‘The Boys’: Eric Kripke Reveals What It Would Take to Push Homelander Over the Edge
The Boys is making its way through its third season on Prime Video, and Homelander (Antony Starr) is getting more and more dangerous as the series continues. The leader of The Seven always felt slightly untouchable, but his actions throughout The Boys Season 3 have pushed him into all-new territory. Still, he hasn’t gone completely off the rails just yet — but showrunner Eric Kripke knows what could change that.
[Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Boys Season 3.]
Homelander gets more dangerous in ‘The Boys’ Season 3
The Boys has never painted Homelander as a kind-hearted Supe, but Antony Starr’s character has gotten scarier as the series has continued. In season 1, his corruption and self-interest feel slightly more reined in. He still does irredeemable things, like taking down a whole plan of innocent people, but he has other characters to keep him in check.
By the time The Boys Season 3 arrives, Homelander’s in a very different place — and he’s willing to do anything to maintain his seat of power. With Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) out of the picture, he can and does get away with the unthinkable.
Of course, his recent warning to Starlight (Erin Moriarty) highlights that Homelander could get a lot worse. When she threatens to share the footage of him taking down an airplane, he warns her that he’ll destroy the world. According to him, he’ll have nothing left to lose.
And with Homelander inching closer and closer to the edge, it seems likely we’ll see him tip over it in the future. Showrunner Eric Kripke recently spoke about the character’s journey, and he revealed what it would take for him to fully lose composure. He also promised that it’s a matter of when it happens — not if.
Eric Kripke reveals what it would take to fully push Homelander over the edge
Although Homelander’s behavior is getting more worrisome and erratic as The Boys Season 3 continues, he hasn’t completely lost control — at least, not according to showrunner Eric Kripke.
During an interview with the Writers Guild of America West, Kripke spoke about Homelander’s journey in season 3 — and suggested there’s one thing that could push the character to make good on his threats to Starlight (Erin Moriarty):
“He isn’t so much evolving as he’s devolving, I would say. Right now, he still needs love. He still needs the adoration of fans and the approval and love of his son. There are all of these things that he requires that, if he became a true monster, he wouldn’t have. So we’re spending all the seasons teaching him that he doesn’t need those things one after another, after another. And then once he finally realizes he doesn’t want love or approval from anybody, then obviously, that’s when the big endgame starts.”
It’s a terrifying thought, but it makes sense for Homelander’s character. He spends The Boys‘ early seasons trying to win approval from his fans and loved ones. That continues to drive him into season 3. Losing his support would eliminate his need to feign morality. And if Homelander loses his remaining humanity, the results could be Earth-shattering.
Will the big shift happen during ‘The Boys’ Season 3?
In addition to teasing what would cause Homelander to completely abandon his humanity, Eric Kripke promised that The Boys will get there. It’s just a matter of when.
“So the writers know — and Antony [Starr] is a big part of this as well — that, eventually, whenever the series reaches its climax, this guy is going to go full sociopath, and he has to be stopped before some kind of apocalyptic event,” Kripke explained. “That’s what we’re building towards.”
It’s unclear if that will happen in The Boys Season 3 — but with Amazon renewing the show for season 4, it doesn’t seem likely. Although an “apocalyptic event” would certainly make for a nice finale cliffhanger, we’re over halfway through the current outing — and Homelander’s fans still seem enamored with the Supe.
Perhaps the looming showdown with Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) will change their minds. We’ll have to wait and how Homelander fares as we approach the upcoming finale. Whatever happens, fans can anticipate high stakes and high tensions.
The first five episodes of The Boys Season 3 are currently streaming on Prime Video.
