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A Brutal Family Clash: The Boys S5 Episode 3 Review

 

The Boys-S5E3-HomelandervsRyan

Episode 3 is out, and Ryan is back!

Season 5 of The Boys continues to raise the stakes (Episode 1 and 2 review here), and this episode proves that Ryan’s return is the emotional and narrative core of it all.

Spoilers ahead!


The Return

Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) is no longer the innocent child we once knew (Grace made sure of it in Season 4). There’s a visible shift in him—he’s more aware, more conflicted—but at his core, he still feels like a good kid trying to navigate an impossible situation. 

Watching him stand up to Homelander (Antony Starr) is initially thrilling. For a moment, it’s incredibly satisfying to see the boy push back against his terrifying father. But that excitement quickly turns into discomfort. Ryan isn’t stronger, nor is he trained—and Homelander isn’t really fighting back at first. When he finally drops the act, the scene becomes almost agonizing to watch, a stark reminder of the power imbalance.

Interestingly, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) shows a more human side when he’s around Ryan. It’s one of the few dynamics that softens him, adding emotional depth to a character usually driven by rage and vengeance.

Chilling References

On the darker side, the introduction of “Homelander Youth” is a brilliantly disturbing touch. 

It reinforces the show’s ongoing critique of propaganda and hero worship, pushing it into even more unsettling territory.

Unnecessary Scenes

Not everything lands perfectly, though. In a show where every scene seems to have a purpose, Maverick’s appearance feels unnecessary. 

While it gives Hughie (Jack Quaid) a chance to confront his past actions, it doesn’t significantly move the story forward.

Were You Scared or Laughing? 

Meanwhile, Homelander’s descent into insanity becomes both more terrifying and oddly ridiculous. 

A terrifying creature that almost kills his own son in one scene, a weirdo bathing in breast milk in the other, and hallucinating that he will be the next Christ in a third one. You never know what you will get whenever Antony Starr (Banshee) appears on the screen.

The balance between menace and absurdity is something the show continues to play with—and it works, even when it feels over the top.

Soldier Boy Keeps Stealing the Show

Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), on the other hand, brings some of the episode’s funniest (in a less absurd way) moments. 

His dynamic with Homelander is especially intriguing now that they share the same space. There’s a strange mix of hatred, reluctant admiration, and a twisted sense of family. 

It doesn’t feel like Soldier Boy simply hates his son—there’s something more complex and deeply uncomfortable there, especially considering Homelander is far from the son he would have imagined. He admits to Firecracker (Valorie Curry) that Homelander is the weirdest guy he has ever met, and considering his context, that says a lot.

Significant Advances

The reveal that the virus does not kill Soldier Boy changes everything. 

It’s not just about strength—he has in him a different kind of Compound V, the unstable and dangerous “V1.” This could easily become the season’s main plot driver, with everyone racing to control it and all the chaos that could follow.

Finally, Butcher’s lies are starting to catch up with him. With the loss of his key scientist, the consequences are bound to escalate—and the cost could be higher than ever.

Still, the heart of the episode is Ryan. His return drives the emotional weight and sets up what feels like the season’s central conflict.

Still On the Good Path

Overall, Episode 3 delivers a strong mix of character development, tension, and dark humor, with Ryan’s storyline standing out as the true highlight.

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