Neuman’s Homelander Twist In The Boys Explained

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for The Boys season 3, episode 4

Here’s The Boys season 3’s jaw-dropping Victoria Neuman betrayal fully explained. Claudia Doumit’s Victoria Neuman first appeared in The Boys season 2 as a staunchly anti-supe politician, before a finale stinger unveiled her as the phantom head-popper. After a year of speculation as to her true goals and intentions, The Boys season 3’s “The Only Man In The Sky” confirmed Neuman as Stan Edgar’s adopted daughter, planted into the U.S. political system to secretly serve the purposes of Vought’s shady CEO.

“Glorious Five Year Plan” sees Edgar make a bold request of his daughter – publicly speak out against Homelander’s televised birthday celebration rant. Neuman voices reluctance, but her father insists. When the briefing begins, however, the congresswoman shockingly claims Homelander provided evidence of crimes and corruption committed by Stan Edgar himself, turning the tables on Vought’s CEO, who made a rare error of judgement by failing to anticipate his daughter’s backstabbing.

The Boys season 3, episode 4 later confirms Victoria Neuman and Homelander were in cahoots for this ploy, but when did they begin affiliating, why did Neuman betray her father, and why did she side with Homelander despite obviously having little admiration for the Seven leader?

Why Did Victoria Neuman Betray Stan Edgar In The Boys Season 3?

Victoria Neuman’s main motivation for betraying her father appears to be survival. Ever since Edgar adopted her from Red River, Neuman has done her father’s dirty work. In return, he provided a loving family environment and genuinely cared for both Victoria and her own daughter, Zoe. The obvious hurt on Giancarlo Esposito’s face when “Nadia” sells him out confirms she isn’t just a weapon in his paternal eyes. Nevertheless, Neuman is her dad’s political puppet and asking her to defy Homelander represents his most dangerous demand yet.

Since Stormfront’s death, Homelander has been acting even more unhinged and erratic than usual. Neuman is fearful that one wrong word will result in Homelander paying her and Zoe an unfriendly visit, and whereas Stan Edgar’s leash might’ve prevented them coming to harm once upon a time, Neuman now believes her father isn’t capable of providing that protection… so she moves higher up the food chain.

When Edgar directly asks for an explanation after the fateful press conference, Neuman replies, “All these years you weren’t protecting me; I was protecting you… I have to look out for Zoe.” The twinge of regret in Victoria’s eyes as she confesses confirms this betrayal caused her much pain, and wasn’t just about getting vengeance on daddy after years of popping his enemies’ heads. The betrayal is more a “survival of the fittest” decision for Neuman. Stan Edgar ruthlessly dropped people who no longer served him in the past; now Victoria Neuman is following that very example by kicking her dad and his dangerous requests to the curb.

Why The Boys’ Victoria Neuman Worked With Homelander

Victoria Neuman’s alliance with Homelander is not a long-standing arrangement in The Boys season 3. In fact, dialogue implies everything happens off-screen during the events of “Glorious Five Year Plan.” Stan Edgar asks his daughter to speak out against Homelander – a mission she’s deeply reluctant to carry out. Meanwhile, Homelander learns about Neuman’s upcoming press conference from Ashley and is apoplectic with rage. It’s not explicitly stated who approaches who, but a clandestine deal is struck between Homelander and Victoria Neuman – the congresswoman speaks out against her own father instead of Homelander, she gets a vial of Compound-V in exchange. Their conversation in The Boys season 3, episode 4 proves Neuman has absolutely no love for Homelander, and almost feels dirty working alongside him.

It’s curious that Neuman’s prize is Compound-V. Stan Edgar could’ve got her some blue stuff for free, surely? Maybe Edgar refused to make Zoe a supe, and Homelander’s bargain was Neuman’s only hope to do so. That desperation to inject her daughter hits upon the crux of Neuman’s reasons for betraying Stan Edgar. The congresswoman believes those who are most powerful are the most protected, and the stronger her daughter is, the safer she’ll be, whereas antagonizing Homelander in The Boys season 3 puts them both in grave danger. Edgar might’ve told Starlight that “true power” is the ability to influence people, but Victoria Neuman clearly believes true power comes from a test tube.

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The Boys continues Friday on Prime Video.