Oi, have you watched season 5 of The Boys? Amazon Prime’s superhero series is back for its final season, and we’re ready to dive into the conclusion of this brutal satire of the superhero genre, modern celebrity worship, and politics.
Based on the 2006 comic book by writer Garth Ennis and artist Darick Robertson, The Boys was adapted as a series, first airing on July 26, 2019. Seven years since and it has captivated audiences with its dark themes, intense action, and cynical take on superheroes. The show follows several factions, including Vought International (representing corporate power), The Seven (corporate-funded superheroes), and The Boys (vigilantes)—all of which have been fighting for the past four seasons.
The finale opens with new management, as Homelander (Antony Starr) is now in control of Vought and the White House, pushing Starlight (Erin Moriarty) into a desperate guerrilla resistance, and Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) into deploying a virus (Compound V) against supes. Will we finally see Butcher’s promise of Scorched Earth just to defeat Homelander?
Join us as we list down the reasons this final season of The Boys is worth the watch! Be warned, spoilers ahead.
Returning Characters and New Faces Spice Up the Line-Up
Images from Amazon Prime
The two warring factions are back for the last time. Before the premiere of season 5, Amazon Prime released two posters showing the key players for this 5th season. Butcher, Starlight, Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid), Marvin T. ‘Mother’s Milk’ Milk / M.M. (Laz Alonso), Serge / Frenchie (Tomer Capone), and Kimiko Miyashiro / The Female (Karen Fukuhara) return as the vigilantes, alongside former The Seven Supe Reggie Franklin / A-Train (Jessie T. Usher).
Meanwhile, Homelander, Jessica Bradley / Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), Misty Tucker Gray / Firecracker (Valorie Curry), Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie), Ben / Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), Kevin Moskowitz / The Deep (Chace Crawford), and Earving / Black Noir II (Nathan Mitchell) return as the overpowered Supes in charge of the new America.
Fresh faces joining the cast are Daveed Diggs as Oh Father, Emma Elle Paterson as Sheline, Dylan Colton as Jetstreak, Ely Henry as The Worm, Jared Padalecki as Mister Marathon, Misha Collins as Malchemical, and more from the cast of Gen V: Jaz Sinclair as Marie Moreau, London Thor as Jordan Li, Lizzie Broadway as Emma Meyer, Maddie Phillips as Cate Dunlap, and Asa Germann as Sam Riordan.
The stacked cast brings another round of unforgettable performances, bringing to life this action-packed world that’s quickly descending into chaos.
Get Ready for Homelander’s Ascension
Picking up straight after season 4’s finale, season 5 starts with Homelander holding America hostage after his actions during the Transoceanic Flight 37 was leaked. This action throws viewers right into the fray, and becomes the main catalyst for everyone’s actions this season.
These progression of events are just the tip of the iceberg for Homelander’s overall takeover of America and humanity itself. The question now is if The Boys can actually put an end to Homelander’s machinations—all the while staying alive.
A Reflection of Real-World Current Events
Stills from Amazon Prime
The Boys has always been a satire, which makes the viewing experience different for everyone. With the state of the world now, it could be a little heavier to watch so be warned. Director Eric Kirpke admitted to being bummed out since they finished writing before the 2024 elections. “It sounds super naive now, but I swear the plan was, ‘Let’s write a 1984 version of what creeping authoritarianism looks like in America,’ and maybe everyone will be like, ‘Whew, we really dodged a bullet.’ But instead, we got hit with the bullet,” Kripke shared in the interview with Deadline.
Crumbs of Character Development
Every character who is still alive by season 5 have had their fair share of trauma and space to respond to such events all on their free will. Some characters chose to side with Homelander like Ashley, the Deep, and Sister Sage, while others have spiraled into their grief and guilt like Annie and M.M. Others stay the same, or become worse, like Butcher and Homelander. There’s also Kimiko who processed her trauma well enough that in the time she was away from her crew, she regained her ability to speak and is able to express herself better.
Though, the character arc that takes the spotlight is A-Train’s story. From starting out as a selfish superhuman who could care less about the lives of others to becoming a critical savior during the camp rescue mission, A-Train’s redemption arc gave viewers a glimmer of hope. Don’t get too attached to any character though—as such with The Boys, you never know when your favorites will get snuffed out.
All’s Well that Ends Well?
Despite the relatively calm way that the series ended, it felt like a hole had been made, and nothing is going to fill the void. The reason is not only because characters died, but in the end, the story felt like it had just went full circle. The supes are in line and live peacefully with humans, yet the question still stands: Did the fight even mean something?
All in all, The Boys season 5 started out strong by continuing the unique storytelling and character explorations, even if they are quite heavy and at the extreme.
SEA Wave gives the series 3.5 out of 5 waves.