The Boys has set up one notable character to become an even more dangerous villain than Homelander. Season 4 of The Boys did a good job of setting up a climactic season 5, with several characters realizing their full villainous potential. While Homelander and his Supe conspiracy remain the most pressing concern for the world at large, other notable threats have been gaining influence and power. Sister Sage’s schemes makes her a particuarly dangerous player within The Boys season 4 ending, while returning powerhouses like Cindy could reduce any resistance to bloody smears on the wall.

Even nominal heroes like Butcher have found themselves embracing a dark path forward, with Kessler’s influence setting up Butcher as one of the show’s antagonists going into The Boys season 5. However, there’s another character whose moral arc in season 4 ends in a grisly cliffhanger. If they follow the trajectory of their worst actions, then they could become The Boys‘ ultimate final threat. However, there’s still a chance their humanity could win out in the end and set them up to play a much more heroic (and potentially decisive) role in the upcoming final season of the series.

The Boys Sets Ryan Up As A Major Villain For Season 5

Ryan’s Latest Kill Could Push Him To Become A Villain Like His Father

The Boys‘ season 4 teases that Ryan’s story will embrace his dark side to become a villain in season 5, giving the show another monstrous Supe to contend with. Much of Butcher’s story in season 4 is rooted in questions of whether or not Ryan has any hope of being a heroic person instead of the heir apparent for Homelander. Despite his father’s attempts to push him towards brutality and control, Ryan’s soft side has remained prevalent. However, a confrontation with Butcher and Mallory in “Assassination Run” takes a lethal turn when Ryan lashes out in anger at Mallory, killing her.

Fleeing the scene, Ryan’s apparent decision to embrace his powers over his humanity pushes Butcher to embrace Kessler and move forward on a monstrous path. Ryan becoming more like Homelander has been an ever-present danger in The Boys since the character was introduced, especially because his power-set makes him arguably one of the only people on Earth who could contend with Homelander. If he joins his father, then Homelander’s Supe army gains a secret weapon. Even if Ryan becomes a wildcard, he could do a lot of damage to the world and those around him.

Ryan Already Proved He Can Be Stronger Than Homelander

Although Homelander has been long established as the most powerful person in The Boys, there have been several clues hinting that Ryan could eventually become more powerful than him. Just as Homelander became more powerful than his father, Ryan seems to be on a similar trajectory. Whereas Homelander’s lasers were enough to attract Stormfront in season 2, Ryan’s were able to severely wound her. Ryan’s casual strength is so great, he can easily fling people through the air without even realizing it. Ryan effectively operates on a power level that can’t be matched by the other characters in The Boys.

Homelander’s influence hinted how Ryan could embrace an attitude where he uses his powers as an overt threat to control others. Even if Ryan tried to use this for good causes, it could leave him with a greater superiority complex that justifies further horrible actions. Homelander’s influence and the way it could make Ryan’s abilities even more horrifying were why Mallory wanted to turn Ryan into a weapon to fight Homelander, and why her refusal to listen to Ryan and Butcher’s criticisms set up her own demise.

Why It’s Not Too Late For Ryan In The Boys Season 5

Redemption Is A Core Theme Of The Boys, And That Could Extend To Ryan

However, Ryan’s potential redemption would fit well into the themes that have been baked into the core of The Boys. Season 4 reinforced the idea that people need to let go of their anger and come together instead of lashing out. If Ryan follows that path instead of the vengeful one taken by Butcher or the brutal one embraced by Homelander, then he could become the show’s only true superhero. Ryan could take the lessons from Butcher and Becca to heart and refuse to become the monster that people fear he could transform into.

If he did so, Ryan could undercut Homelander’s arguments of inherent Supe superiority by proving the value in the humanity Becca raised him with. Even at his worst moments, Ryan is driven by genuine emotion and retains the positive influence Becca had on him. He knows what’s right and wrong, and tries to act on it. Ryan could become a wildcard in season 5 of The Boys, realizing his full potential and even be the one to stop Homelander — or he could align with his father and embrace villainy to become the show’s single most dangerous figure.

Even nominal heroes like Butcher have found themselves embracing a dark path forward, with Kessler’s influence setting up Butcher as one of the show’s antagonists going into The Boys season 5. However, there’s another character whose moral arc in season 4 ends in a grisly cliffhanger. If they follow the trajectory of their worst actions, then they could become The Boys‘ ultimate final threat. However, there’s still a chance their humanity could win out in the end and set them up to play a much more heroic (and potentially decisive) role in the upcoming final season of the series.