The following contains spoilers for The Boys season 4 episode 1, “The Ministry of Dirty Tricks,” now streaming on Prime Video
Summary
The Boysseason 4 reveals exactly why Victoria Neuman was after the Supe Virus inGen V. Victoria Neuman is one ofThe Boysmost deceptively dangerous characters. A genial seeming politician, Neuman is secretly a scheming Supe looking to gain more power beyond her ability to make people’s heads explode with a thought. Having allied herself with Homelander in the previous season, Neuman has cemented herself as one ofThe Boys' most devious characters.
This extends toNeuman’s crossover appearance fromThe BoystoGen V, which saw her claim one of the show’s most potent weapons. However,the motivation behind this decision is a lot more secretive than it may first appear, and it could make her into a much more dangerous wildcard going forward. Even if she restrains herself from using it, the existence of it is already known to two ofThe Boysseason 4most ruthless characters. This could help set up the kind of cataclysmic threat that played out in the original comics, and teases a dark future forThe Boysas it approaches its season 5 endgame.
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The Boys Season 4, Episode 1 Confirms Why Neuman Took Gen V’s Virus
Neuman Needed A Weapon That Could Counter Homelander
The Boysseason 4 directly connects to the ending ofGen V, revealing thatVictoria Neuman took the Supe virus for protection against Homelander. One of the big twists ofGen Vfocused on the reveal that the Goldkin University was actually a front for a lab dubbed the Woods. Controlled by Dr. Indira Shetty, the lab was focused on developing a superhero virus that could wipe out all Supes across the planet. While much of the school was decimated, Neuman was able to procure the only viable version of the Supe virus for unknown reasons.
“The Ministry of Dirty Tricks” reveals that Neuman has kept the virus a secret from Homelander, and intends to use it as insurance against him. Although Neuman and Homelander are allies now, it’s clear that Neuman wants to escape his grasp. It makes sense too, as she’s firmly aware of the kind of horrible actions he’s taken behind the scenes. Especially with her daughter as a potential target of Homelander’s cruelty, Neuman would want a weapon to use against him in case of emergency. However, she’s not the only one who knows about the virus.
How Butcher Knows The Virus Is Too Weak To Stop Homelander
Butcher Thinks The Virus Could Be Stronger
The true complication ofGen V’s season 1’s ending came in the stinger, which revealed Butcher and Mallory were investigating the Woods. As he reveals to Neuman in “Department of Dirty Tricks,” Butcher and Mallory have determined that the virus exists, and could be used as a strong weapon against the Supes.With the weight of the government behind them, the pair would likely be able to study the research from Godolkin, especially in the aftermath of the college descending into chaos inGen V.
This likely explains why Butcher is aware that the virus is potent, but not strong enough to fell someone as powerful as Homelander. That doesn’t make it any less dangerous in the short term, though.Neuman has the ability to likely kill any other Supe who comes after her, ranging from Homelander’s allies to members of the Boys. However, Butcher’s comment that the virus isn’t strong enough “yet” implies that he has some ideas on how to improve on the virus and make it more dangerous.
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The Boys Season 4 Sets Up Butcher Using The Virus For Himself
How Butcher Might Become More Dangerous Than Ever In Season 4
The trailers forThe Boysseason 4, along with Butcher’s clear intent in the episode to find a way to use the virus against Homelander. It’s the kind of tool a largely unscrupulous figure like Butcher would be happy to use, even if it risked spreading to people he cared about.This actually reflects the final stretch of the originalThe Boyscomics, where Butcher went down a dark path after gaining access to a weapon that could kill anyone with Compound V in their system.
The potential alliance between Butcher and Neuman may have been thrown off by the end of the episode, butButcher’s awareness of the virus means he and Mallory might be working on their own variant of it. He could commit to taking the virus from her, potentially wasting the precious little time he has left beforeButcher’s teased death. It’s a harrowing reveal, especially in a morally grey setting likeThe Boys. Neuman’s motivations for taking the virus inGen Vmake sense, but it might inspire deadly and far-reaching consequences inThe Boys.
The Boys
Cast
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
