The Boys season 4 may have just dropped its final episode, but after a season of twists, turns, flying mutant sheep and unexpected new Supe friends, we have our sights firmly set on what comes next.
There was no shortage of cliffhangers in the final episode of the fourth season, however one detail in particular stands out: the Red River Institution. We're given another peek at the group home in the final episode so we'll no doubt be seeing a lot more of it when season 5 eventually makes its way to our screens.
But what actually is the Red River Institution? Let's get into it.
What is the Red River Institute?
Founded by Vought International in 1965, The Red River Institute is an orphanage that takes in orphan Supes.
In many cases when children discover their powers, their first victim ends up being their parents, so to ensure they don't hurt anyone else, they're sent to Red River to get to grips with controlling their powers.
Though as with most things under the Vought umbrella, it's not a particularly caring environment dedicated to supporting America's youth.
We've previously seen Red River referenced in The Boys' first season when Teddy Stillwell was taken to Red River after Homelander killed his mother Madelyn, with it later cropping up again after Hughie visits it in season 3 to investigate Victoria's past. Oh, and there's that major mention it gets in the finale episode of season 4.
Who's been to Red River?
Victoria Neuman, formerly known as Nadia, was adopted from the institute by Stan Edgar back in the day, with her having accidentally killed her parents when she was just a baby.
Following in the footsteps of her mother, Victoria's daughter Zoe is then taken to Red River at the end of The Boys season 4. With her mother having been killed by Butcher and Edgar now in hiding, she's in a very vulnerable spot, with it feeling very likely that she'll appear in Gen V season 2 and The Boys season 5.
Fans of Gen V will also know that Marie Moreau spent time at Red River (she unintentionally killed her parents after finding her powers of controlling blood with her mind), while Teddy Stilwell was house in the orphanage.
Beyond that, these are the Red River orphans we’ve seen across The Boys universe:
- Aqua Agua
- Big
- Boobie Face
- Boombox
- Chelsey W.
- Fang
- Flashback
- Ghost
- Human Tongue
- Jason B.
- Jastin K.
- Kingdom
- Marie Moreau
- Mason/"Wall Climbing Kid"
- Milena C.
- Mo-Slo
- Papers
- Patrick T.
- Paul H.
- Picante Balls
- Ranch Dressing Cum Squirter
- Samir
- Teddy Stillwell
- The Narrator from Diabolical
- Tony
- Victoria Neuman
- William R.
- Zoe Neuman
Of course, most of the characters from Red River who we meet in The Boys: Diabolical end up being murdered by Homelander.
How will the Red River group home feature in The Boys season 5?
Let's put it this way: Homelander is in need of manpower, and Vought has a group house full of impressionable young Supes who no doubt want someone to look up to and guide them.
Despite having power over the US government, the Seven and many willing extremist Supes on his side already, season 5 will no doubt see Hoemlander trying to win over Victoria's daughter Zoe in his efforts to Make America Super Again. Given the context, we can't imagine it'll be a hard sell.
Whoever he ends up successfully recruiting from Red River, there's no doubt that it will feature heavily in the show's fifth season.
On the importance of the Red River group home, showrunner Eric Kripke said in a 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, “Red River becomes an interestingly bigger and bigger part of The Boys universe.”
Hmmm.
While we'll have to wait until The Boys season 5 is out to see exactly what direction this goes, it definitely feels like things are gearing up for the ultimate battle of Supes vs The Boys.
