'The Boys' Final Season Review
- John Odette
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
Season Five. [Episodes 1 - 2]
Aired On: Prime Video.
Release Date: 04/08/26.
Genre: Action. Comedy. Crime. Drama.
The Verdict: A Must-See
The satirical superhero series The Boys returns for its fifth and final season, and to say the end is nigh is an understatement for this final lap. The first two episodes of the eight-episode conclusion premiered on Prime Video on April 8th and are both filled end to end with energy, excitement, and blood.
This write-up cannot cover the full season arc, but there is enough in Episodes 1 and 2 to render a short verdict on where this ending is heading: scorched Earth. That sentiment may sound naïve and hyperbolic, but odds are any fan of this show will acknowledge it does not pull its punches.
I don’t feel reviewing plot details serves anyone, but a quick recap of the finer bullet points from the previous season is merited. The Boys are fractured, with Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso), and Frenchie (Tomer Capone) having been caught and placed in internment camps. These prisons, and their prisoners, are humorously dressed in pro-Vought propaganda. Starlight (Erin Moriarty) forms a resistance as the Vought brand grows broader and stronger, usurping power from the highest offices in America. Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) has been deported, and Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) hides in the shadows as the supe-killing virus is slowly manufactured for rollout at the right time.
The performances are as great as they’ve ever been, particularly Antony Starr as the entitled, narcissistic, and insecure Homelander. Starr faces a strong uphill challenge moving forward, separating himself from this role, which is merely a testament to how well developed his character has become. Billy Butcher, a gift of a character, is ever still the snarky, profane, mission-oriented antihero. Urban continues to chew the scenery with delicious defiance, wondrously embodying the antithesis of Homelander. These two have been waiting for years to settle their long-standing conflict, and with the deadly supe-killing virus on the cusp of dissemination, the end is in sight.
There are some new Supes introduced, mostly for plot points and performance of interesting (and gross) new powers. The Prime Video budget continues to spare no expense, even if it’s more shock value than not. A returning character, Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), jumps back into the action in the second episode. Homelander’s father and casual sociopath, Soldier Boy was put on ice at the end of Season 3 and was notably absent virtually all of Season 4. His return marks an interesting turn, both for his connection to Homelander and for simply being virtually indestructible. All while spewing more dated and homo-erotic jokes that will make most grandfathers blush.
Besides delivering universally outstanding performances, horrendous violence, and barrels of dark humor, these first two episodes also lean heavily into their satire, perhaps even harder than in previous seasons. By the standard it has already set for itself, The Boys has not shied away from reflecting the dark realities of our current society. Some viewers may feel that these new episodes have doubled down on their biting social critique and that it is not entirely a bad thing. This echo is one of the many strengths of art that The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke knows all too well.
The atmosphere in this new season carries an air of finality, and after years of jostling between our heroes and villains, the drawing of the shades feels like the right move. Whether it sticks the landing remains to be seen, but its takeoff has been exquisite fun.
Where to Watch:
