The Boys dropped three episodes of the fourth season on Prime Video, and episode 3 closes out with the beginning of a deep dive into Homelander’s origin. “We’ll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here” is a tough day for Homelander because he discovers a traitor in Vought’s ranks, and worse, Ryan sneaks out to meet Butcher.
The latter, in particular, touches a raw nerve: one of his deepest insecurities. His anger makes him lash out against Ryan and compels him to meditate on the human condition.
1. How does Homelander Episode 3 End?
Homelander’s visions tell him to “go back to the start” in The Boys season 4, episode 3, and the ending talks about the Supe traveling back “home.” For most audience members, this likely means Vought Tower, which has been Homelander’s home for most of the running time of the Amazon show.
But Homelander’s tussling over Ryan brings Homelander’s childhood into play. When his reflections speak of home, they refer to the Vought lab where Homelander was made. The Supe’s flashback to a cold, sterile environment confirms as much.
With that in mind, the ending of The Boys season 4, episode 3 sets the stage for Homelander returning to his place of origin in episode 4. His purpose in going isn’t clear, but he feels it’s the best path for ridding himself of his humanity.
Homelander wants to have a relationship with his son because he never had a father. It is also because he craves the feeling of being loved, which was not accorded to him as he grew up.
2. What flashbacks does Homelander have in the end?
As Homelander decides to go “home” in The Boys season 4, episode 3, several flashbacks of his time in the Vought lab appear. There’s the ominous red door and glimpses of implements like surgical scalpels and open flame torches.
There’s also a very brief image of a woman, though there’s no real indication of who this person is. The audience can infer she had a significant role in Homelander’s upbringing and that he could confront her about it when he returns.
The other shots of Homelander as a child are frames indicating he was experimented upon. The images of the lab are cold and sterile. It is easy to see how joyless and loveless he had to be when growing up.
The Boys will expand on this further in future episodes, but those familiar with the comics already know the dark truth of how Homelander was experimented on growing up.
3. Why is Homelander Revisiting the Vought Lab?
Homelander’s heading back to the Vought lab he frequented as a child because he wants to eradicate the last remnants of his humanity. Indeed, the Supe’s vulnerability has been opportunistically exploited by Butcher throughout The Boys, and that’s only become more explicit in seasons 3 and 4.
Abandonment by his father, Soldier Boy seems to have impacted Homelander, and he’s desperate to finally have a relationship with Ryan. What puts Homelander over the edge, besides Ryan’s interest in Butcher, is that he feels rejected.
Due to the rejection sensitivity, Homelander wanted to free himself from such emotions of inadequacy and a need for love.
He has realized how his past factors in such things and believes it will solve the problem by confronting it. Knowing Homelander, all his attempts to confront his origin shall not be healthy, and all his perceived weaknesses will likely remain.
Only time will tell how Homelander comes to terms with his origin in The Boys season 4. Whatever may happen in the coming episodes, one thing is for sure: viewers will learn more about Vought and him.
4. Why Would Sister Sage Lobotomize Herself?
The best theory behind why Sister Sage would use a lobotomy oblast tool on herself is that she simply likely wanted to turn her brain off. Being the smartest person in the world is not easy, and she probably only has rare moments where her brain gets to rest.
Having witnessed a woman get lasered right in the face earlier that very same day must’ve gotten her high on vigilance. After that, who’s to say Homelander wouldn’t do that to her if he decides to throw a tantrum, which he does with some sort of regularity?
As for whether or not the damage from the lobotomy is permanent, the likeliest position would be no. She is a super, after all, and could conceivably have some kind of regenerative powers.
But she may not be gifted with those powers, on the other hand, she chose to withdraw herself from the box of tools Homelander uses deliberately.
The smartest person in the world may have concluded that there simply was no pleasing Homelander – something one might have thought she would have realized sooner.
If Sage is permanently stupider now, then her character cannot last much longer in the series. It’s hard to imagine Homelander being patient once he finds out what she’s done.
A development like that would be disappointing for some, as so many were already theorizing that Sage might secretly be playing the long game against Homelander and eventually end up in The Boys; it isn’t an outcome that seemingly fits in with permanent lobotomy.
5. Did Hughie Reconcile with his Mother?
The first three episodes have focused on Hughie and his mother, and I’d argue that it hasn’t been that emotionally impactful because there have been too many more important matters. After Hughie realizes he would have a legal battle if he wanted power of attorney over his father’s health, he takes a different outlook after a troubling day in the world of Supes.
By the End of the third episode, Hughie sees his mother exhausted at the hospital and decides to give her a chance to explain herself. She apologizes about his childhood and describes how she was depressed, which is why she left. This is a good turning point for their relationship as at least they can focus on the father, who is struggling with his health.
6. Is A-Train and The Boys Team Up Happening?
It feels predictable that eventually, A-Train would ally with The Boys. He has too much guilt and a need for purpose within him. He needs an exit. Mother’s Milk was the final meeting he needed to switch sides and become an informant.
A-Train fears Sister Sage the most, but the biggest question coming from this episode is: will A-Train buckle under pressure if Homelander sniffs him out? That’s always a fear.
7. Why Does Firecracker Hate Starlight?
Starlight has been confused by Firecracker’s attitude towards her since the beginning. Why is the Supe/YouTuber so enraged by the idea of her?
Well, Starlight gets her answer. They were in a beauty pageant together when they were thirteen, and her name was “Sparkle.” Starlight spread a rumor that she had a gangbang with the judges and shamed her. This was, of course, not true, but that left a mark on Firecracker, and she was hurt a lot.
Well, Starlight does apologize for that, though. Holding a grudge over someone years later is weird, especially when it comes to world’s fate and politics.
8. About The Boys
The Boys is an American satirical superhero streaming television series developed by Eric Kripke for Prime Video. Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which was originally published by DC Comics under their Wildstorm imprint before moving to Dynamite Entertainment, it follows the eponymous team of vigilantes as they combat superpowered individuals who abuse their abilities.
The show is a satirical take on the superhero genre and showcases a world where superheroes are corporatized and controlled by companies. What happens when these superheroes step out of line and rub some boys the wrong way, is the story.
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