As The Boys marches toward its May 20 finale on Prime Video, audiences intensely await Butcher versus Homelander. The anticipation had resulted in equal parts delight and emotional indigestion, remembering perfectly well what happened to the finales of famous TV shows such as Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones, Dark, and many more. Episode 7, now the episode with the second-least IMDb score, has added to the tension. A tension whose spotlight Antony Starr has now stolen.

Starr reacted to a meme with a The Boys clip over on Instagram, stating how it feels to see your favorite show being ruined. As fans complained about their shows being ruined, they were distracted from their main concerns when the Homelander actor himself entered the comments section with a simple heart emoji. Starr’s reaction astonished fans so much that they briefly forgot they were just complaining that The Boys finale does not feel like a finale at all.

Starr’s reaction may hint that fans have little reason to worry about the finale, especially given his earlier praise of the script. On Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz, Antony Starr said the final script left him stunned, calling it jaw-dropping and emotionally extreme, while noting it defies traditional structure and stays true to the show’s chaotic identity.

His emoji tease is just one of the ways he has been edging The Boys fans. Starr has been feeding fan theories about Homelander’s fate with cryptic social media reactions. When fans predicted a villain victory, he replied with a hand over mouth emoji, signaling secrecy. The gesture deepened speculation and kept audiences obsessively guessing, only sharpening the anticipation for the finale.

As The Boys finale inches closer, fans wait with bated breath to see if their theories will come to life.

The most popular The Boys finale theories

Among the most widely discussed theories for The Boys' Season 5 finale titled Blood and Bone, the dominant belief is that Homelander will not die but lose his Compound V powers. Fans point to Soldier Boy’s earlier ability to burn V out of supes, suggesting a similar method could be used against him, leaving him powerless.

Another major theory centers on betrayal, inspired by Julius Caesar parallels woven throughout the season. Viewers speculate Sister Sage may orchestrate a calculated downfall where Homelander is betrayed by those closest to him, possibly even his son Ryan. This would transform his greatest fear of rejection into the final emotional blow.

A third leading prediction mirrors the comic book ending, where Billy uses a crowbar in a final violent confrontation. Many believe a dying Butcher will confront Homelander in a brutal last stand, potentially ending both of their arcs in destruction. The theories keep multiplying, with fans spiraling between predictions and panic, only to be oddly soothed by Antony Starr’s one-emoji responses.

What do you think Antony Starr's response meant? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Adiba Nizami