The following contains spoilers for The Boys, season 4 episode 10, "Assassination Run," now streaming on Prime Video
Summary
- Butcher's power boost may not have cured his cancer, leaving his fate uncertain.
- Butcher's darker side emerges, giving him powers but Kessler's presence implies that his cancer remains.
- Butcher's looming death adds tension as he becomes the final antagonist in the show's endgame.
Butcher to go down a much more villainous path in The Boys.
This comes to fruition in the ending of The Boys' season 4, "Assassination Run," which sees Butcher embrace his powers to defy the Boys and murder Victoria Neuman. Having claimed the Supe virus in the process, Butcher has officially gained a way to finally kill Homelander (and a whole lot of other people in the process). However, it's worth considering if this power boost cured his cancer, or is rather just a result of it. Here's the status of Butcher's cancer after the events of "Assassination Run," and what it means for the character in season 5.
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The Boys season 4 has doubled down on The Deep being a terrible person, with this scene confirming that the series will never redeem him.
Butcher Looks Much Healthier After Giving Into His Darker Self
Butcher's Embrace Of His Dark Side May Have Reinvorgated Him
The status of Butcher's cancer at the end of season 4's "Assassination Run" remains a mystery only season 5 can answer, but the character seems far healthier (while still dealing with the implications of Kessler's continued existence) Butcher has been dealing a terminal cancer prognosis all season long. It's also been teased earlier in the season that Butcher wasn't able to access his full potential, however, except through Kessler. Kessler is a figment of Butcher's dying brain and an embodiment of the tumor, as well as an embodiment of his worst wrathful impulses.
After failing to prevent a confrontation between Ryan and Mallory that turned fatal, Butcher embraced Kessler, allowing him to confront his allies with a seemingly renewed vigor. It seems that by embracing his abilities, Butcher has gained the natural endurance and strength most Supes have displayed, regardless of otherwise unrelated powers. Butcher's dark side appears to be fully in charge, meaning he seems to be getting the full benefits from his power boost. However, this doesn't make him immortal.
Butcher's Cancer Is Still There When The Boys Season 4 Ends
Butcher's Cancer Has Taken The Form Of Kessler, And Is Still Around
There's no indication that Butcher's newfound abilities will make him impervious to his tumor, however. Just because Butcher now has new resistance he lacked just a day ago with his powers, the cancer is still in his brain. Kessler is a literal personification of Butcher's illness. Kessler's continued presence and influence on Butcher implies the cancer is still very much within him. With that in mind, it's worth considering how this means Butcher's fatal prognosis is likely still at play.
It's likely that Butcher still only has a little bit of time left before the cancer kills him, even with his newfound abilities. Just because someone has superpowers, they aren't immortal or eternal — a point reiterated frequently throughout the season in Homelander's storyline. Even with Kessler running the show, there's likely only a little bit of time left before Butcher expires. However, this does nothing to negate the danger posed by Butcher going into season 5, and may potentially make him an even greater threat.
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It Doesn't Really Matter If Butcher Is Still Dying
Butcher Likely Doesn't Expect To Survive His Ultimate Plans
In the long run, it likely doesn't matter much if Butcher has been cured of his cancer or not. Even beyond the confirmation that the show will be concluding with season 5, The Boys season 4 ending sets up the show's endgame. Butcher's use of the Supe Virus, if successful, could wipe out scores of people. He'll be going up against a Homelander who has never been more powerful. Even his former allies in the Boys, if they can escape their own predicaments, will likely stand against him. It doesn't seem like he intends to survive season 5.
Butcher has positioned himself as the final antagonist of The Boys, similar to his trajectory in the original comics. However, there's still an element of a ticking clock for the character, which will likely force him to take drastic actions. An unrestrained Butcher is an unpredictable and dangerous one, especially with the Boys unavailable to hold him back. Butcher has been expecting his own death for a while now, and it'll do little to stop him now. Coupled with his unlocked powers, this all sets up Butcher's role in The Boys season 5 to be a grisly and conclusive one.
The Boys
- Release Date
- July 25, 2019
- Showrunner
- Eric Kripke
- Directors
- Jack Quaid, Eric Kripke
Cast
Billy Butcher
Hugh Hughie Campbell
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Writers
- Eric Kripke
- Franchise(s)
- The Boys
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
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