He appears to have died at the end of The Boys season 3, but he reappears in Gen V later, prompting many to wonder, “Is Soldier Boy really dead?” The character was a huge addition to The Boys season 3, with Jensen Ackles’ satirical take on the Captain America archetype fitting in nicely with the world.

Soldier Boy plays a significant role, thus it is not surprise that he is one of numerous The Boys characters to appear in Generation V. However, the conclusion of season 3 made Soldier Boy’s cameo problematic, forcing Gen V to go inventive.

Gen V is the spin-off of Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys, and episode 6 ended up being the show’s strangest yet, dealing directly with the consequences of Cate’s treachery. After the gang regains their memories, Emma leaves to pursue Sam, leaving Marie, Andre, Jordan, and Dusty with an unconscious Cate. Strange events begin to unfold, putting the Godolkin group in grave peril. While the majority of the episode focuses on the crew’s attempts to escape with their lives, there is also a humorous appearance from Soldier Boy.

How Did Soldier Boy Return In Gen V?

Soldier Boy Is A Construct Of Cate’s Mind

Soldier Boy is in a poor position following the conclusion of The Boys season 3, with many fans asking how he might be brought back. After the skirmish at the Seven Tower, Grace Mallory rescues Soldier Boy and places him back in a gas chamber, probably unconscious. As a result, it appears that the only way to reintroduce the real-world Soldier Boy in Generation V is to delve further into his tale before The Boys’ final season. Fortunately, the authors discovered another solution: Cate’s intellect.

While exploring Cate’s mind, the Godolkin gang shockingly sees Soldier Boy appear in the middle of the woods. Jensen Ackles returns as this figment of Cate’s imagination, explaining he was Cate’s imaginary friend when she was a child. A young Cate had a massive crush on him, with Soldier Boy describing various 𝓈ℯ𝓍ual acts she fantasized about. This odd sequence is funny but perfectly solves Soldier Boy’s cameo problem. Having Soldier Boy be a figment of Cate’s imagination is a great way to feature him without messing up The Boys‘ story.

Is Soldier Boy Dead After His Gen V Cameo?

Soldier Boy Is Still Alive In The Gas Chamber

Soldier Boy explains to the Gen V gang that blood vessels are bursting in Cate’s mind, with them randomly 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing and destroying parts of her imagination. Soon after explaining this, another blood vessel bursts, instantly turning Soldier Boy into a pile of ash.

Although this version of Soldier Boy is dead, the actual character is still alive after his Gen V cameo, as the version seen in Gen V isn’t real. Gen V saw the opportunity to visually 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 one of The Boys‘ most powerful supes and took it, even if it doesn’t mean a whole lot for the future of the franchise.

What Soldier Boy’s Gen V Appearance Means For The Boys

The Public Believes What Vought Released About Soldier Boy

Soldier Boy expects to play a role in The Boys season 5, meaning his appearance in Gen V may impact that show’s final season. Since this version of Soldier Boy is entirely inside Cate’s mind, his death won’t change anything, with the imaginary friend not knowing anything that the real Soldier Boy does.

However, Soldier Boy’s Gen V cameo sheds a little light on the public’s perception of him. Due to the Godolkin gang’s reaction to seeing Soldier Boy, it is clear that he is one of the world’s most famous supes, even if he disappeared for a few decades. Andre mentions he is a Russian asset, the cover-up story Vought pushed after Soldier Boy’s fiasco. It seems residents of The Boys’ universe bought into this narrative.

Gen V shows the lasting impact of Soldier Boy’s character, which should continue in The Boys season 5. The mid-credits scene of The Boys’ season 4 finale confirmed that Soldier Boy is still alive and now Homelander knows where he is, meaning that he is likely to play a key part as the show heads into its final season.

This Was The Perfect Small Connection To The Boys For Gen V

Soldier Boy Could Show Up & Not Change The Story

Bringing in Jenson Ackles for this small cameo was a brilliant way to connect Gen V to The Boys without spoiling anything coming up in the regular series. It also showed how the action in the original series plays out for the world at large. Knowing Solider Boy is Cate’s childhood fantasy was fun and plays strongly into how Vought wants its heroes to appear to regular people. Having everyone act like fanboys when Soldier Boy showed up also shows how people see the supes, even when they go bad.

The Gen V finale had notable cameos, including Homelander’s intervention in the conflict between Marie, Andre, Jordan, and Emma against Sam and Cate. However, as predicted, Homelander sided with Sam and Cate, allegedly 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing Marie before Vought announced Sam and Cate were heroes. Billy Butcher also made a post-credits appearance. The Soldier Boy appearance was well-received by fans of The Boys since it was done for fun rather than a larger storyline.