The Boys season 5, episode 3 recap: Easter eggs, cameos, and deaths

The Boys rumbles on this week with a third episode packed with callbacks, cameos, and plenty of the red stuff.

With Homelander reaching out for his destiny and The Boys' endgame being sketched out with a renewed focus on V1, it's a good time to cover what just went down in 'Every One of You Sons of Bitches', from Gen V references, milk baths, and more.

So, join us as we first recap the key story beats of The Boys season 5, episode 3, before drilling down deeper into the show's history with a round-up of Easter eggs, cameos, and a quick body count to see who perished in the latest episode on Prime Video.

For more, check out what's new on Prime Video this month, and all the latest on timings with The Boys season 5 release schedule.

The Boys season 5, episode 3 'Every One of You Sons of Bitches' recap

The episode opens in Russia with a team of Special Forces looking for a CIA black site. While there, they are attacked by Ryan, who murders everyone, including the Imagine Dragons-loving soldier.

Back in the US, Soldier Boy is officially announced as a member of the Seven. Homelander then drops a surprise of his own, revealing to the world that Soldier Boy is his father.

The Boys then discover Soldier Boy survived the Supe-killing virus due to V1, a formula "10 times more potent" than the one used for today's Supes. Homelander isn't so lucky, however, because V1 isn't in his bloodstream. Dr. Shah suggests there might be a vial in the wild, however.

Then, The Boys act on Annie's suggestion to meet former Vought CEO, Stan Edgar. Despite Stan's protestations that the gang is still working with Butcher, he whisks them away to an underground bunker. There, they meet Maverick, the son of Translucent (the invisible member of the Seven who died via ass-bomb way back in the first season).

Thankfully for Hughie, Stan told Maverick that Homelander killed his dad.

Homelander is out having issues of his own, hallucinating Madelyn – complete in heavenly garb – reaching out and speaking to him. She gives him a prophecy that he will become immortal and more loved than Jesus: "one true God." To achieve this, Madelyn says Homelander must "rid the world of the wicked."

Homelander, now injected with the idea of "destiny", lashes out at Soldier Boy using his own immortality to "drink himself numb."

Outside of Stan's bunker, Victoria's daughter Zoe meets Ryan. Zoe wants to kill Butcher, but Ryan doesn't think it's a good plan. The two argue, with Zoe heading back inside. Ryan discovers Butcher looking on and the two engage in a terse conversation about killing Homelander by throwing the Supe-killing virus at his father.

Mother's Milk uncovers an army hospital where Frederick Vought worked, a test facility for V1.

Meanwhile, Zoe escapes the bunker and meets her father, Dr. Shah. He crashes out after learning about Victoria and destroys the Supe virus. Frenchie aims to kill him, but Kimiko steps in between them.

After some heavy flirting about their respective firepower, Soldier Boy and Firecracker have sex.

The Boys hatch a plan to stop a patrolling Black Noir, with a grenade from Maverick. Dogknott quickly foils the plot, with Deep telling Maverick that it was Butcher's gang that killed his father.

As The Boys react to the situation after glimpsing it on the security system, Stan betrays them by locking them in the bunker. He is quickly apprehended by Black Noir. The Deep then gasses his Tesla, knocking out Black Noir and Stan Edgar.

Maverick fights Hughie with Dogknott attacking Mother's Milk and Starlight. Cindy arrives on the scene and kills Maverick. Starlight then snaps Cindy's neck.

In the episode's final moments, Homelander and Ryan meet. Homelander tells his son that he is set to live forever. But Ryan has more important things to discuss, including whether Homelander raped his mother.

Ryan tries to fight his father, but Homelander quickly overpowers him. Homelander repeatedly punches his son but stops short of killing him – a decision he may come to regret. But with Stan being delivered to his doorstep, it appears he has V1 on his mind…

The Boys season 5, episode 3 Easter eggs and cameos

V1 - A superior version of the Compound V formula used to create Supes, V1 (or V-One) was first introduced during flashbacks in Gen V, but now appears to be the object Homelander is striving for to achieve immortality.

Attack on Vought Tower - Early on in the episode, Firecracker's reintroduction of Soldier Boy comes with a cover-up, as Starlight is blamed for the Attack on Vought Tower. In reality, the third season finale's explosive set-piece saw Soldier Boy aim to kill Homelander.

Shari Lewis - Trust Soldier Boy to fail to make a reference from the 21st Century. In his triumphant vision of how he will lead the Seven when Homelander is old and gray, he mentions a NSFW act on Shari Lewis, a famous puppeteer from the 1950s.

Zoe - Victoria Neumann's daughter returns in this episode and is being looked after by her grandfather, Stan Edgar.

Marie Moreau - While God U's finest alumni may not appear in this episode, it is revealed that Marie set up the meeting between Annie and Stan.

Stan Edgar - Yes, Giancarlo Esposito's CEO is back on the scene in The Boys season 5. During a moment of Homelander-induced psychosis, we also see an old moment of him calling the Seven leader a failure.

Maverick and Translucent - We didn't see this one coming. Invisible Supe Translucent died way back in the first season and, here, his son Maverick is introduced. We don't see his alpaca girlfriend, however. Probably for the best.

Madelyn - Homelander has officially lost it. Elisabeth Shue's Madelyn shows up in a religious-inspired vision during one moment in Vought Tower, sending him on a mission of hate and destruction. That almost certainly won't end well.

Dogknott - A returning character from Gen V, Dogknott is a thinly-veiled parody of Dog the Bounty Hunter, but at least gets a beatdown for his troubles here.

Who dies in The Boys season 5, episode 3?

There are two deaths in The Boys season 5, episode 3.

Maverick – exploded by Cindy

Cindy – neck snapped by Starlight

Which Supes appear in The Boys season 5, episode 3?

• Homelander
• Black Noir
• The Deep
• Butcher
• Zoe
• Ryan
• Dogknott
• Maverick
• Cindy
• Starlight
• Soldier Boy
• Firecracker
• Sister Sage

For more, check out our picks for the best shows on Prime Video and the best movies on Prime Video.