Giancarlo Esposito has high hopes for his character in The Boys, and I'll be so disappointed if the Amazon show doesn't use the actor's Stan Edgar idea. Esposito's Stan Edgar has a lot of potential in The Boys' earlier seasons, as he's the CEO of Vought and one of the few characters who doesn't fear Homelander. Unfortunately, Stan is removed from Vought and arrested in The Boys season 3, and this limits his appearances in the show from there. Esposito's character does show up in The Boys season 4, but there's no pay-off for his tense relationship with Homelander.
Esposito has thoughts about how Stan could return in Amazon's superherofranchise, and it's likely his character will pop up again in The Boys season 5. If he does, I hope the series capitalizes on the actor's idea for the character. Doing so would finally allow The Boys to fully deliver on Stan's feud with Homelander. It would also give Esposito a role worthy of his talents, and it would allow one of the show's most underused characters to go out on a high note.
The Boys Really Needs To Use Giancarlo Esposito's Stan Edgar Pitch
Stan Edgar Becoming A Supe Could Take The Show In Interesting Directions
In an interview with British GQ, Esposito was asked how he'd like Stan Edgar's story to end in The Boys, and his response was blunt: "I want Stan Edgar to get some V, man." The actor is, of course, referring to Compound V, the substance that turns people into Supes. The actor went on to say Stan could even get "some Temporary V," noting that it would allow his character to "really be a bad***" and "get in the action." This would be an interesting twist for The Boys season 5, as Stan isn't fully on either side of the main conflict.
Giving Stan Edgar Compound or Temp V would enable him to seek revenge on Homelander, something he no doubt wants after being ousted from Vought and thrown in prison. He could also go after Billy Butcher, especially after Karl Urban's character killed his adopted daughter at the end of The Boys season 4. It seems unlikely that Stan would use Supe powers for the greater good, but he could certainly impact the outcome of the show through his personal vendettas. And it's possible he could form an alliance with The Boys' heroes, if only to defeat Homelander or Butcher.
There are so many interesting directions Stan Edgar's character could go in if The Boys season 5 sees him using Compound V, and all of them would make great use of Esposito's acting.
There are so many interesting directions Stan Edgar's character could go in if The Boys season 5 sees him using Compound V, and all of them would make great use of Esposito's acting. They'd also allow the final outing to bring closure to certain storylines and relationships that haven't gotten enough attention from the Amazon show's recent seasons.
Giancarlo Esposito Has Been Underused In Amazon's Superhero Series
The Actor & His Character Demand More Attention
Image via Prime Video
In addition to addressing dropped storylines in The Boys season 5, turning Stan Edgar into a Supe would make up for another one of the series' shortcomings: the fact that it totally underutilizes Esposito as an actor. Thanks to his time as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, Esposito is one of the most recognizable stars to join the cast of The Boys. And he puts his talent to work impressively in Stan Edgar's brief moments on-screen. Esposito turns the character into an intimidating presence that's even willing to take on Homelander.
The Boys is ending with season 5, and while that might be disappointing to fans of the Amazon show, it feels like the right time to wrap things up.
Such a character shouldn't be wasted, and Vought obviously falls apart in Stan Edgar's absence. It's an exciting moment when The Boys season 4, episode 5 brings Esposito back into the fold. Unfortunately, it's also short-lived. Victoria Neuman does prevent him from going back to prison, though, something that none of the characters seem to realize. That sets up a more promising return in The Boys season 5, and I really hope it's one that fits with Esposito's vision for his character. Stan deserves more attention, and he should get it before the end.
Breaking Bad & Star Wars Prove The Boys Star Can Play A Great Villain
He Can't Lean Into This As Much In The Boys
It's especially disappointing that The Boys underutilizes Esposito during its early outings because his previous work proves what a force he can be. Shows like Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian place the actor in iconic villain roles, and he excels at bringing intimidating foes like Gus Fring and Moff Gideon to life. He channels a similar energy as Stan Edgar in The Boys, but he's unable to go as far with it. Esposito's character never gets to lean fully into Stan's ruthless nature, as Homelander and Neuman get rid of him before he can.
Giving Stan Compound V would level the playing field, allowing Esposito to finally unleash the darkest parts of the character.
This left me wondering what he's really capable of, though it's hard to see how Stan could realistically stand up to someone like Homelander — even if the Supe is afraid of him. Giving Stan Compound V would level the playing field, allowing Esposito to finally unleash the darkest parts of the character. I have little doubt this would lead to a standout performance from the actor. It would also help the character leave more of an impression. And I could see it setting up a perfectly on-brand ending for The Boys season 5.
Stan Edgar Taking Compound V Sets Up A Perfect Ending For The Boys Season 5
Vought Should Remain, Even If Homelander Falls
Esposito returning as a Supe in The Boys season 5 wouldn't just improve his character. It would also set up a great ending for the Amazon series — one that fits well with its themes and makes sense of its franchise future. While Homelander seems destined to fall by the end of the anti-supero series, Vought should probably remain as the credits of the finale roll. The Boys is hardly an optimistic show when it comes to power and greed, and it's easy to see Vought surviving the fallout of Homelander's misdeeds and continuing to wreak its own havoc on the world.
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This could happen with Stan Edgar returning as the head of operations, and he'd be in a perfect position to distance himself — and thus, the company — from the Supe. Such an ending would work thematically for The Boys, and it would make sense of Stan's storyline for the past four seasons. It would also give Esposito an opportunity to reappear in future spinoffs, and it would prove his character is as good at playing the long game as the series suggests.
I'm hoping some of these spinoffs show the aftermath of The Boysseason 5, however, and these would be easier to pull off if both Vought and Supes still existed.
Speaking of spinoffs, Vought needs to stick around if The Boys franchise plans to continue beyond the original show. Amazon has several The Boys spinoffs planned, though some of them are set to take place before or at the same time as the initial series. I'm hoping some of these spinoffs show the aftermath of The Boys season 5, however, and these would be easier to pull off if both Vought and Supes still existed.
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
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