After three long seasons, we can safely say that Antony Starr’s Homelander is indeed one sick SOB in Eric Kripke’s The Boys. Some believed he might find some sort of redemption upon discovering his son, Ryan. But nope! Their relationship is problematic, and The Boys Season 4 hints at an even more disturbing brand of selfish fatherhood from the evil supe.
In his recent talk with ScreenRant, Starr discussed the problematic father-son relationship between Homelander and Ryan in The Boys Season 4. This is what he said:
“How is Homelander treating fatherhood? I think it’s an interesting thing. I just not long ago realized how selfish he is about the whole thing. I’ve always sort of looked at it as a desperate need for connection and all that. But really this season, if you look at it through one lens, it’s very selfishly about legacy and what he wants his son to be. And it’s a very controlling way; his parenting is quite controlling as much. There is a very genuine love there, but it’s really mashed up with some horrific parenting choices.”
Based on what we have watched so far, it is visible that Homelander does not actually love Ryan. But he loves the fact that his son possesses powers like him, making Ryan a valuable asset for Homelander in Season 4.
What makes Ryan such a dangerous character in The Boys is that he is one of those rare supes who genetically inherited superpowers, unlike Homelander, who is a product of a lab experiment conducted by Vought. His abilities have the potential to make him as strong and dangerous as his psychotic father in the future. He may emerge more powerful than his father upon growing up, who knows?
Homelander may not show his love towards Ryan. But he is not stupid. He values his son’s powers. And he may look to empower himself through his son in the fourth season.
On the other hand, we also know that Homelander can do anything (we literally mean anything) to achieve his goals. He once threw Ryan off of a rooftop to check his powers, despite the latter begging him not to.
Ryan’s relationships with both Homelander and Billy Butcher are complex. Billy cares for him deeply, driven by his love for Ryan’s mother, Becca. In contrast, Homelander empowers him and supports his powers but does not give a damn about his son’s interests or desires. We do not even know what Ryan has been going through. After all, he is just a teenage boy. His emotional instability could lead to devastating consequences in Season 4.
The Boys Season 4 will premiere on Prime Video on June 13. Stay tuned for more updates.
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