Does Homelander Care About Ryan? Learn Now
Does Homelander Care About Ryan in The Boys? Homelander’s relationship with Ryan is complex and multifaceted.
Ryan’s the only person that he’s ever had even a semblance of compassion or empathy towards. He’s shown to genuinely be concerned about Ryan’s welfare and safety and he doesn’t want Ryan to be in a loveless environment like he was when he was Ryan’s age. Hell, he gets distracted in the season 3 finale when Soldier Boy knocks Ryan out, and his concern for him is shown to be real.
At the same time though, it is shown that Homelander cares for Ryan because of selfish reasons. Ryan is Homelander’s son, and Ryan has inherited Homelander’s powers. Homelander, being the narcissist that he is, cares for Ryan as an extension of himself and sees the potential of Ryan as a supe just like him.
He sees Ryan as an extension of himself and a tool to further his own agenda, rather than as an independent individual with his own needs and desires.
When he first met Ryan, Homelander was ecstatic because of Ryan’s powers:
He was disappointed at how his son was raised. Isolated with a mother who didn’t want him to develop his powers,probably not to turn into his father. What Becca did was out of concern but Homelander of course decided to wreck it.
There is nothing pure about his love for his son,at least in this moment. He is happy he is leaving a legacy,that he is actually going to have someone in his life he can relate to.
He often pointed out how lonely it was to be him. But he wasn’t yet completely emotionally beaten at this point,so I see Ryan as more something of a project for him,to ensure his legacy.Homever,what happens in Season 3?
He is isolated. Completely and utterly alone.
There are exactly two members of the Seven he cared even a little bit about. Maeve,whom he admitted that he used to love.
And Black Noir,whom he saw as a brother of sort. Although, killed him.
First one admitted to hating him,the second admitted to lying to him. The rest? He hates Starlight,despises A-train and Deep. Those he cared about betrayed him,so now what does he have left? We are given an insight into what Homelander always so desperately needed. A family. He used to hope it would be the Seven but noope.
Then he learned he has a father. A powerful father (Soldier Boy).
When he finds him with Mallory,he actually spares the Colonel. He had no real reason to do so except not to cause a scene in front of his son.
When Ryan is pushed by Soldier Boy,Homelander immediately jumps to him. Opening himself up to an attack by Soldier Boy that would’ve left him powerless had Butcher not intervened.
Homelander then teams up with Butcher against his father,although he is mostly concerned about Ryan. Maeve attacks him and he fights her almost half heartedly in the beginning..
When Soldier Boy is beaten,Ryan chooses Homelander and the two are off to become Homelander.
So does he care? Yes. Far more than he did about anyone else. If he ever loved Maeve,it was in that psychotic manner when he merely wants her to be his and no one else’s. Noir was the one he trusted and Stormfront was as psychotic as he was but he could relate.Ryan was the only one he cared for even though his son rejected him at first.
He almost died defending him. For Homelander,that’s progress.
A lot of people parrot “narcissistic parents can see their children as extensions of themselves” but you can have NPD and still genuinely love your child. Even with toxic tendencies. Homelander does truly love Ryan and wanted to create the family that he never had, but he also wants to mold him into exactly what he idealizes him to be.
Genuinely loving Ryan *in his own way* is probably the most accurate description. Believe it ot not, Homelander Loves Ryan.
Throughout the series, Homelander’s actions towards Ryan are often manipulative and selfish. He uses Ryan as a means to gain leverage over others, such as Becca or Butcher, rather than genuinely prioritizing Ryan’s well-being.
Does Homelander Care about Ryan?