The Boys season 5 is already off to an explosive start, with a major full-circle character death in the premiere episode. But episode 2 clues us in on exactly how Homelander could survive the Supe plague that Butcher and the Boys are counting on to take the laser-eyed psychopath down.

Full spoilers for The Boys season 5 episode 2 follow.

In The Boys season 5 episode 2, 'Teenage Kix', Butcher, Hughie, Kimiko, Starlight, and Frenchie sneak into the 'Kix Crib' with the intention of testing their reverse-engineered Supe-killing Virus on Rock Hard, a literal man-mountain who's nearly as indestructible as Homelander, we're told.

Naturally, their best laid plans fall apart when Soldier Boy arrives to take out Butcher and reclaim the Virus. Long story short, they trick Soldier Boy, who ends up being exposed to the Virus, alongside Rock Hard and fellow Teenage Kix member, Jetstreak. The latter two die horribly, coughing up black bile and, in Rock Hard's case, literally crumbling into a pool of debris, blood, and guts.

Soldier Boy, too, seemingly dies – his skin blistering, unable to draw breath as he falls to the ground. The Boys are understandably stoked about their proven Supe-killing superweapon. After fleeing the scene, The Deep and Homelander arrive to survey the carnage. Homelander half-feigns emotional distress over the death of his father as he's wheeled into an ambulance in a body bag. But just as Homelander turns away, Soldier Boy bolts up, evidently still alive. Cue credits.

But what does it all mean? Clearly, the Supe Virus didn't have a fatal effect on Soldier Boy. There are two explanations for this – either the batch of the Virus that Sameer and Frenchie created has lost some potency (though Rock Hard and Jetstreak collapsing into puddles in seconds contradicts this) or, more likely, the fact that Solider Boy is one of the few Supe's left alive who took the original Compound V (aka V-One) means the Virus isn't as effective on him, and others who took V-One.

As for Homelander, that gives him a clear goal for this season: level up by taking V-One and neutralize the Boys' not-so-secret weapon. Of course, there are other ways Homelander could bite the bullet (not that that would kill him) in the final season. Soldier Boy being back means there's a Supe capable of burning the Compound V out of his blood just hanging around Vought Tower. Fellow Project Odessa survivor and blood bender Marie Moreau is one of the few Supes on the planet who is as powerful as Homelander and capable of popping his noggin, though she's seemingly being sidelined in Pittsburgh if a throwaway line in episode 1 is anything to go by. And there's always Homelander's superpowered son, Ryan Butcher, waiting in the wings for some poetic patricide. Whatever happens, it's shaping up to be a thrilling final season.

The Boys season 5 episodes 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Prime Video. Never miss an episode with our The Boys season 5 release schedule, or refresh yourself on all the things to remember going into the final countdown with our The Boys season 5 recap.