Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 4, episodes 1-3.

Homelander is under immense pressure as The Boys season 4 opens, and viewers may be wondering why the Supe is getting gray hairs in the newest episodes. The Boys season 4 opens with Homelander plucking a gray pubic hair while going to the bathroom. It’s clear this isn’t the only one he’s gotten recently. He’s filling a jar with gray hairs and keeping them with other objects in his residence at Vought Tower. The Supe is obviously bothered by them, and they hold a deeper meaning heading into The Boys’ new episodes.

When Homelander seeks out Sister Sage, she reveals that Homelander’s graying isn’t limited to a few pubic hairs. The Supe’s stylist is dying the hair on his head as well, as it’s also showing signs of aging. Homelander’s graying hair may come as a surprise to those watching The Boys season 4. However, there’s a simple explanation for what’s happening to The Seven’s leader, even if it feels somewhat out of character for him.

Homelander Does Get Older In The Boys (But He Ages Slowly)

Season 4’s Added Stressors Are Speeding Things Along

Although Homelander’s gray hair may come as a surprise to viewers, the Supe does get older in The Boys — just slower than the average person. Season 4’s gray hairs are a reminder of this fact, successfully humanizing Homelander as he becomes a greater threat than ever. With The Boys team still struggling to take him down, Homelander’s gray hairs serve as a reminder that he’s still a person with vulnerabilities. Sister Sage tells him as much when he visits her, pointing out that he still ages despite holding “a lot of power.”

It’s no coincidence that Homelander is getting gray hair in The Boys season 4, which significantly ramps up the stress the Supe is experiencing. He’s on trial when the fourth outing opens, and he’s hoping to make a bid for even greater power. The Seven is a mess, and Vought is his responsibility now. All of this is weighing on him, and that’s not to mention the “existential mid-life” crisis Sage accuses him of having. These things are speeding up Homelander’s aging, and that goes beyond his hair. Sage reveals that he’s peeing more, and other physical signs could surface later.

How Old Homelander Really Is During The Boys Season 4

The Seven’s Leader Is 41 Years Old In The Amazon Show

When Sister Sage says that Homelander is having a midlife crisis in The Boys season 4, she’s spot on about his age. In Amazon’s adaptation of The Boys, Homelander is born in 1981, making him a little older than 40 years old in season 4 (via Fandom.com). He’s not so old that it’s impacting his physical abilities, but he is hitting the period where gray hairs and other signs of aging are bound to surface. The fact that he’s feeling the stress of The Boys seasons 3 and 4 adds to this, highlighting that he isn’t as young as he appears.

It’s easy to forget that Homelander is middle-aged, as Supes tend to have strength and speed that are more likely to be associated with youth. Vought also ensures that The Seven keep up their appearances, using stylists and other resources to maintain their hair, skin, and physique. The slower aging process also helps Supes seem younger in The Boys. And given that Homelander is collecting his gray hairs in season 4, it’s obvious he’s having trouble accepting that he’s getting older.

Why Homelander Is Collecting His Gray Hairs

It’s A Reminder Of His Mortality

Stranger than Homelander going gray is the realization that he’s collecting and keeping his hairs in a chest of mementos. However, his seemingly odd behavior makes sense when one considers his storyline in The Boys season 4. Looking at the other objects in Homelander’s treasure chest — which include a photo of Stormfront and a milk bottle — it’s clear that all of his keepsakes have bittersweet memories attached to them. The hairs are a reminder of his mortality, and they fit in well with this motif.

Homelander’s focus on his mortality ties into his motivations in season 4, as the Supe wishes to find meaning in what he does. He admits as much to Sister Sage, and he justifies his bid for power through his relationship with Ryan. Homelander begins looking to the future in The Boys season 4, insisting he wants to build a better world for his son. As he ages, he realizes he won’t be around someday and will need to create a lasting legacy to combat that. Unfortunately, that legacy doesn’t bode well for non-Supes.