AceShowbiz - The Boys Season 5 is set to conclude Prime Video’s intense superhero saga, bringing the long-anticipated reckoning for the notorious villain, Homelander. With the show’s latest trailer hinting at Homelander’s potential death, including a nod to the comics’ iconic Oval Office scene, fans are eager to see how the series will handle his downfall. However, it seems unlikely that the show will follow the comics’ storyline exactly, particularly because having Black Noir kill Homelander again would feel anticlimactic after the surprising twist at the end of Season 3. Given the numerous changes The Boys has made from its source material, the series appears poised to explore different, possibly more satisfying, options for Homelander's defeat.

Following the premiere episodes of Season 5, the narrative clearly positions several powerful supes as potential candidates to take Homelander down. His growing instability and the established urgency to stop him set the stage for a dramatic showdown. While it’s probable that ending Homelander’s reign will require a collective effort due to his overwhelming power, these five characters stand out as the most likely to play major roles in his eventual defeat, whether in one-on-one combat or as part of a team.

5) Soldier Boy

Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy remains one of the few supes capable of standing toe-to-toe with Homelander. The recent episodes reveal a complex father-son dynamic, with Soldier Boy having personal reasons to retaliate against Homelander. The two-part Season 5 premiere shows Homelander dispatching Soldier Boy to confront Butcher, inadvertently placing him in the path of the supe virus. As Butcher convinces Soldier Boy that Homelander is exploiting him, Soldier Boy may seek vengeance, which could culminate in a rematch between the two supes. Despite this setup, Soldier Boy delivering the final blow to Homelander might feel somewhat underwhelming given the larger conflicts at play involving more central characters.

4) Starlight

Although Starlight is unlikely to defeat Homelander in a direct, one-on-one fight, she plays a critical role in undermining his authority and rallying opposition against his regime. As a leading figure in the resistance, Starlight’s influence and combat abilities will be essential in any collective effort to bring Homelander down. Her powers were notably demonstrated in the Season 5 premiere when she temporarily incapacitated Homelander. Moreover, Starlight’s increasing willingness to put herself at risk makes her a formidable threat to Homelander as the season progresses, even if she does not deliver the final strike.

3) Marie Moreau

Marie Moreau, a significant character from both The Boys and its spinoff Gen V, is positioned as a potential supe with the capability to challenge Homelander. Her unique power to manipulate blood could theoretically incapacitate or even kill him. Being one of the only other survivors of Odessa, her involvement in Homelander’s downfall seems inevitable. However, despite her increasing strength in Gen V Season 2, it remains uncertain whether she will be able to defeat Homelander outright. Additionally, her storyline is somewhat tangential to the main plot of The Boys, so a solo victory over Homelander might feel less impactful. Instead, like Starlight, she could be a vital piece in a larger plan to bring Homelander down.

2) Ryan Butcher

One of the most intriguing threats to Homelander is his own son, Ryan Butcher. Despite being less experienced and more compassionate than his father, Ryan possesses the same formidable powers. Having gone off the grid, it’s likely we will see a more developed and powerful version of Ryan return in Season 5. After the revelations at the end of Season 4, Ryan has strong motivations to confront Homelander. While it might be difficult for Ryan to defeat Homelander on his own, such an outcome is not impossible—especially if Billy Butcher's safety is at risk. Although their relationship ended on a strained note in Season 4, Ryan’s connection to Butcher could spur him into action against his father.

1) Billy Butcher

The character most closely associated with bringing down Homelander remains Billy Butcher. His bitter feud with Homelander lies at the core of the series, and Season 5 is expected to provide closure to their conflict. Butcher’s vengeful quest involves the use of a supe virus aimed at weakening Homelander, and he himself has acquired powers, making a final confrontation between the two supes highly compelling. Although the virus failed to kill Soldier Boy, Butcher’s ingenuity and relentless determination suggest he could find a way to defeat Homelander for good. His resourcefulness and sheer willpower make him the leading contender to deliver the ultimate blow to the series’ primary antagonist.

As The Boys Season 5 continues to unfold, the question of who will finally kill Homelander remains a central mystery. Whether it will be a single character or a coalition of powerful supes working together, the series promises a dramatic climax that will satisfy fans eager for justice. Who do you think will emerge victorious in this epic battle? Join the conversation in the ComicBook Forum and share your predictions.