Since debuting in 2019, The Boys hasn’t been shy about 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing off characters, but the season 4 finale’s major death has squandered four years of build-up.

Although the show’s latest installment experienced a few ups and downs, The Boys season 4’s ending didn’t disappoint, providing one of its best episodes yet. All the action, drama, and twists contributed to an epic finale and only made the wait for season 5 more painful. It was exactly the type of conclusion season 4 needed after some of the mixed reviews, and it set up an exciting future for The Boys‘ final outing.

Somehow, all the show’s main protagonists managed to survive season 4, but with Homelander creating a supe army, things look like they will only get worse. With the majority of The Boys now captured, seeing how they fight back during season 5’s premiere just became even more exciting. Unfortunately, not everyone managed to make it out of the finale alive, as a key character was brutally murdered towards the episode’s climax. Although this scene finally helped explain Billy Butcher’s powers, it ultimately resulted in the show wasting one of their most interesting supes.

Victoria Neuman’s The Boys Season 4 Death Wastes Her Villainous Potential

Victoria Had The Potential To Be A Truly Menacing Villain In The Boys’ Final Season

Having been a key antagonist since her introduction in season 2, Victoria Neuman looked like she had plenty of villainous potential, but was shockingly 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed during season 4’s final episode. Victoria has always been one of The Boys‘ craftiest characters, making huge waves in the political scene and cleverly concealing the fact she was a supe. She was responsible for one of the show’s most shocking moments, causing a massacre in a courtroom during Vought’s trial without anyone knowing she was responsible. Managing to play both sides, Victoria even briefly became Vice President-elect during the finale.

However, things quickly unraveled for her as Homelander exposed Victoria’s status as a supe, instantly making her public enemy number one. With Homelander also threatening her daughter’s life if she didn’t comply with his every word, Victoria turned to Hughie in The Boys season 4’s finale, but was murdered by Billy Butcher in a horrifying scene. While this was easily one of season 4’s biggest moments, it completely wasted Victoria’s true potential. Despite having evidence to expose her secret, Victoria never felt like a major threat to The Boys, especially as Hughie worked with her in season 3.

Tomorrow, it's our last dance, for now. Cue the violins. #TheBoysFinale pic.twitter.com/aGeSUyc2jq

— THE BOYS (@TheBoysTV) July 17, 2024

While she definitely had her unethical moments throughout her time on the show, she never quite descended into complete villainy, making her shocking death all the more surprising. Had The Boys allowed her to be an out-and-out villain, she had all the potential to be one of the franchise’s most dangerous characters, but sadly, her season 4 fate ended her story for good.

The Boys Season 2 & 3’s Finales Both Set Up Neuman As A Bigger Deal

Season 2 & 3’s Finales Suggested Victoria Could Have Become A Homelander-Level Threat

Although Victoria had a great run on The Boys, it looked like she would be an even bigger deal, especially after season 2 and 3’s finales. The exploding heads were a big mystery throughout the second season and suggested whoever was behind this had to be a massive threat; therefore, the finale confirming that Neuman was causing this devastation proved she was a force to be reckoned with. Season 3 further solidified how strong she was, as it highlighted just how cunning and manipulative Victoria was, culminating in the revelation that she was running for Vice President.

What Neuman’s Death Says About The Boys Season 5

Victoria Neuman’s Death Indicates Homelander Will Be Worse Than Ever

With Victoria Neuman officially out of the picture, Homelander has essentially become the President in The Boys, setting up an even more twisted fifth season. Although he is not officially the leader of the United States, he is using the new President, Steven Calhoun, as a puppet so that he can control the country. While Homelander had initially planned on Neuman becoming President, she wouldn’t have been so easy to control, meaning her death gave him absolute power. As a result, he brought back martial law, allowing him to reshape America in his image.

Neuman’s death also meant her daughter Zoe was sent to the Red River Home Group, leaving her future unknown.

Season 4’s finale also suggested the majority of The Boys were taken into Vought’s custody, leaving just Butcher and Starlight to oppose Homelander and his army. However, there is still the potential return of A-Train, Queen Maeve, and Gen V’s central characters, setting up a potentially powerful resistance. Neuman’s death also meant her daughter Zoe was sent to the Red River Home Group, leaving her future unknown, while Soldier Boy’s return could also be a wildcard, planting the seeds for an insane final season of The Boys.

Victoria’s death was seemingly planned by Sister Sage and was the final stage of her plan. Had she gotten into power, Homelander would still have had a scary amount of control, but Neuman’s stubbornness and her small sense of morality would have led to a confrontation between the two. Now that she’s gone, there is almost nothing stopping Homelander from taking over America and potentially the world, meaning The Boys season 5 will easily be the biggest installment yet