Fans have been eagerly anticipating what’s next for The Boys after that jaw-dropping season four finale, and showrunner Eric Kripke is giving some hints about the intensifying relationship between two of the franchise’s most combustible characters: Homelander and Soldier Boy. With Soldier Boy vowing revenge against Billy Butcher and Homelander seeking to tighten his grip on power, the two supes may be driven together by a common enemy. But can their explosive personalities coexist long enough to take down Butcher, or will their volatile dynamic detonate before the season’s end?

According to Kripke, the upcoming fifth and final season will delve deep into the father-son backstory between Homelander and Soldier Boy. “There’s a lot of material in how Soldier Boy feels about Homelander, as his son, and how Homelander feels about his dad,” Kripke told GamesRadar+. “We wanted to really get into that relationship this season.”

This personal connection is intriguing fans, but what could truly ignite a partnership between the two megalomaniacs is Soldier Boy’s singular mission: killing Billy Butcher for his past betrayal. As Kripke explains, “Soldier Boy is really driven to kill Butcher. That’s his whole motivation this season.” With Butcher also high on Homelander’s hit list, their shared vendetta could outweigh other differences—at least in the short term.

However, aligning the interests of these alphas will not come without friction. As Kripke hinted, “Both characters are way too egotistical and arrogant to treat each other as equals for long.” While an alliance may form from convenience, constantly butting heads could just as easily shatter it. Only time will tell if their combustible mix results in an explosive team-up or an even bigger emotional detonation.

To further flesh out Soldier Boy’s enigmatic backstory, Amazon is developing a prequel series “Vought Rising” that explores the character’s origins. According to Kripke, this additional context will enhance Soldier Boy’s arc in the final season of The Boys.

As the show gears up to wrap its audacious run in style, the relationship between these two looming figures is sure to be one of the most intense standoffs of the season. With thanks to the dedicated fans, here’s to the spectacular conclusion of The Boys later this year.