The Boys may adapt the comic's ending, even if it means killing off a main character & alienating fans. Here's how that could work.

The comic source material for The Boys features a bleak ending, and the Amazon Prime show might end up adapting it now that Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) is using Compound V in The Boys season 3. Eric Kripke’s live-action TV show loosely follows Garth Ennis’ comic book, as the series assumes an intensely satirical and cynical stance compared to the comics. With the controversial "Herogasm" arc happening in The Boys season 3, it will be interesting to witness the narrative trajectories of the Boys and every Supe who is currently a part of the Seven.

Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) has had quite the character trajectory in the show, with significant shifts in personal agenda and character motivation. Initially driven by the urge to decimate the Seven and kill Homelander for purportedly murdering his wife Becca, Butcher’s plans transform after a few massive reveals near the end of The Boys season 1. The revelation that Becca is under witness protection by Vought International, and the presence of her son with Homelander, Ryan Butcher, adds layers of emotional depth to his growth as a character. Although most of Butcher’s actions have been downright ruthless, it is pretty tricky for the creators to keep the original ending, as Butcher’s character in The Boys is significantly different than that of the comic series.

While chaos and Machiavellian machination are intrinsic parts of Butcher’s character, The Boys season 2 saw him emerge as a father figure to Ryan post Becca’s death — which is terrifying and endearing to witness. Despite undergoing severe emotional loss, and conflict about Ryan’s fate, Butcher decides to protect the child by entrusting him to Grace Mallory and the CIA. It's shown in The Boys season 3 that Butcher maintains this healthy relationship with Ryan. As these developments do not occur in the source material, Butcher’s trajectory in the comics is entirely driven by revenge and a misplaced sense of restoring order by murdering thousands of Supes. This is primarily triggered by the presence of Jack From Jupiter (who was replaced with Translucent), who kills Butcher’s beloved dog, Terror. After Butcher kills Jack From Jupiter, he suffers a complete breakdown, transforming into an antagonist with a thirst for blood.

However, this destructive arc for Billy Butcher is still possible. The Boys season 3 shows that he takes Compound V to prepare for conflict with Homelander, which causes tension among the group. Furthermore, Butcher has been under Hughie's thumb for a year leading up to season 3, which would definitely leave a sour taste in the antihero's mouth. Butcher decides to target millions of carriers in the comics by going after their gene pool with chemical weapons. In the process, Butcher commits the unforgivable act of murdering his allies, including Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, and the Female. However, Hughie kills Butcher to prevent the murder of millions of innocent people. Such an ending could be possible but may prove disastrous for The Boys, as Butcher’s actions in The Boys comic are not in sync with his actions in the show.

While Butcher may turn on his allies during Season 3 of The Boys, it is also important to remember that he does harbor a certain fondness for his team members, making the original ending unlikely. The Boys has planned out 5 seasons, so it's possible that this turn would occur in the final act. However, this would not only be too cold and uncompromising a conclusion for a show brimming with promise but also serve as an unsatisfying end to a complex character who is deeply flawed yet widely loved. Due to the overtly cynical nature of the show, Kripke could have possibly fashioned a far bleaker, more tragic ending, but key character deaths seem unlikely due to the show's satirical tone. While Billy Butcher might turn out to be the villain, it would be wildly out-of-character for him to orchestrate a mass genocide, and the showrunners risk alienating fans of the show in the process. But it's still a possibility based on The Boys season 3's trajectory.

Next: Butcher's Superpowers Avoid A Major Boys Season 3 Problem