As “The Boys” heads toward its final season, fans are buzzing with theories and speculations.
One of the most intriguing theories revolves around Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, and the dark path his character might take.
Let’s dive into what might be in store for Butcher in Season 5, based on recent events and hints from the comics.
A New Player: Joe Kessler
In Season 4, a new character, Joe Kessler, is introduced.
Joe Kessler is played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and he is a former CIA buddy of Butcher’s.
However, it is revealed that Kessler died years ago in the desert. The man seen is a creation of Butcher’s mind, brought on by his Temp V-induced cancer.
This twist adds a new layer to Butcher’s character and sets up a dark journey.
If Joe Kessler, as a manifestation, represents Butcher’s darker instincts, then allowing Kessler to guide his decisions might indeed be a form of psychological and physical symbiosis.
This could explain why Butcher appears healthier when using his powers—his mind and body are aligning more closely with the aggressive, survivalist instincts Kessler embodies.
Butcher’s New Powers and Health Reversal
As the season goes on, Butcher’s powers and their effects become clearer.
In the finale, Butcher uses tendrils from his chest to kill Victoria Neuman.
Surprisingly, while using these powers, Butcher looks healthier, not like someone with only a year to live.
This hints at a deeper link between his health and his powers.
The tendrils might not be inherently harmful. Instead, their use seems to correlate with a temporary restoration of Butcher’s health, suggesting that his body might be drawing on some deeper, possibly supernatural, energy.
The Final Season and Comic Book Parallels
The big theory is that the end of Season 6 (the final season of The Boys) will end with how the Comic book ends, Butcher turning and beginning to kill off the remaining members of the Boys, Kessler finally taking full control of Butcher’s decisions. Leading to Hughie killing Butcher once and for all.
Butcher’s Descent
In the comics, Butcher’s trajectory does take a dark turn as he starts eliminating the remaining members of The Boys, believing that all Supes and those associated with them are a threat.
The show has already deviated in many ways from the comics, but retaining this dark ending could provide a dramatic and fitting conclusion.
Kessler’s Control
If Kessler fully takes over Butcher’s psyche, it could lead to a situation where Butcher’s actions become increasingly ruthless and detached from his original motivations.
This possession or influence could drive him to eliminate perceived threats, including his allies.
Hughie’s Role
Hughie’s relationship with Butcher has always been central to the narrative. Hughie being forced to confront and ultimately kill Butcher would be a tragic yet poignant culmination of their story.
It would also echo the themes of power, corruption, and the personal cost of vengeance that “The Boys” explores.
Will Butcher’s dark journey lead to a dramatic showdown with The Boys in the final season? Stay tuned!
“The Boys” has always explored dark and complex themes. Butcher’s possible fall into madness would be a fitting end to his story.
This theory, if true, would provide a powerful and tragic conclusion, staying true to the series’ tone and paying tribute to the comics.
