The Boys Season Five Review: A Gory Finale with Terrifying American Parallels
The Boys returns for its fifth and final season, bringing this extraordinary superhero satire to a close. Created by Eric Kripke from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic books, the show has built a reputation as a gory splatterfest, with 32 previous episodes featuring creative uses of body fluids and appendages that have cemented its place in TV history.
Setting the Stage for a Mighty Showdown
Season five finds us poised for a showdown between Homelander, played by Antony Starr, who is increasingly power-mad and possibly insane as angelic voices speak to him, and the Butcher crew. Homelander now rules the US, with the president and Sage at his command. However, the gang has exposed him by screening footage of him abandoning Flight 37's passengers to die, a revelation from season one.
Despite this, Firecracker on her show The Truthbomb and other media outlets dismiss it as AI-generated propaganda by the Starlighters, echoing real-world political spin. The bigger challenge remains: how to bring Homelander down and restore order to the US.
Reuniting the Crew and the Supe-Killing Virus
This requires reuniting Butcher's non-incarcerated members—Billy Butcher, Starlight, Kimiko, and ideally A-Train—to free the incarcerated half, including Hughie, Frenchie, and Mother's Milk, from a Freedom Camp. The season-long mission involves producing enough of a supe-killing virus to eliminate Homelander and his allies, injecting it into his well-protected system.
Initial Episodes and Rising Action
For devoted fans, the first couple of episodes feel slightly tired, with more exposition than usual to catch everyone up. They include plenty of gore, fights, and moments like Kimiko regaining her voice, though her interactions with Frenchie remain sweet. The show maintains its signature bum- and dick-based humor, but lacks the flashes of invention that made earlier seasons great.
However, the action intensifies quickly, making it easier to overlook this deficiency. Key characters return, such as Soldier Boy, whose solid magnetism complements Starr's mercurial charisma, and Ryan, along with human members of supes' families. The Deep is back in fine form, exploring incel culture and perineal sunbathing.
Satire and Story Balance
The show expertly balances satire and story, with terrifying parallels to modern America. Homelander's self-loving, self-pitying nature leads him to empower his allies, round up dissenters, and become increasingly unhinged, aided by cowards and those with their own agendas.
Hope Amid Brutality
Will the series end with a return to truth and justice? While brutal scenes abound, as fiction, it allows for hope. The Boys season five is available on Prime Video, offering a horrifying yet pleasurable viewing experience.
