Summary
Amazon Prime’s smash hitThe Boysis in its final two seasons and there are a plethora of theories abouthowThe Boyscould come to an end in season 5. Most of these theories come from viewers on various message boards, but occasionally a theory comes straight from the cast themselves. Giancarlo Esposito is no stranger to theories about the many roles the actor has portrayed over the years, most notably, Vought Industries CEO Stan Edgar; a character thatGiancarlo would like to see have an epic showdown that would go against everything Stan Edgar stands for.
In a recentGQQ&A, Giancarlo Esposito sat down to answer questions from social media sites X, Reddit & Quora, and give deeper insight intoThe Boys' final two seasons. One of the first questions Esposito was asked was how he thinks the arc for Stan Edgar should end. In the interview, Esposito expressed how he believesthe best ending for the character could happen, featuring Stan Edgar taking Temporary Vor “Temp V” so he can get into the action and joinButcher and the rest of The Boys in a horrifying showdown.
I want Stan Edgar to get some V, man. Gimme some temporary V so I can really be a badass and all up. Come on, I want that temporary V, baby. I wanna get in the action.
Why Victoria Neuman Rescues Stan Edgar In The Boys Season 4, Episode 5
Victoria Neuman rescues Stan Edgar in The Boys season 4, episode 5, and there are 2 possible reasons — one of which is more methodical than the other.
Giancarlo Esposito’s Stan Edgar Idea Forgets The Purpose Of His Character On The Boys
Sometimes it’s not physical strength that makes a person powerful
Since the first episode ofThe Boysaired in 2019, the show’s theme has always revolved around power, a brilliant theme thatparallels real-world injustice and power imbalances between billion-dollar CEOs and the lower-middle class, and how it affects people every day. InThe Boys,the “power” in question comes from Compound V, which gives human beings super-human abilities, but power can also be derived from being the CEO of a trillion-dollar company, like Vought International. The character of Stan Edgar has always wielded his power from the latter of those two themes.
Stan Edgar is a great character because he can challenge Homelander (Antony Starr) in a battle of wits instead of fists, which is at the core of Edgar’s persona. Homelander often rules through physical power and fear, but thelimitless strength of Homelanderis no match for Egar’s powers of intimidation, which can be seen when Edgar calls Homelander a “bad product” in season 3, episode 4. The choice to give Edgar superpowers would undercut the psychological powers he already holds over supes like Homelander and could irrevocably change the ethos of the character.
Why Making Stan Edgar A Supe Would Be A Mistake For The Boys
Characters shooting up Compound V isn’t anything new for The Boys
The plot ofThe Boysseason 3 revolved around Butcher and Hughie taking Temp V to gain access to powers for 24 hours so they could challenge supes head-on. This works with the motivations of those characters and the overall theme of season 3, butEdgar has no motivation to seek out Compound V - or enhance himself in any way- to join the fight against superheroes. Esposito’s comments about Stan Edgar taking Temp V to “join the action"would not make sense in the scope of Edgar’s story arc, and would water down the narrative about how bad men do not require superhuman abilities to rule over innocent people.
InThe Boyscomic books,The Boystake Compound V, instead of Temp V, to give themselves superpowers. In the comics, Butcher, Wee Hughie, and Mother’s Milk all gain superhuman strength and durability; powers that Frenchie also possesses, but with the addition of a heightened sense of smell.
There’s 1 Way Giancarlo Esposito’s Idea Could Still Work For His Character
Even if Stan Edgar received powers it would still be a stretch for his character
While the decision to give Stan Edgar powers would destroy everything the Vought CEO stands for, there is a way that showrunner Eric Kripke could pull it off: by making Stan Edgar a hypocrite.Edgar not only fears superheroes, he despises them. This is made blatantly obvious whenEdgar chastises his adopted daughter, Victoria Neuman, for giving Compound V to her biological daughter in a ploy to protect her from Homelander. Even though Edgar manages to stop himself before calling superheroes - and Neuman - “monsters”, it’s clear what he thinks of the superheroes inThe Boysuniverse.
A decision to give Stan Edgar superpowers could work if he does it because of the hatred- or disgust - he has for superheroes, mirroring Butcher and Hughie in season 3. Edgar’s disdain for supes could be the catalyst that forces him to inject Temp V, allowing him to be a part of the epic showdown between Butcher and Homelander that has been brewing since season 1. Esposito gaining superpowers would be an arc that, while entertaining to watch unfold, would be redundant considering that it is already the driving force for the main characters of the show.
The Boysis wrapping up the story of Billy Butcher and his Boys after 5 seasons, and withspinoffs likeGeneration V, and others in the worksat Amazon, it’s not impossible to think Stan Edgar could work as a bridge between different series inThe Boysuniverse.Edgar’s connections to Vought International and the conspiracy behind Compound V could lead to exciting storytellingin future seasons of these spinoffs, and the appearance of a V’d-up CEO could work in the parameters of those shows. For now, the best course of action for Stan Edgar should be resorting to the superpowers he already possesses: intimidation, manipulation, and money.
The Boys
Cast
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
