The Boys often tells a rather simple story. Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, wants to utilize his group to defend democracy, freedom, and civil rights.
That’s why he was an independent contractor for the CIA for so long. Though he detests the thought of Supes roaming free, Butcher is largely controlled by his group. Fans are particularly intrigued by Butcher’s secret weapon, an old combat buddy named Joe Kessler.
But as Kessler plays a bigger role in the story, a number of concerns are raised concerning his presence. Given that Butcher is attempting to prevent Antony Starr’s Homelander from utterly occupying America, the final Season 5 will undoubtedly have even more deceit and spies on both sides. Fans are questioning whether Butcher’s special abilities are related to Joe Kessler.
Updated by Ajay Aravind on October 12, 2024: Victoria Neumann was brutally murdered by Billy Butcher in the Season 4 conclusion, which was beyond the pale. Butcher was only able to do so after striking an enigmatic agreement with Joe Kessler that might have given him complete control over his powers. Fans feel that Kessler is much more than a creation of Butcher’s mind, despite the strong tendency to think that he isn’t a real person. We have therefore updated this post with some more pertinent details.
The Boys’ Joe Kessler Gets a Crucial Instrument
Kessler Is Played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan
All season long, Joe Kessler urged Butcher to either get Homelander’s son Ryan over to the CIA or 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 the boy. They cannot afford to have another blunt instrument with the alt-right cult that Homelander is grooming. Butcher, however, is adamant they can find another means of action. He believes they can murder Homelander and save Ryan. Episode 5, “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son,” connects to the Gen V TV series where Butcher learned of a virus that Godolkin University’s secret science lab was making to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 “supes.” Shockingly, it was stolen by none other than Victoria Neuman (the Vice President) as a counter-measure for if Homelander ever betrayed her.
Butcher’s team frees former Vought CEO Stan Edgar and strong-arms Victoria into showing them the farm where she wants the virus to be replicated. Unfortunately, her team botched the project. Compound V seeped into the ground, allowing the animals to power up, with The Boys left fighting flying sheep and other monstrous creatures. Even bulletproof chickens are also running loose in another graphic action sequence. Thankfully, the heroes come up with a plan. They have one vial of the virus, so they inject it into a dead body and leave it out for the animals to feed on. The plan works and the super-creatures die.
The problem is both the virus and the scientist leading the charge, Dr. Sameer Shah, are gone. They find his leg, which suggests he was devoured in the fracas. The truth, however, is that Butcher found time in the melee to knock out Sameer, and cut off his leg to leave behind as evidence. Butcher kidnapped the man and held him prisoner — Kessler was present, gleeful, and ready to force Sameer to make the virus. Once they can seed the virus out, they can 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 “supes” like Homelander—exactly the weapon Kessler wanted. The catch is that Sameer is Victoria’s significant other, so they must work quickly and ensure they aren’t caught.
The Boys’ Joe Kessler Turned Out to Be a Hallucination
Kessler Is Much Like Tyler Durden in Fight Club
While fans have enjoyed Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Joe Kessler, one major question popped up for the first five episodes of Season 4. Was Joe Kessler real? Theorists pointed out that Butcher always met him alone. No one was there when they connected at the CIA and Butcher poured him a drink. Kessler didn’t sip anything, either. No one is with them in other instances either. Furthermore, Butcher was already hallucinating Becca, his ex-wife, and Ryan’s mother. Becca is the angel on his shoulder, urging him to think less of war and more about showing Ryan the light. Becca has also been activating Butcher’s darker instincts by accident, however. This is also tied to the parasite within Butcher, which was responsible for murdering Ezekiel.
On the contrary, Kessler is the devil on Butcher’s shoulder who activates the parasite, takes control of his body, and does the dirty work. When Kessler and Butcher talked about using Sameer in Season 4, Episode 5, “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son,” the scientist was confused. He was looking around, wondering who Butcher was speaking to. Sameer’s line of sight and overall look of disbelief synced up with where Kessler was, teasing that Joe didn’t exist apart from Butcher’s imagination. This is finally confirmed in Episode 6, “Dirty Business.” The real Joe Kessler had partnered with Billy Butcher during the so-called War on Terror. When they were both in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley on a mission, Kessler was 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed and his body was left behind.
Why an Imaginary Joe Kessler Makes Sense
Butcher’s Desperation Led Him to Spawn Kessler from His Mind
Joe Kessler’s imaginative nature resonates with Butcher’s fractured mentality. Butcher also manifests Becca out of guilt, as his conflict with Homelander led in her death. The wicked supe then took control of Ryan and has been molding him ever since. Butcher now wants to put things right by rescuing the boy. If Ryan had become a hero rather than a villain, Butcher would have served his mission. Unfortunately, Kessler believes Ryan should be executed if he refuses to accept responsibility for 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing his biological father.
Butcher feels out of control when he loses close ones, such as his wife or best friend. This could have resulted in a god complex in which Butcher’s mean side manifested as Kessler. With so much at stake, Kessler would take precedence in such grave circumstances.Butcher would benefit from Kessler’s survival s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s and advice to stay on track and avoid more loss of loved ones. As Homelander seeks advice from Sister Sage, tensions rise. After all, they are carrying out political schemes and manipulating the media. Butcher is desperate, which is why he believes Kessler can help.
