I am already quite sure that The Boys will kill this supe character after his epic season 4 redemption, but I am still pleading for a different outcome. Since season 1, Amazon’s The Boys has taken a no-holds-barred approach towards character deaths. From its opening episode itself, the show establishes that, in its world of morally skewed superheroes, no one is truly safe, and anyone can perish as a result of one mistake from an overpowered supe. Owing to this, Hughie’s arc begins with his girlfriend Robin’s murder, setting the tone for the show’s unforgiving approach towards character fates.

Despite having super strength and high durability at their disposal, even the supe characters in The Boys are no less vulnerable than the regular humans. This is why many fairly strong supes like Blue Hawk, Mesmer, Popclaw, and the OG Black Noir have met with brutal and sudden deaths. I am afraid that after redeeming one of its main supe characters in season 4, The Boys is gradually setting up his death, continuing its trend of killing likable characters to maintain high stakes.

A-Train’s Redemption Might Be Setting Up A Death He Doesn’t Deserve

A-Train’s Doom Seems Imminent After His Season 4 Redemption

In The Boys season 3’s ending arc, A-Train was already on his way to finding redemption when he started questioning Homelander’s ways instead of mindlessly following his orders. Although his brother still seems to be mad at him in The Boys season 4, A-Train continues to walk on the path of redemption by secretly helping Billy Butcher and the crew. He puts his life on the line by sneaking behind Homelander’s back and serving as an informant for the boys. However, he seems way more comfortable with himself and his abilities after taking the morally right path.

From portraying A-Train as another selfish and ruthless supe, The Boys has completely flipped his script and turned him into one of the most likable characters from the series.

One of A-Train’s biggest regrets was accidentally killing Hughie’s girlfriend. In season 4, he makes amends for that as well by helping Hughie and finally earning his respect. The Boys season 4’s episode 6 also features an awe-inspiring scene where A-Train drops MM at a hospital and feels proud when a child looks up to him. From portraying A-Train as another selfish and ruthless supe, The Boys has completely flipped his script and turned him into one of the most likable characters from the series. This is scary because his redemption might have already sealed his fate.

The Boys Season 3 Made Black Noir This Likable Before Killing Him Too

The Boys Take The “Kill Your Darlings” Trope Too Seriously

The Boys never truly redeemed Black Noir, but made me and several other viewers empathize with him by giving a glimpse of his tragic past. Although Black Noir was initially depicted as a ruthless killer and Homelander’s most loyal enforcer, season 3 reveals that Noir lost his ability to think after Soldier Boy brutally assaulted him. He even experiences delusions of cartoon mascots from Buster Beaver’s Pizza Restaurant, who present themselves as his imaginary best friends and help him deal with his traumas.

I could not help but feel bad for Black Noir after seeing his tragic interactions with his imaginary friends and learning about his past with Soldier Boy. Unfortunately, just when I was starting to like him, The Boys season 3 killed him off in its final episode. What made his demise even more tragic is that he did not even betray Homelander. He just struggled to tell him he was Homelander’s son because of his inability to process his thoughts properly. Given how The Boys killed Noir right after making him more likable, A-Train’s death does not seem too far.

A-Train’s The Boys Season 4 Death Would Be Too Predictable Now

The Boys Season 4 Must Avoid Being Predictable By Not Killing Him

Image via Disney+

Since A-Train has redeemed himself by betraying Homelander, Homelander will not spare him once he discovers he has been helping the boys. However, given how The Boys has previously killed or eradicated many characters, like Queen Meave, Black Noir, and Supersonic, after redeeming them, A-Train’s death seems a little too predictable. When it comes to character deaths, The Boys has always thrived on unpredictability, which makes me a little hopeful that A-Train will eventually survive.

Therefore, even though it seems unlikely that A-Train will outrun Homelander when the overpowered supe learns about his betrayal, I am hoping he will find a way to escape. Since he and the boys have buried their beef, the boys might eventually save him before it is too late. Regardless of what happens in The Boys season 4’s future episodes, I just want the show to, for once, show some mercy towards a redeemed character, and defy the expectations surrounding his fate.