As Prime Video’s The Boys races toward its long awaited finale, the internet is spiralling with theories about who survives, who dies, and what kind of future awaits the world of the show after it all ends. Over five seasons, the series has built a reputation for refusing neat endings or easy victories, and fans are expecting the finale to lean fully into that chaos. From Homelander’s possible downfall to Billy Butcher’s inevitable self destruction, here are some of the biggest theories currently taking over fan discussions online.
1. Homelander Isn’t the Real Villain, The System Is
One of the most popular theories is that the finale will prove Antony Starr’s Homelander was never the true villain of the story. Fans believe that Homelander is simply the most dangerous product of the Vought machine, not the machine itself. Even if Homelander dies, the system that created him would still exist, ready to manufacture the next face of fear and power. Many viewers think the finale will end on a deliberately uneasy note, showing that taking down one man cannot undo decades of corruption overnight. Regardless of what fate awaits Homelander, many fans still cannot believe that Antony Starr has never received an Emmy nomination for a performance widely considered to be one of the most defining portrayals in recent years.
2. Soldier Boy Could Finally Depower Homelander
After Episode 6 revealed Soldier Boy successfully removing Bombsight’s powers using his radioactive blast, fans immediately connected the dots. One major theory suggests Soldier Boy will eventually use the same attack on Homelander, stripping him of his powers long enough for The Boys to finally kill him. Some viewers are already convinced this is the only possible way the show can realistically defeat someone who now feels almost godlike.
3. Billy Butcher Was Never Meant to Be Redeemed
The closer the finale gets, the more fans believe Billy Butcher’s story is heading toward tragedy, not redemption. Since Season 1, Karl Urban’s Butcher has walked the line between vengeance and complete self destruction, and many viewers feel the show has intentionally pushed him too far to come back from it. Rather than a heroic ending, fans are predicting a finale where Butcher either dies alongside Homelander or survives only after becoming the very thing he hates most.
4. Ryan Could Become Homelander’s Undoing
Another growing theory revolves around Ryan. Fans believe Homelander’s biggest weakness has never been physical strength, but emotional dependence. Some speculate Ryan may ultimately reject his father completely, leading to Homelander’s emotional collapse or even directly causing his defeat. Others believe Ryan and Hughie could eventually stop Butcher as well, breaking the cycle of violence the show has spent years building toward.
5. The Finale May End With Total Destruction
Perhaps the darkest theory circulating online imagines a finale where almost everyone dies. One Reddit theory predicts Butcher could trigger a catastrophic attack meant to destroy Homelander, only for Homelander to survive completely alone in an empty world with nobody left to worship him. Another theory imagines both Butcher and Homelander dying together during one final brutal showdown, leaving behind a world too damaged to truly celebrate victory.
With just the finale left, anticipation around The Boys has hit an all time high. Fan theories are flooding the internet as viewers try to figure out what could possibly await at the end of one of the most unpredictable shows in recent years.
The Boys is based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, who also serve as executive producers, and developed by executive producer and showrunner Eric Kripke. Besides them, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Phil Sgriccia, Michaela Starr, Paul Grellong, David Reed, Judalina Neira, Jessica Chou, Gabriel Garcia, Ori Marmur, Ken F. Levin, and Jason Netter also serve as the show’s executive producers. The Boys boasts a phenomenal ensemble cast, including Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell, and Colby Minifieis, among others, in key roles. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, with Kripke Enterprises, Original Film, and Point Grey Pictures, the first seven episodes of The Boys Season 5 are now streaming exclusively on Prime Video, with the finale dropping on May 20. This series is available to stream in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages.