Why didn't Homelander kill [redacted] in The Boys season 5 episode 3? And how that decision could come back to haunt him

Another episode of The Boys season 5 has landed on Prime Video, and although this one is more on the dialogue-heavy side and seems to be laying the groundwork for future episodes, the new installment still packs a punch right at the end. No, literally.

At the end of The Boys season 5 episode 3, we finally see who Homelander was pummeling in The Boys season 5 trailer. However, after giving his unlucky victim a beating, the Supe flew away without finishing them off. This is very unlikely behaviour for the usually dispassionate leader, so why did he do it? Scroll on for our biggest theories on the Supe's motives, and why that decision could come back to bite him later on this season.

Warning: the following contains major spoilers for The Boys season 5 episode 3, so turn back now if you're not caught up yet.

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We missed him in the first two episodes, but Ryan Butcher is finally back on our screens. However, the young Supe didn't have the most pleasant return to the fold. Partway through episode 3, Ryan reunites with his stepdad of sorts, Billy Butcher, and after a rather frosty reception, the two concoct a plan to kill Homelander. Butcher wants Ryan to use himself as bait and expose Homelander to the Supe-killing Virus. He eventually agrees, as much like Butcher, he also wants to get revenge for his mom, Rebecca (who Homelander sexually assaulted, creating Ryan).

However, the plan is put on hold when ex-Vought scientist Sameer Shah destroys the batches of Virus he had made for Butcher. When his daughter Zoe walked into his makeshift laboratory alive and well, Shah found out that the potty-mouthed Brit had lied to him about her death, and that Butcher was actually the one who killed his lover Victoria Neuman. But that's not enough to stop Ryan, as the laser-eyed teen took matters into his own hands and lured Homelander to an old convention center.

Upon arrival, Homelander is under the impression that Ryan wants to patch up their relationship, but after Ryan accuses his father of attacking his mother, pushes him around, and tries to laser him, Homelander loses his cool. The Supe throws Ryan to the ground and starts laying into him, turning his face into mush, and then leaving him behind. However, just when we thought Ryan was dead, Butcher finds him right at the end of the episode, bloodied and bruised, but still alive.

So why didn't Homelander go through with the murder, or does the Supe actually believe his son is dead? Let's get into it.

Why didn't Homelander kill Ryan?

The glaringly obvious reason why Homelander chose not to laser Ryan's head off is probably that, at the end of the day, Ryan is his son. Throughout the series, we have seen Homelander desperately search for love and a family of his own. The Supe was born into a cold lab and used as a weapon by Vought. He technically has no real parents. Soldier Boy wasn't even aware that his DNA was used to create Homelander until he returned to the US in The Boys season 3. With that in mind, it would be pretty shocking to see Homelander destroy the only piece of family he has.

However, on the other hand, maybe Homelander does think that Ryan is dead. A few punches from Homelander would be enough to kill any Supe, and the leader was not holding back by any means. Compared to when he effortlessly disembowelled the real Black Noir in season 3, Homelander was using all of his might when punching his son. This makes us wonder, is Ryan more powerful than we thought?

What does Ryan's survival mean for The Boys season 5?

Homelander may have made a massive mistake in not killing Ryan. If the teen recovers in time, any feelings he once had for his biological dad will surely have disintegrated, and the young'un may be inclined to fully join Team Butcher. This could spell trouble for Homelander, as season 5 is already driving home the fact that the Supe is aging. With Homelander getting older and perhaps weaker, who better to kill him than the newer, shinier, and perhaps more powerful version of him?

Homelander has added Ryan to his already stacked list of enemies, which just keeps growing with each episode. After murdering A-Train in The Boys season 5 episode 1, the Supe leader has shown he is not afraid to exterminate ex-members of the Seven, putting The Deep, Black Noir, Sister Sage, and Firecracker at risk if they step out of line. This could cause them to retaliate before it's too late. Plus, Homelaner is not on the best of terms with his biological dad, Soldier Boy. After he was sent after Butcher in The Boys season 5 episode 2 and exposed to the Virus, the retro Supe thinks that Homelander tried to infect him on purpose, as an experiment of sorts.

Although Ryan was not strong enough to best his dad in episode 3, with the right training and motivations (which he has enough of now), he could be a worthy contender. Before season 5 hit screens, we listed Ryan as one of the potential Supes who could pull the plug on Homelander. Butcher being the one to whack the Supe is a little too predictable. How serendipitous would it be to see Homelander meet his end at the hands of the only thing the destroyer has ever created?

The Boys season 5 is releasing weekly on Prime Video. For more, check out our The Boys season 5 release schedule and our The Boys season 1-4 recap.