The Boys Season 5 Review: A Bloody, Uneven but Fitting Final Act
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Romey Norton - May 20, 2026
TV - Premium TV
This review contains spoilers.
After the explosive, divisive chaos of The Boys season four, audiences were left equal parts exhilarated and exhausted. The show had doubled down on its trademark brutality and satire, but not without criticism that it was beginning to spin its wheels, mistaking escalation for evolution. So heading into the final season, expectations were oddly split: some wanted a full-throttle, no-holds-barred finale, while others hoped for something sharper, more focused; less noise, more payoff. As multiple spin-offs are in the air, everyone has been wondering how this diabolical show will end.
This anticipated final season doesn’t abandon the outrageous violence or political bite that made the series a cultural lightning rod. Still, it does make a more conscious effort to bring its sprawling narrative threads to a meaningful close. This is The Boys at its most self-aware; still loud, still messy, but more deliberate in how it lands its punches.
At the centre, as always, is the escalating war between Billy Butcher and Homelander. Their dynamic has been the show’s backbone from the beginning, and the final season leans into that history with a sense of inevitability. The writing sharpens when it focuses on these two, allowing their ideological and personal conflict to carry real weight beneath the spectacle.
Homelander, in particular, remains one of television’s most compelling antagonists. The final season strips back some of the excess and reminds us why he’s so unsettling; not just because of his power, but because of his volatility. Anthony Stark has certainly brought Homelander to life and, through his excellent acting, has made him one of the most memorable characters in history. Give him an Oscar for this role, now.
Elsewhere, the ensemble cast continues to juggle multiple arcs, though not all of them land with equal impact. While some storylines are resolved with satisfying clarity, others feel rushed, as if the series is trying to tie up loose ends while still delivering its signature shock value. Characters who have previously felt central occasionally drift to the side-lines (Mothers Milk), a side effect of a show that has perhaps grown too big for its own good. Kimiko suddenly being able to talk feels out of the blue, and takes away a mystique her character had. Her lines are ridiculous, even for this show, and her character becomes annoying. The Deep, as funny as his character is, feels forced. As if he’s been written for socials, to make reels, I’d have just killed him off by the end of episode one.
Hugie and Starlight have lost their original magic and have become a romance no one really cares about. Butcher is still compelling and provides a protagonist that audiences can still relate to. Other than Homelander, it’s Soldier Boy who has fans coming back to this series. Jensen Ackles, Hollywood heartthrob, is a real threat and another reckless, maverick character who brings excitement and intensity. He definitely has the best lines of the series, and I don’t think any other actor could have delivered them like Ackles does - effortlessly and hilariously.
Tonally, the show skewers celebrity culture, corporate power, and political theatre with a knowing wink. But there are moments where the satire feels a little too on-the-nose, as if the show doesn’t quite trust the audience to connect the dots. It’s a familiar issue for The Boys, and one that persists into its final stretch. I can’t help but feel they’re writing for a different audience than the first few seasons, one that they’re more afraid of.
As the series progresses, the story feels as if it loses its way; a lot of running around, both physically and emotionally. Episodes three and five are definitely the best episodes due to their pace and daring actions (killing people off). Episode seven was underwhelming, especially after an explosive episode six. The series feels rushed, and could have done with a few more episodes to fully tell the characters' stories and develop the overall riding arc more deeply.
The final episode does well in tying up everyone's storylines quickly. And even if it does feel rushed, everyone ends up where they need to be. Starlight has gathered the cast/kids in Gen V and enlisted them to go to Canada and help others. Sage loses her powers and can now be a happy, ignorant idiot like the rest of us. Starlight and The Deep have a well-needed scrap, and Kimiko stops talking and actually manages to take Homelanders' powers! Ryan takes a stand and puts himself first. The dog dies... I mean, we could all see this coming, but it's still heart-breaking. They made it nice and peaceful; they didn't make him explode or anything. With the fights, deaths and acceptance, this final episode was not about spectacle, but about tying up loose ends. It's a surprisingly heartfelt, yet slightly boring, ending.
Looking beyond the finale, the future of the franchise feels a little more uncertain. With Gen V cancelled after two seasons, there’s a sense that the extended universe may not have quite the same staying power as the original. Audience reactions have been mixed; some are disappointed at the loss of a show that expanded the world in interesting ways, while others feel it never fully captured the bite of its predecessor. Still, talk of future spin-offs continues, and whether those will reignite enthusiasm or simply dilute the brand further remains to be seen.
For now, though, The Boys bows out in a way that feels true to itself; loud, confrontational, and just a little bit unhinged. It may not be perfect, but it’s hard to deny that it goes out swinging.
You can watch all eight episodes of The Boys Season 5 on Prime Video with a subscription
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