‘The Boys’ Season 5 So Far: A Discussion (Spoiler Heavy)

Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and the boys are back—or even more fitting, Daddy’s home—for the first two episodes of the final season, marking the beginning of the end of its seven-year run. This highly anticipated show has stayed on my radar since it debuted in 2019, and since then it has been bloody, disturbing, and downright diabolical.

The story picks up one year after we last saw the team. Homelander (Antony Starr) is stronger than ever, with half the nation—and even its president—at his command, chanting his name. His handpicked team of supes are placed in positions of power, and his mortal enemies are either captured or soon to be placed in camps. Nothing seems capable of disrupting the goal of the self-proclaimed nation’s hero… until something does.

The Boys are Back

Season 5, Episode 1 opens with Starlight (Erin Moriarty) sneaking into a rally held by Homelander and company, where they spread their ideology and smear anyone who goes against them. Here, she leaks the Flight 37 video from Season 1, Episode 4. The footage depicts Homelander and Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) abandoning—and even threatening—a plane full of passengers as it hurtles toward destruction. This humiliating revelation is a major blow to Homelander’s ego, as it directly contradicts his need for love and admiration from the citizens he claims to protect.

But Vought is Vought. A team of PR agents quickly works to spin the narrative and win back public support for The Seven. Meanwhile, Homelander aims to snuff out and eliminate his adversaries for good. Desperate times call for desperate measures. He escalates things—not just arresting Starlight supporters in the streets, but raiding the homes of those who even dare to like or share posts on social media. Everyday civilians in this fictional America are facing persecution from a madman in the White House. Workplaces and homes are no longer safe, and imprisonment seems almost certain.

The last time we saw the gang, their fates were uncertain. Hughie (Jack Quaid), MM (Laz Alonso), and Frenchie (Tomer Capone), along with thousands of others, were captured by Vought at the end of Season 4 and placed in camps across America. We all know what these camps are meant to represent—subtlety is not the show’s strength, and it doesn’t try to be. In classic “The Boys” fashion, it’s blunt and in-your-face, something audiences have come to expect. Here, they fight, plot, and wait for freedom, unsure if it will ever come. Hope is running thin.

‘The Boys,’ Un-subtle Again

Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), on the other hand, was deemed such a threat that she was deported back to the Philippines, where she now cares for a young child—and she talks. After four seasons of communicating through sign language, death stares, and pure violence, this felt strange. We only discover this after a reunion with Starlight and Butcher, as they break the team free from Vought’s camp.

Beyond doing the right thing, Butcher’s motivation is clear: to continue developing the virus capable of killing Homelander—maybe even every Supe in the world. But to do that, he needs Frenchie. That’s what makes Billy such a compelling driving force for the show—and such a terrible friend. He’s focused, determined, and always delivers an amazing performance. He remains a deeply conflicted character we love to root for, even as we’re constantly reminded that maybe we shouldn’t. A classic trainwreck you can’t look away from.

In their effort to free their comrades, we get the season’s most notable highlight so far: the life and death of A-Train (Jessie T. Usher). To say this character was hated in Season 1 would be an understatement. But with each passing season, we saw gradual change—a shift in his mindset. By the end, he earns the title of hero.

Calling Back to Previous Seasons

From his explosive introduction, A-Train was a selfish speedster who rarely considered the consequences of his actions. But by the end of his journey, he redeems himself time and time again. After saving Hughie from Homelander, he finds himself in the race of his life during a thrilling chase sequence. Behind him is an enraged Homelander out for blood; ahead of him, a young woman simply trying to make it home.

This moment calls back to Season 1, Episode 1, when A-Train killed Hughie’s girlfriend, Robin, by running through her at super speed while high on Compound V (basically super steroids). This time, A-Train avoids the pedestrian—but the effort leads to his downfall. He’s captured and killed by Homelander, though not before speaking truth to power. It’s an amazing moment that shows true growth, accountability, and compassion. He doesn’t just save lives—he sacrifices his own to do so.

With the gang reunited, the show returns to one of its strongest elements: the team dynamic. With Dr. Sameer (Omid Abtahi) back and the virus plan underway, the team enters phase one—finding a test subject. Watching these personalities clash and bounce off each other is always entertaining. War has clearly taken its toll.

Moving to Phase 2?

Starlight has grown more hardened, adopting a level of ruthlessness and impulsiveness that aligns her more closely with Butcher’s ideology—something we’ve never really seen before. Meanwhile, Hughie steps into a leadership role, becoming the voice of reason. MM and the rest of the crew are conflicted about the plan, but ultimately, they move forward.

Their target is Rock Hard, a Supe with rock-like skin and durability comparable to Homelander’s. Meanwhile, Homelander seeks out a tracker to end this game of cat-and-mouse—and wakes up Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), his father, who has been on ice since the events of Season 3. This is the moment fans have been waiting for. How will they reconcile? What’s the endgame? What does Soldier Boy want in return?

The final moments of Episode 2 deliver shocking, game-changing results. The virus works—and it’s diabolical. In a scene that plays almost like horror, we watch these powerful figures reduced to nothing, collapsing as black ooze pours from their bodies. The plan is a success, and The Boys are ready to move to phase two.

But in the final seconds, a twist is introduced.

More to Come

Overall, I’m happy with the direction of the show so far. There are a few lines about series finales never satisfying everyone, which puts me slightly on edge. It feels like a subtle warning that the ending might feel rushed for some viewers—but we’ll see. I’m also curious about when and how the cast from “Gen V” will be introduced. Technically, they’re still on the run, so I expected them to appear sooner, though that might have overcrowded the story.

With four episodes left, I’m all in for the ride.