The ending of Gen V season 1 sets up a whole host of new theories for Amazon Prime’s universe ahead of The Boys season 4’s 2024 premiere.

The ending of Gen V has led to a plethora of theories being concocted for 2024’s The Boys season 4 that could change the latter in irreversible ways. Gen V was released in 2023 on Amazon Prime Video as a spin-off to The Boys, though many did not anticipate how closely the two shows would be connected.

By the time of Gen V season 1’s ending, it became clear that the spin-off would actively tie into the continued exploits of Billy Butcher, Hughie, Frenchie, and Mother’s Milk.

Before a continuation of the characters introduced in the spin-off with Gen V season 2’s story,The Boys will return to Amazon Prime in 2024 to pick up the baton. The characters and plot points introduced in Gen V set up The Boys season 4’s story, leading many to begin theorizing exactly how the events of the former will impact the status quo of the latter. With The Boys season 4’s release date growing ever closer, it is worth exploring some of the theories spawning out of Gen V season 1 and how some may have lasting effects on The Boys‘ universe should they come to fruition.

8 Homelander Killed Marie Moreau In Gen V’s Season 1 Finale

Possibly the biggest theory coming out of Gen V season 1’s ending is that The Boys‘ Homelander actually killed Marie Moreau. The ending of Gen V saw Marie, Jordan, Andre, and Emma attempting to stop Cate and Sam from inciting mass violence against humans by Supes. Eventually, Homelander arrives at the scene and takes Cate’s side due to his extremist political views on Supes being superior to humans before lasering Marie due to her actions against other Supes. Miraculously, Marie awakens from Homelander’s blast with little explanation of how she survived something that has previously been depicted as one of the most powerful Supe attacks in Homelander’s repertoire.

7 Victoria Neuman Uses Shetty’s Supe Virus Against Homelander

The new Supe virus provides powerful leverage against an equally powerful opponent.

Undoubtedly the most world-altering plot point of Gen V was the reveal that Indira Shetty was using Godolkin University to create a virus that only affects Supe’s. The virus was eventually given to Victoria Neuman, a Supe masquerading as a regular human who has previously appeared in The Boys seasons 2 and 3. In her appearance in The Boys season 3, Neuman began working with Homelander. However, the villain threatened Neuman at multiple points, and the latter knows the former will only keep her around as long as she proves useful to him.

6Neuman Uses The Supe Virus To Aid Her Political Campaign

A Supe virus may provide leverage to elevate Neuman’s political stance on anti-Supes.

Another possibility of Neuman having the Supe virus involves her connection with Homelander in conjunction with her political career. At the end of The Boys season 3, Homelander repaid Neuman for her help by murdering Lamar Bishop, a man who was supposed to be joining Robert Singer’s presidential campaign as running mate. This allowed her to join Singer as his running mate, furthering her climb up the political ladder.

5 Billy Butcher Acquires The Supe Virus From Neuman

Butcher’s extremist anti-Supe views may lead him to the dangerous virus.

Another character from The Boys whose interest will certainly be piqued by the Supe virus is Billy Butcher himself. Butcher has a vendetta against most, if not all, Supes. His goal since the beginning of The Boys has been to destroy Homelander for the kidnapping and 𝑠e𝑥ual assault of his wife, Becca. This has caused Butcher to have an immense distrust of all Supes, even those on his side like Starlight, Queen Maeve, and Kimiko.

4 Cate Is The Boys Season 4’s Main Villain

Cate would provide a different kind of antagonist from The Boys’ usual physically imposing villains.

One of the more interesting theories after Gen V that would change The Boys involves Cate. Cate was an incredibly sympathetic, complex character in Gen V despite being one of the show’s main antagonists. While Homelander has always been the face of villainy in The Boys, other enemies like Stormfront, Soldier Boy, A-Train, and Translucent have been prevalent. As such, one theory for The Boys season 4 is that Cate is introduced as a villain to Butcher and the gang. This would make for a nice switch-up of The Boys’ status quo by using an overly sympathetic villain, and one that does not require brute force to defeat as usual.

3 The Guardians Of Godolkin Are Test Subjects For Vought

Vought may be searching for a way to negate the Supe virus.

The ending of Gen V saw Andre, Marie, Jordan, and Emma confined to a room with no doors, presumably by Vought. One theory stemming from this scene could prove that the four are test subjects of Vought who have been made aware by Cate that Supe viruses are possible. In light of this, it would stand to reason that Vought is looking for either a cure to Shetty’s virus or a way to make Supes immune to illness. This would drastically alter The Boys season 4’s story as a major element of Gen V in the Supe virus could be negated or, at worst, replicated for ulterior motives.

2 Homelander Uses Gen V’s Riots As Grounds For A Supe Takeover

Homelander may use Cate’s radicalism to his own advantage.

The character most likely to completely alter The Boys‘ story is Homelander, who has been threatening to snap and destroy the world since season 1. With The Boys season 3, however, Homelander became a cautionary allegory for radical, extremist political views like white supremacy by deeming Supes as superior to humans. After Gen V, one plot point could aid Homelander in securing his vision for the world that would alter The Boys season 4 forever.

1 Marie, Jordan, Andre, & Emma Join The Boys In Season 4

The Boys may have four new, incredibly powerful members.

Finally, one of the more probable theories for The Boys season 4 after Gen V‘s ending is that Marie, Jordan, Andre, and Emma join Butcher and the Boys. The four are now clearly aware of Vought’s, and Homelander’s, corruption and have been shown to be dedicated to doing the right thing. Their characters were presented as not too dissimilar from the likes of Hughie, Frenchie, Mother’s Milk, Starlight, and Kimiko who seem to want to do the morally correct thing. Given the pull these characters have over Butcher’s radical tendencies, The Boys is a group that has mostly been used for this purpose.