'The Boys' season 5 episode 4 King of Hell recap: Soldier Boy’s dark past resurfaces as Homelander closes in on V1 and Butcher unravels

Soldier Boy’s past resurfaces as Homelander closes in on V1 and Butcher struggles to hold his team together

Episode 4 of The Boys season 5, titled King of Hell, focuses on rising tensions within Butcher’s group, Homelander’s growing power, and the urgent race to secure V1 before either side gains a decisive advantage.

The episode opens with Homelander meeting members of his inner circle as plans are discussed for his next public image. No longer content with simply being Vought’s most powerful supe, he now appears determined to present himself as something larger than life. Those around him carefully support every move, knowing any hesitation could be dangerous. Firecracker is chosen to help deliver his message to the public and becomes one of the main faces of his new campaign. Though visibly uneasy, she accepts the role.

Elsewhere, Butcher’s side regroups to discuss their next move. Hughie explains that Homelander currently has Stan Edgar under his control and that both sides are now racing to find V1. The substance has become central to the war between them. If Butcher’s team reaches it first, it could help save Annie, Kimiko and Butcher. If Homelander gets there first, he could become even more powerful and nearly impossible to stop.

The team’s best lead points them towards Fort Harmony. Butcher remains central to the mission, but signs of pressure continue to build. He is increasingly short-tempered, emotionally burdened and struggling to keep everyone united. Rather than leading a focused operation, he spends much of the episode dealing with mistrust, arguments and growing divisions among his allies.

Ryan also appears briefly and is shown to be safe. He shares another tense exchange with Butcher, who continues trying to maintain a connection to Becca through her son. Ryan remains conflicted and emotionally distant, unwilling to fully side with anyone. After their conversation, he leaves again, keeping his future uncertain.

When the group arrives at Fort Harmony, the mission quickly begins to unravel. The location seems to heighten paranoia, anger and unresolved resentment. Old frustrations rise to the surface, leading to personal attacks and heated confrontations. Trust breaks down rapidly, and what should have been a straightforward search for V1 becomes a chaotic internal conflict.

No one is affected more deeply than Soldier Boy. The episode reveals that Fort Harmony is tied to his past and earlier military life. Normally confident and emotionally closed off, he becomes visibly shaken upon returning there. His reactions suggest the site is linked to trauma he has never confronted. Memories of harsh conditioning, violence and exploitation begin resurfacing, implying that Fort Harmony played a major role in shaping him into the weaponised figure he later became.

Away from the mission, Annie has one of the episode’s most emotional storylines. She visits her estranged father and meets his new family, forcing her to confront painful history. Because of Homelander’s influence and public misinformation, she is viewed negatively by many ordinary people, adding tension to the visit. However, her father offers reassurance and reminds her that the people we love are not weaknesses, but reasons to keep fighting. The conversation gives Annie renewed clarity after a season filled with doubt and exhaustion.

While Butcher’s side fails to make progress, Homelander continues advancing. His support base grows stronger, his inner circle becomes more submissive, and his image shifts further from celebrity supe to authoritarian figure building a cult of personality.

Despite the urgency surrounding the mission, no one secures V1 by the end of the episode. Homelander’s influence continues to rise, Butcher appears increasingly unable to control events around him, Ryan remains detached, Soldier Boy is forced to face buried trauma, Annie regains purpose, and The Boys leave Fort Harmony more divided than before.

The race for V1 remains unresolved as The Boys moves closer to its final showdown.