Warning: The article contains spoilers for The Boys season 3.
The Boys season 3 is coming to an end far too soon, but it is surely leaving audiences with a load of content to marinate in considering season 4 has been renewed. With Jensen Ackles making his debut on the show as Soldier Boy, Supernatural fans, in particular, have a lot to digest and differentiate him from his more popular character, Dean Winchester.
Eric Kripke has never been shy about dropping easter eggs in The Boys to his iconic brainchild, Supernatural, and this season has more references than usual since Ackles has joined the cast. Beyond the intentional references, though, there are quite a few similarities between Soldier Boy and Dean Winchester, even if they have wildly different goals.
Their Flirty Natures
Soldier Boy's first scene shows the audience that he certainly thinks of himself as a ladies man. In "Barbary Coast," he can be seen boldly flirting with Mallory, but she is less than receptive, which Soldier Boy is not pleased about.
Dean Winchester's flirtatious personality is one of his most defining personality traits, especially during the first few seasons. However, he is significantly more respectful when he approaches women than Soldier Boy. He also calms down slightly in season 6 when he falls in love with Lisa. When circumstance forces him to forget about her, he is right back to his flirty ways, with smirks and winks that later show up with Soldier Boy.
They Are Skilled Fighters
Soldier Boy is known for being one of the strongest Supes in history. Even Black Noir removes his microchip and runs when he heard that the Supe is back, and Homelander is afraid himself. In the big fight scene in "Herogasm," viewers see that their trepidation was justified as Soldier Boy has some intimidating fighting powers.
The training that Dean received from his father, plus years of hunting some of the creepiest monsters, has made him an impressive fighter. He easily fights off demons, vampires, shapeshifters, and, sometimes, humans. Hand-to-hand combat is second nature for the hunter, a skill that is also important for Soldier Boy.
They Love A Drink
Dean Winchester is not one to turn down a drink at any point in the series. Even when the end of the world is nearing, and he thinks that there is nothing that he can do, he pours himself a glass of whiskey and buckles in.
In "Herogasm," Butcher brings Soldier Boy a brown bag of liquor, which the Supe drinks eagerly to accompany his burger. Of course, considering that the ageless Supe has been living like The Winter Soldier for decades and only just escaped, he definitely deserves a drink to take in the new world and slowly seek vengeance against those who put him in the position in the first place.
Rock & Roll Moments
Soldier Boy's debut in "Barbary Coast" opens with the rock song, "Rock You Like A Hurricane" by Scorpions. The song fits with his abrasive character, but it also seems to be a callback to Dean Winchester.
Dean Winchester is nothing if not a classic rock fan. From his iconic line in the pilot, "Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole," the episodes are filled with both diegetic and non-diegetic rock music. In the finale, when he goes to heaven, he listens to the classic Supernatural song, "Carry On My Wayward Son."
They Know Their Way Around A Weapon
In another callback to Supernatural, Soldier Boy is first seen wielding a grenade launcher - a weapon that Dean pines over for most of the series. While Dean only gets to use it on one occasion in season 12, he is well-versed in all sorts of weaponry, from guns, to knives, to ninja stars.
Both the former soldier and Dean Winchester are skilled with armament. With Dean's hunting skills and the Supe's military experience, the pair have undeniable skill. There are very few people that could hold their own against either of the characters, especially if they are armed.
Neither Are Tech-Savvy
In Supernatural, Sam is the more tech-savvy of the two brothers, but he is not as technically talented as Charlie, another Supernatural character with a solid arc. Dean is not entirely inept with technology, but he prefers hands-on work to sitting behind a computer and finding Bluetooth connections. He finds himself relying on Sam and Charlie for this kind of work.
Hughie insists that Soldier Boy cannot locate the rest of his team on his own, saying that the Supe does not know his way around GPS, Bluetooth, or the Internet. Considering Soldier Boy was last conscious in the twentieth century, his response is, "You made those words up." He has no idea what certain technologies are, let alone how to use them. His tech-ineptitude is more severe than Dean's, but the Winchester isn't exactly coding any new programs, either.
They Love Fast Food
When Hughie and Butcher finally manage to sit Soldier Boy down in a hotel room to speak with him, he is eager to nourish himself with a hearty meal from Vought-a-Burger. After expressing his disappointment that a sauce with a racist ring to it has been discontinued, he digs into the burger, fries, and fried chicken.
Dean Winchester's eating habits are a running joke on Supernatural. While his brother prefers salads and health shakes, Dean is uncomfortable with so-called "rabbit food" and almost always opts for a burger. In season 4, Zachariah even attempts to earn Dean's favor with a plate of cheeseburgers. When Dean refuses to eat a burger in "My Bloody Valentine," everyone knows that something is wrong. It seems like Jensen Ackles is carrying those onscreen eating habits with him to his next acting adventure.
They Need Help From Friends
When Soldier Boy comes face to face with Homelander in their first epic showdown, the Supe comes close to losing the fight. Without the help from Butcher and Hughie (one of Jack Quaid's best roles), Soldier Boy could have easily lost that fight to Homelander a lot faster. This is especially true since he wastes a lot of his energy accidentally blowing up the Herogasm event.
Dean Winchester has gotten into more than one sticky situation himself. Whether it is Sam, Castiel, Bobby, or Rowena, his friends have stepped in more than once to save him from whatever supernatural threat has him by the throat. As competent as both characters are, they are unashamed to work as a team to beat down the bad guys.
They Both Turn Their Heads For Bobby Singer
In Supernatural, the genius character Bobby Singer is a father figure to Dean Winchester, and he would do anything for the older man. Funnily enough, actor Jim Beaver plays a character by the exact same name on The Boys as a part of the series' biggest reference to the fantasy show.
When Soldier Boy wanders midtown Manhattan in a blacked out haze, he spends a moment focusing on a political campaign sign for Robert Singer. This is the first time that Soldier Boy sees Singer, and the extra moment that he spends staring at the sign shows that it grabs his attention. Whatever the reason may be, Bobby Singer on a bus stop sign would indefinitely grab Dean Winchester's attention, as well.
People Fear Them
While Dean Winchester does have a solid character arc, one thing remains consistent from season 1; He is one badass hunter. Monsters and humans alike fear having Dean Winchester on their tail. In "Dark Side of the Moon," a hunter prompts his partner to kill Dean after shooting Sam, because, "You want to spend the rest of your life knowing Dean Winchester’s on your ass? ‘Cause I don’t."
Soldier Boy's arc starts with a hunt to track down the Supes on his former team, instilling fear in the subjects of his pursuits. The Twins are among these Supes, and they just about quiver in fear when Soldier Boy confronts them. No one wants to get on this superhuman's bad side, and the same can be said for enemies of Dean Winchester.