With production on Gen V season 2 release may provide some measure of relief in the interim, but there's a lot of excitement surrounding how Homelander’s reign of terror will come to a shocking, and likely exceedingly violent, end.

With The Boys season 4 finale seeing Starr’s sociopathic Supe essentially assuming control of the U.S. Government via the installation of his new puppet president, Steven Calhoun (David Andrews), Homelander is now potentially more dangerous than ever. With most of Butcher’s ragtag team of vigilantes behind bars, the number of characters who find themselves in a position to actively oppose Homelander's insatiable lust for power is growing desperately thin. However, that very same finale also planted the seeds for one of the show’s least likely characters to take center stage in his eventual downfall.

Ashley Barrett Should Help Bring Down Homelander In The Boys Season 5

The Vought CEO Has A Long History Of Defying The Leader Of The Seven

During the final moments of The Boys season 4, Colby Minifie’s embattled Vought CEO Ashley Barrett took a desperate gamble to spare herself from Homelander’s purge of Vought employees. Injecting herself with Compound-V, it is still not clear what superpowers Ashley may emerge with on the other side of what appeared to be a shockingly painful transformation. However, regardless of the shape that her newfound abilities take, they will likely balance the scales of power and offer Ashley a unique opportunity to openly challenge the Supes who have consistently mocked and belittled her for so long.

Between deleting incriminating security footage that revealed Queen Maeve survived her encounter with Soldier Boy and helping A-Train conceal his own acts of betrayal, Ashley's loyalties have always been deeply divided.

While Ashley’s motives have regularly been far from selfless, her tenure as Vought’s CEO has already been characterized by quiet acts of defiance against Homelander’s wishes. Between deleting incriminating security footage that revealed Queen Maeve survived her encounter with Soldier Boy and helping A-Train conceal his own acts of betrayal, Ashley's loyalties have always been deeply divided. As such, Homelander’s order to have her eliminated will likely serve as the final tipping point in her journey toward total independence.

Colby Minifie Already Shared The Series Finale Is “Extremely Satisfying”

The Boys’ Star Has Already Teased The Show Will Offer Fans A Gratifying Conclusion

Speaking with Screen Rant, Minifie revealed that she has already read the script for The Boys season 5 finale and is pleased with how the show will wrap things up. While the actor was reluctant to provide any concrete details about what showrunner Erik Kripke may have in store for her character, she did explain that the script for the show’s final episode was so deeply satisfying that she found herself getting emotional while reading it:

I just read the finale last night. It's an extremely satisfying finale. That's what I will say. It's extremely satisfying. I was getting emotional reading it...

While Minifie may have been speaking more broadly about the show’s conclusion, rather than her character’s involvement in Homelander’s potential downfall, it is easy to see how she might consider that Ashley coming into her power would be an “extremely satisfying” ending. With Ashley so frequently bearing the brunt of Homelander’s petty antics and cruel taunts, the show’s finale could finally present her with a rare and exceedingly fitting opportunity to turn the tables on her frequent tormentor.

How Ashley Could Help Defeat Homelander In The Boys Season 5

Ashley’s Compound-V Injection Still Won’t Make Her Strong Enough To Face Homelander Directly

While Ashley’s desperate gambit in The Boys season 4 finale may provide her with the ability to avoid being killed by The Deep and the remaining of the Seven, few Supes possess the kind of power necessary to best Homelander in a one-on-one showdown. As such, it is unlikely that Ashley's newfound superpowers will be at a level capable of allowing her to challenge him directly. Thankfully, however, Ashley is likely to still have access to a great deal of resources that could aid in Butcher’s quest to put a permanent end to Homelander.

Despite Homelander’s derisive opinion of the woman he demoted to become little more than a nominal figurehead of Vought International, her time spent with the company has likely provided her with direct access to a great many secrets. While her first-hand knowledge of Homelander’s true nature could potentially lead to his downfall in the court of public opinion, it is her access to the company’s extensive research facilities and other hidden assets that makes her a truly dangerous adversary in The Boys season 5.