, promoting Homelander as a divine figure requires a “preaching church” approach. She even interrupts Ashley and “Buck Ashley” during a rather lively session to get them involved.
Driving to Fort Harmony, the Boys find what they expected: an abandoned military base with clear signs of Vought’s virus experiments. But the horror expands—they also discover numerous corpses of animals, all seemingly having turned on each other. As they wander through hallways laden with growths that resemble veins, tensions flare. Huey criticizes Butcher for keeping Ryan away, while Butcher retorts about Huey’s girlfriend being absent. Kimiko even bites Frenchie. It’s the same group that has fought together before, but this time, it feels like a different beast entirely. Frenchie suspects the strange veins in the walls are somehow influencing everyone’s aggression.
Soldier Boy and Homelander find themselves entwined after Sage reveals Homelander’s whereabouts, likely for her own agenda. Homelander, in classic fashion, boasts about his exploits, leading SB into a trap surrounded by enriched uranium. “Good luck escaping, even if you’re in agony,” Soldier Boy taunts. This banishment may not seal Homelander’s fate forever, but it grants Soldier Boy the freedom to pursue his own ends, determined that immortality should be his alone.
As delusions grip him tighter, the Boys separate, and Frenchie encounters Soldier Boy as well as a man known as Quinn, whose body has become part of the facility’s structure. Frenchie believes Quinn may be controlling the ominous veins. But before they uncover anything concrete, Soldier Boy, frustrated, obliterates Quinn with a burst of energy, leaving behind a moment of sadness that seems to hint at a past bond. “I’m sorry,” he mutters, displaying a regret akin to that felt after losing a loved one.
Meanwhile, after last episode’s dramatic episode where Annie January fired a weapon in the air, she feels compelled to reconnect with her estranged father, Rick. When she reaches his suburban home, she’s disappointed to find he’s now a sheriff’s deputy, proud of his support for Homelander. The encounter is awkward as she meets his new family.
Rick expresses his remorse about leaving Annie. He recalls how horrified he was by their past, especially in relation to Annie’s mother. However, there’s a moment of warmth when he presents her with a box of Starlight memorabilia, telling her he’s always been proud. But things take a wild turn when Rick’s teenage son, a drug agent, tips the police about Annie being a “super serial killer.” In this bizarre landscape of Season 5, truth struggles against Vought’s propaganda. The son is misled by a men’s rights podcast promoting violence against Starlighters. When the police come to arrest Annie, Rick defends her, stating that Vought has wronged the community. His final advice to Annie is poignant: “Don’t give up on your loved ones.”
Back on VNN, the plan to reshape Homelander into a “Homelord” is in full swing. Oh Father passionately preaches about this new Savior, framing him as an angel destined to reveal humanity’s path. In this twisted version of an “American Democratic Church,” Homelander transcends his mere human existence. The fervor builds to a peak when Oh Father lets out an enthusiastic cry, declaring: “He is the prophet of Lord! He is the prophet of America! He is the prophet HOMELANDER!”
Boys Noise Season 5 Episode 4: “King of Hell”
- The episode features some excellent music choices, like Method Man and Redman’s “Da Rockwilder.” And then there’s Lou Vega’s “Mambo No. 5,” played during a tense moment in the van. A perfect choice for that awkward silence.
- Is this the end for Kimiko and Frenchie? Their paths seem to be diverging, and Kimiko is clearly worried about the chaos Frenchy’s life is spiraling into. “So where does that leave us?” she wonders aloud.
- Among the turmoil at Fort Harmony, there’s a hint that the remaining V1s may have gone missing through bombsites. Though bombsite hasn’t appeared yet, he’s rumored to be deceased. Still, as a first-generation superhero like Soldier Boy, it seems unlikely that he won’t return anytime soon.
