Why does Homelander concede the upper hand to Stan Edgar in The Boys? Played by Antony Starr, Homelander is a menace in Amazon's live-action adaptation of The Boys. Utterly bereft of a conscience, Homelander is the world's most famous man, and Vought's most powerful superhero, with abilities similar to DC's Superman. Accustomed to getting his own way, Homelander bullies his way through life, resorting to violence, murder, blackmail and even rape to achieve his selfish aims. Why can't Homelander just do the same to The Boys' Stan Edgar?
Sitting proudly at the top of the Vought tree, Homelander has enjoyed absolute control for many years when The Boys began. While branded as a man of the people, Homelander actually detests humanity, seeing himself as infinitely superior. As Madelyn Stillwell discovered, even those close to Homelander fall afoul of his prideful wrath eventually. In The Boys season 2, however, Homelander acted differently around Vought's CEO, Stan Edgar. Despite initially trying to strong-arm Edgar, Homelander soon finds himself on the back foot, unable to assert his usual dominance. Where Homelander once called all the shots, his influence has dwindled by the time The Boys season 2 ends. In The Boys season 3, it's clear that Giancarlo Esposito's Edgar was the one really driving the bus.
The Boys paints a complex picture of the relationship between Vought's former CEO and the company's top product, but it all boils down to what the show has revealed about Homelander's father issues. The real reason Homelander never punched Stan Edgar into a fine paste is because that would be counter-productive to what he truly wants from Edgar - his approval. This ultimately underscores how tragic of a character Homelander truly is.
Stan Edgar Is Homelander's Only Real Father Figure And Rejects Him
As the dark mirror of Superman - who was raised by a wise and loving farmer - it only makes sense that the closest thing Homelander has to a father is a ruthless CEO who considers him as nothing more than "bad product." This became highly apparent in The Boys season 3, episode 4 "Glorious Five-Year Plan." With nothing left to lose and infinitely bored by Homelander's empty threats, Edgar held nothing back and finally gave Homelander the unadulterated facts about their relationship. When Homelander demanded respect, Edgar simply pointed out how that would do nothing to satisfy the "gaping pit of insecurity" that is Homelander's soul. After Homelander mentioned Stan Edgar's adopted daughter Victoria Neuman/Nadia, Edgar gives Homelander a lecture about what it would actually have taken for him to make the CEO proud.
Indeed, though Edgar effortlessly cuts through Homelander's insults to chide him for still wanting his approval like he was his daddy, Edgar is ultimately just disappointed at what little Homelander has accomplished with all his potential. Unlike Nadia, Homelander would be nothing without his powers. Betraying a hint of concern for the man he might have once considered his son, Edgar also rightly predicted how Homelander putting himself at the top of Vought would only put The Seven in danger. Edgar's last line to Homelander at the end of their conversation said it all, "You are not worthy of my respect. You are not a god. You are simply... bad product."
Homelander's Stan Edgar Fear Nearly Cost Him the Soldier Boy Fight
This blatant rejection from his father figure also made the leader of The Seven much weaker when he faced off against Butcher and Soldier Boy – Homelander's real father. Homelander did a great job of hiding his feelings from Stan Edgar. However, as soon as he had a chance to have a real dad, Homelander immediately dropped his defenses, and inadvertently put not only himself but also Ryan in danger.
The Boys' season 3 finale would've gone differently if Edgar was still in charge. If Homelander had only listened more to his father figure, not only would Edgar have accepted Homelander as his son, but he would also have molded Homelander into a more strategic killer. Instead, Homelander subconsciously sought Edgar's approval while basically doing anything and everything to satisfy his base urges, none of which amounted to anything truly useful for his moral fiber, psychological development, Edgar, The Seven, or Vought. Unfortunately, The Boys season 4 will likely see Homelander's son Ryan becoming just like his father: a living, breathing, laser-shooting representation of Stan Edgar's failure as the CEO of Vought International – the "bad product" of the "bad product." The fear of Stan Edgar, and everything he represents, could be a generational curse.