Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Boys season 4, episode 6, “Dirty Business.”

With Gen V being intertwined The Boys, a recent character death in the franchise’s flagship show negatively impacts the upcoming installment of the spinoff. Gen V season 1 is currently the show’s lone run, but it melded so perfectly with The Boys that Gen V season 2 is already on the way. Unfortunately, one compelling figure who made his debut in the spinoff quickly made his way over to be part of The Boys‘ season 4 cast before promptly meeting his end. As a result, Gen V season 2 has now lost what could have been a key component.

Gen V season 2’s renewal means the Guardians of Godolkin are primed for a comeback, but not before some changes to the cast for in-universe reasons as well as an upsetting real-world occurrence. Unfortunately, Chance Perdomo’s untimely passing means his Gen V character won’t be recast, and Andre Anderson will be absent from the upcoming season. However, Gen V season 2 will also be missing another character from the spinoff’s inaugural run, but this time due to a storyline that unfolded in The Boys.

Tek Knight’s Death Hurts Gen V Season 2

Derek Wilson’s franchise character was killed in “Dirty Business”

Derek Wilson’s debut as Tek Knight came in Gen V season 1, episode 4, “The Whole Truth.” In The Boys season 4, episode 6, “Dirty Business,” he made the jump to the heart of the fictional universe. However, after just one episode of The Boys, Tek Knight meets his end at the hands of his butler. The sudden death of Wilson’s character means he can no longer return to be a part of the Gen V season 2 lineup, which is a hugely disappointing development.

Tek Knight initially comes across as a suave, Bruce Wayne-esque character, but it quickly becomes clear that his role as a Vought International insider is at odds with his squeaky-clean public image. Tek Knight was shaping up to be one of the most deviant villains in Gen V, as the show largely steers clear of the huge physical threats like Homelander – despite his brief cameo at the end of Gen V season 1. Now that Tek Knight’s death in The Boys prevents him from crossing back over to appear in Gen V season 2, the spinoff will suffer.

Tek Knight Still Had Much More To Give The Boys & Gen V

Amazon’s superhero show could have benefited from Wilson’s ongoing presence

Tek Knight was an almost beat-for-beat parody of Batman. While there were key differences between the characters, like Tek Knight having bona fide superpowers and twisted sexual desires, it was still exciting to have such a close facsimile of the DC Comics hero as part of Amazon’s satirical franchise. Not to mention that he was one of only a few characters who looked primed to have a firm foothold in both Gen V and The Boys. His death during Tek Knight’s cave episode of The Boys seemingly rips all potential away for this to continue.

Despite having Compound V running through his veins, Tek Knight was still immeasurably weaker than Homelander. So, the dynamic between the two men was incredibly comparable to that of Batman vs. Superman, popularized by Zack Snyder in 2016. Tek Knight’s incredible wealth leveled the playing field slightly and allowed him to rub shoulders with Anthony Starr’s villainous take on Superman. In other words, Tek Knight didn’t just have more potential in Gen V, he could have been a very interesting opponent or accomplice for Homelander in the future.

Is Tek Knight Really Dead In The Boys Season 4?

The Boys’ Batman parody could still return

Killing a Supe in The Boys isn’t impossible, but it does often take extensive planning and bespoke resources that aren’t always easy to acquire. It also depends on what a Supe’s powers are, as this can dictate how difficult they are to kill. Even Sister Sage, whose exterior is not bulletproof, boasts a brain that has proven to fully regenerate after sustaining extensive damage. So, Tek Knight’s apparent death in The Boys looks a little too tame to have caused a permanent exit.

Wilson’s character is choked to death by his Butler, Elijah, who isn’t a Supe. While Tek Knight is restrained at the time and doesn’t have super-strength, the durability often associated with superheroes in The Boys and Gen V makes it difficult to believe that a regular human is capable of killing someone like Tek Knight with such limited tools. So, while the franchise clearly wants the audience to believe Tek Knight is gone, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that it could all be a ruse, and he could return to Gen V, The Boys, or even both.