Key Takeaways
- Butcher is grappling with morality and internal conflicts, torn between love for Boys & Ryan vs. his hatred and revenge against Homelander.
- Butcher always returns for The Boys, showing a shred of good within him despite his dark tendencies.
- Ryan may hold the key to Butcher’s redemption by forcing him to confront his prejudices and find goodness.
As a long-time fan of The Boys, I can’t help but feel deeply invested in the complex and multifaceted character of Billy Butcher. His journey from a troubled man with a questionable past to the leader of a group of misfits fighting against the corrupt Supes is nothing short of captivating.
Without hesitation, Billy Butcher from the Amazon Prime Video series “The Boys” would acknowledge that he’s far from a model citizen. Over the course of four seasons, he’s committed despicable acts such as amputating a scientist’s leg, faking his own death, and even killing Vice President elect Victoria Neuman, a serial head exploder. It seems almost predictable that Butcher’s acceptance of Supes’ genocide, triggered by a brain tumor induced by Compound V hallucinations featuring Joe Kessler, is a logical progression for his character.
Initially, Butcher has been against Superheroes entirely. However, when Kimiko, Annie January joined The Boys team, and he developed feelings for Ryan (son of his rival Homelander and late wife Becca), it appeared that Butcher was growing more complex or, as his cold-hearted side might put it, “softening up”. Yet, in the Season 4 finale, after tearing apart Neuman, stealing the Superhero-killing virus, and experiencing a vision of Kessler, Butcher seems to have returned to his ruthless, dark persona. It’s possible that viewers may conclude that there is no hope for Butcher’s redemption in the upcoming fifth and final season.
Despite being portrayed as the primary antihero in ‘The Boys’, Butcher carries a complex heart beneath his tough exterior. Unlike characters like Hughie, Lenny, or Becca who embody pure goodness in Butcher’s life, he is far from simple. Raised in an abusive household, violent tendencies developed within him at a young age. To avoid what he perceived as the inevitable act of killing his father, Billy (Butcher) fled before any violence could occur. However, Lenny, his more sensitive brother, was left behind and ultimately took his own life. Since then, Butcher’s life has been plagued by one tragedy after another. His wife Becca, who was believed to be dead following a sexual assault by Homelander, is revealed to be raising their son in secret. In an unfortunate turn of events, Ryan, their son, accidentally kills Becca in front of Butcher. Despite his initial anger, Butcher learns to forgive the boy, but pushes him away for fear of turning him into a monster like himself. He also distances himself from Hughie, who serves as a substitute for his brother and embodies his conscience. Recently, Butcher seems to be giving in to the malevolent side of himself (Kessler) instead of the benevolent one (Becca). The question remains: Can Butcher find redemption? There is certainly room for hope.
Butcher’s Visions Are Him Grappling with Morality
In the story, Butcher struggles with two strong emotions: his deep affection for the Boys and Ryan, contrasted with his intense desire for revenge against Homelander. Becca serves as the symbol of his humanity, embodying his love for the Boys and his protective instincts towards Ryan, beyond being just a son. Kessler, alternatively, personifies Butcher’s darkest impulses to eliminate superheroes, even those like Kimiko, Annie, and Ryan.
Butcher Always Comes Back for The Boys
Despite occasionally abandoning the title group to pursue personal whims, Butcher inevitably returns to them. Instead of condemning Hughie to a fate similar to one he himself would later encounter due to excessive Temp V use, Butcher chose to spare him. This selfless act is why Hughie remains committed to Butcher, as even with his questionable actions, there’s an underlying kindness in him. He asks M.M. to look after the Boys, indicating that Kessler’s claims of his indifference towards them, particularly Super-powered Kimiko and Annie, are unfounded. Butcher may not openly express it, but he has always cared for the group. Although the Kessler part of him, as well as the influence from his abusive father, might view this compassion as a weakness, it’s ultimately Butcher’s love that could be his salvation.
Ryan May Be the Key to Butcher’s Redemption
Butcher saw Kimiko and Annie as tools, but Ryan was someone he perceived with a deeper understanding. Becca nurtured and protected her son, whom she both adored and feared. She believed that a kind upbringing could make Homelander, with his extraordinary powers, into a force for good. After Becca’s death, Ryan found himself under the influence of two father figures: Homelander, who aimed to instill in Ryan a sense of superiority over civilians; and Butcher, who was morally ambiguous compared to Becca during her lifetime. Through their relationship, Butcher is compelled to confront his biases and acknowledge that he cares for Ryan not just because he’s Becca’s son, but because there’s an innate purity in him, as there was in Lenny and Hughie. In essence, both Ryan and Butcher are individuals yearning for goodness. Season 4 suggests that Ryan continues to love Butcher, and Butcher reciprocates these feelings, despite his deviations from the righteous path. For a favorable outcome in The Boys, they must help each other foster their better selves.
In essence, The Boys and their series wouldn’t exist without Billy Butcher’s influence. He embodies the sarcastic, wounded, and bittersweet core of the story, even though he appears to be headed towards full villainy. However, there remains a glimmer of hope for him. Unlike his comic book counterpart, Butcher’s hallucinations of Becca suggest that there’s still some goodness within him that can be saved. It’s difficult to envision Butcher completely betraying The Boys or leaving Ryan behind. Despite needing redemption, even if it requires a heroic sacrifice, Butcher has always been as complex and engaging as he is troubled.
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2024-10-08 04:04