‘The Boys’ Creator Explains How Far Butcher May Go to Defeat Homelander

After four seasons of chaos, off-the-wall decision-making and attempts to one-up the world's strongest television (anti) superhero, things may get even more unhinged in Season 5—at least for one star.

Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, was the initial leader of 'The Boys,' and he's held that role sporadically in recent seasons, but hardly at all in Season 4. Butcher's usage of Temp-V, a serum that gives people superhero abilities for a brief period, ultimately destroyed his body.

Butcher's declining health after using Temp-V and his decision to continue to do so have sparked questions about his storyline's direction in the final season. During a recent interview with TV Insider, The Boys creator, Eric Kripke, was asked if there's "any shred of goodness" left in Butcher after turning full Supe for the final stretch of Season 4.

Karl Urban, from the series 'The Boys,' poses at the Variety Studio at SXSW 2022 at JW Marriott Austin.

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Although Kripke wouldn't give any spoilers, his answer offered at least a glimpse of how bad things may have to get for Butcher to take down the person he's chased since Season 1: Homelander.

"Is he a man or a monster? And does he have to turn himself into a monster in order to defeat Homelander? And is there any part of him left that’s still human?" Kripke responded. "I think what you’re asking is the big question of the series, and so I don’t want to give that away. It’s a big concern."

Homelander's case as the strongest force of the entire show is nearly impossible to argue. In turn, is there any legitimate reason to believe Butcher, or any singular person—superhero or non-superhero, could defeat him?

'The Boys' has never pulled punches; fans have seen it push the limits in multiple fashions. Most importantly, it's never put a focus on the "good guys" emerging victorious, and considering where things stand for Butcher, there's a debate over whether he's even considered to be on that side of the fence, as Kripke insinuated.

If Butcher is going to go toe-to-toe with Homelander, which continues to sound like an expected outcome, the debate over whether he remains "human" or a "superhero" may need to go out the window quickly.

Related: 'The Boys' Creator Makes Big Homelander, Butcher Admission Ahead of Final Season