the boys Season 5, episode 3 is now available on Prime Video, and its fanbase was left divided over a key moment in the latest entry of the Amazon TV show.
In fact, in this week’s installment, titled ‘All You Motherfuckers,’ we almost see another Supe lose his life at the hands of Homelander. And while some viewers are glad that the show’s Big Bad didn’t kill said individual, others argue that Homelander should have delivered the final blow for, well, reasons I’ll explain shortly.
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Is Ryan dead in The Boys season 5?
No. Ryan, son of Homelander and Billy Butcher’s dead wife Becca, survives the near-fatal encounter with his deranged and incredibly powerful father.
Furious at Billy’s decision and, after learning that Homelander sexually assaulted Becca many years earlier (a traumatic incident that led to Ryan’s conception) in the boys At the end of Season 4, an outraged Ryan finally confronts Homelander alone.
Ryan manages to control his anger while the couple chats. However, when Homelander mentions that he has found a way to achieve immortality through V1, also known as the Supe-creating serum that was first given to Homelander’s father, Soldier Boy, Ryan loses control and attacks Homelander. The latter tries to calm his son down, but eventually, Homelander loses his cool and uses his own superhuman abilities to overpower Ryan and nearly beat him to death.
Fortunately for Ryan, Homelander doesn’t deliver the final blow as, in a moment of mercy on the part of the usually impulsive Supe, he simply decides to leave. Not long after, Billy finds Ryan seriously injured where Homelander left him, and fortunately, Ryan is still breathing. The wait continues, then, for the the boys season 5 to claim his next victim.
Why The Boys fans can’t agree on whether Homelander should have killed Ryan
This made me hold my breath the entire time it was so intense. You can tell that Homelander decided to continually hit Ryan because it made him bleed 🫢😠#TheBoys https://t.co/ZSlAwmLPWuApril 15, 2026
After the boys‘ latest episode aired on one of the world’s best streaming services, its fanbase hasn’t been able to agree on whether it was the right decision to let Ryan live.
At first glance, the argument of those who say Homelander should have killed him may surprise you, but they have their reasons.
On Reddit, user ztoff27 wrote: “I feel like they should have gone ahead and killed Ryan here. It would really make it clear that there is nothing stopping Homelander anymore.”
Able_Contribution407 agreed, saying, “Yeah, same thing. That would have been a great moment. Hopefully they’ll have something interesting for Ryan later to justify not doing it.” Meanwhile, on the ResetEra forums, user Stavo opined, “I wish they would commit to Homelander killing Ryan because Butcher screwed up.”
Recent episode of The Boys. Hopefully this will actually make Ryan finally team up with others against Homelander and stop trying to go it alone. pic.twitter.com/qUqb7dW4WfApril 15, 2026
Other viewers breathed a sigh of relief that Ryan had lived to tell the tale.
“I really thought Homelander was about to crush Ryan’s skull,” Redditor Quinn_Maeve wrote. “Me too. I was scared too, look when the butcher showed up,” jalapenopizza_ responded. “I thought he was going to be dead and the next plot point would be for Marie to revive him,” Nice_Reading5272 added.
Of course, like all the Supes that populate this universe, Ryan’s fate is yet to be determined. Will he perish along with everyone else with a version of Compound V flowing through his veins, or will he miraculously emerge alive?
“I knew he wasn’t going to die, but still, the way the plot is going, he, Butcher, and Homelander are all going to die together. The only reason the writer had Ryan kill those Russians was so no one would feel bad for him,” cganimate mused, to which EdgyBoi79 responded, “I really doubt Ryan ends up dying. I feel like the show should end on a note of hope for both Supes and non-Supes, and that Ryan be the Superman.” “This show is a hopeful ending to Supe too good to pass up.”
“I’ve really come to like the theory that Ryan will become the real Superman in this universe after all the atrocious shit Vought has trashed. [sic]”vcmac surmised. “The idea of ​​him getting better and doing so despite the machine, rather than because of it, would be an optimistic ending after what will likely be a bloodbath. I never cared much for his character, but this episode really won me over. “Accepting his own death and facing his father is what a true superhero would do.”
However, lovecenarioikon objected to that possible ending, saying, “I think the best fate for Ryan is for him to lose his powers. He mentions in the episode that he hurts everyone he meets, and although he says it openly, it’s all because of his status and powers. Him being powerless and living a normal life would be the perfect ending for him.”
What do you think will happen to Ryan at the end of the show? Let me know in the comments.
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