If father-son bonding were an Olympic event in The Boys, Ryan and Homelander would be arrested for unsportsmanlike cruelty. Their relationship is famously toxic, and Erick Kripke’s tease about multiple deaths turned every missing character into a potential obituary. Ryan skipping the first two episodes only made the rumors of his death feel uncomfortably convincing, as whispers of Homelander already dealing with him behind the scenes grew louder and louder.

On top of that, when he did appear in episode 3, he ended up in a brutal and violent fight with Homelander, a fight that many think that he might not have escaped.

If there was any doubt about Ryan’s fate, The Boys makes it clear that he is alive, although barely. In episode 3, Ryan confronted Homelander after learning the full truth about Becca Butcher and their connection as father and son. He struck first with heat vision, leaving a burn mark on Homelander’s chest that instantly escalates the confrontation.

Homelander then loses control and unleashes a brutal, sustained beating on Ryan that turns the scene deeply unsettling. Ryan is overpowered despite his abilities, while Homelander’s rage pushes the violence far beyond restraint. A final massive blow lands off-camera, making viewers assume Ryan has been killed.

Ryan ultimately survives, as Billy Butcher finds him unconscious but still breathing in the aftermath. His injuries are severe, leaving his condition uncertain rather than fatal at that moment. Although Ryan survived, two characters did die in the episode: Maverick, Translucent’s son, was killed by Cindy, and Cindy herself was killed by Starlight.

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Although Ryan has survived this fight, fans think that he actually may not make it till the end of the season. 

Fans of The Boys are increasingly convinced that Ryan is unlikely to survive Season 5, especially with Antony Starr hinting that Homelander’s worst actions are still ahead. Many believe Ryan is the only emotional anchor preventing Homelander from fully embracing a global rampage, making him a likely casualty if that restraint breaks entirely.

The 'only weakness' theory suggests Homelander may either kill Ryan in a rage or be pushed into doing so, which would finally trigger Billy Butcher’s full descent into a ruthless endgame. On Reddit, fans argue that removing Ryan clears the final emotional barrier, leaving Homelander unhinged and uncontrollable. At the same time, other theories hold that he may sacrifice himself to free the world from his father. Either way, things do not look good for him.

Another major factor is the source material and narrative patterning, which suggests Ryan’s arc is being shaped for a tragic convergence. In the comics, Ryan dies almost immediately after being born, and fans argue the series may eventually echo that outcome in a delayed form. Combined with prophetic statements like Homelander swearing on Ryan’s life before breaking that promise, viewers believe his survival window is narrowing fast, leading to the conclusion that Ryan’s death is being structurally prepared.

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Do you think that Ryan has a chance of surviving? Let us know in the comments!