The Boys is a superhero drama series that premiered on Prime Video in 2019. Originally based on the comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the show has expanded into a larger franchise over the past five years. This includes spin-off series like Gen V (debuted in 2023) and The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022).
More shows set in the world of The Boys are coming, including The Boys: Mexico and a prequel called Vought Rising. Even without these new series, The Boys is already a huge franchise. With three shows available now, it can be confusing for newcomers to know where to start. Luckily, there’s a simple way to watch the shows in order, making it easy for both new and returning fans to follow the story.
The Boys First Premiered in 2019
Debuting on July 26, 2019, The Boys is the main series of a growing franchise. It’s built a fascinating world with plenty of potential for future stories, even after the original show finishes. While the basic idea seems straightforward, the show’s impact is huge, influencing everything from international politics to social media trends.
The existence of superheroes is explained by a childhood drug called Compound V. However, these ‘Supes’ aren’t necessarily the noble figures they appear to be. While they might perform heroic acts, much of their public image is carefully constructed. In fact, many of the most powerful Supes, like those in the Seven, are flawed individuals. Homelander, the strongest Supe of all, is a prime example – he’s as dangerous as he is powerful.
A small group of regular people is on a mission to take down Vought, the corporation behind the powerful superhero team, the Seven, and any other dangerous Supes they encounter. Calling themselves ‘the Boys,’ they’re led by Billy Butcher, a man driven by revenge after Homelander secretly caused his wife’s death. Because they don’t have superpowers themselves, the Boys must use unusual and often drastic methods to get the job done.
The latest season ended on a dark note, with Homelander becoming incredibly powerful and determined to see his plans through, no matter the cost. Butcher’s easy defeat of Victoria Neuman has led many viewers to believe he’s destined to be the one to finally take down Homelander. However, the events in the spin-off series Gen V suggest potential strategies the Boys might use to overcome their greatest threat.
Will Gen V Have a Season 3?
Unlike The Boys, which centers on ordinary people battling superheroes, this series takes place at Godolkin University – or God U – a college for training superheroes. It focuses on a small group of students who initially prioritize how they’re perceived by others.
The story centers around Golden Boy, a brilliant student with powers, who shockingly kills his mentor and then goes on a destructive spree before taking his own life. His girlfriend and friends are left to figure out what caused his sudden, violent breakdown. As they grapple with the tragedy, they discover a dark secret hidden beneath the school’s perfect facade.
I was completely hooked by Season 2 of Gen V! It really built on everything we love about The Boys, introducing fascinating new people like Thomas Godolkin. But what really got me excited were the appearances from characters we already know – seeing Firecracker, A-Train, The Deep, and Starlight again was amazing. And Sister Sage, Stan Edgar, and especially Zoe Neuman… wow! She seems just as powerful as Butcher, and it looks like she’s got her own agenda, maybe connected to her mother’s death. It just makes everything so much more complicated for the Boys, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
The season finale of Gen V ended with Starlight and A-Train recruiting the show’s main characters – Marie, Jordan, Cate, Emma, and Sam – which will likely make The Boys stronger in future conflicts. The way Season 2 ended suggests Gen V will lead directly into Season 5 of The Boys, potentially making a third season of Gen V unnecessary. Although Eric Kripke has said he has ideas for a Season 3, Prime Video hasn’t officially announced whether it will happen.
Will The Boys Presents: Diabolical Be Renewed?
Unlike the other shows, The Boys Presents: Diabolical is animated. It’s an eight-episode anthology series, meaning each episode tells its own separate story with a different visual style. The show aims to offer self-contained stories within the same universe as The Boys.
Currently, there’s only been one season of Diabolical, and the creator doesn’t expect it to be renewed. He told The Wrap that low ratings mean a second season is unlikely. Luckily, because each episode of the show tells a complete, separate story, the lack of renewal doesn’t leave any major plotlines unfinished.
How to Watch The Boys’ Franchise in Chronological Order
Okay, so everyone wants to jump right into The Boys Season 1, and honestly, I get it. But if you really want to experience the story as it actually happened, you need to start elsewhere. Technically, Diabolical comes first. Specifically, check out Season 1, Episode 8, “One Plus One Equals Two.” That episode sets the stage for everything and gives you the proper backstory before the main series kicks off. Trust me, it’ll make your viewing experience so much richer if you go in chronological order!
“One Plus One Equals Two” is a story set right after Homelander joins The Seven. It follows Homelander and Black Noir on his first official mission: rescuing hostages from terrorists at a chemical plant. The mission doesn’t go as planned, and the story reveals hints of the dark path Homelander was always headed down.
I’ve seen a lot of people suggest checking out the first three or four episodes of The Boys before you jump into “One Plus One Equals Two.” It really helps you understand the world and how messed up things are. If you start with just that episode, you might actually end up feeling bad for the bad guy, and that’s not what the show wants!
To watch The Boys universe in order, start with seasons 1 and 2 of The Boys, then The Boys Presents: Diabolical. After that, watch season 3 of The Boys, which sets up the events in Gen V season 1. Following that, you can enjoy season 4 of The Boys, and finally, the most recent release, Gen V season 2.
Beyond the main shows, there’s a lot of extra content available online. This includes the short films BUTCHER: A Short Film and Mr. Butcher: A Proper Education, which were first shared on the show The Boys’ X (formerly Twitter) account. Fans can also watch Seven on 7, a short series posted on the Vought International YouTube channel.
How Each Series in The Boys Franchise Connects
It appears that the studio aims to create a sprawling superhero universe for television, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While The Boys seems focused on succeeding through TV shows and online content, the main series is definitely setting the stage for multiple spin-offs.
The storylines in Gen V directly impact what happens in The Boys. The discoveries made by the main characters in Gen V connect to the behind-the-scenes events of The Boys. Currently, the only exception within The Boys universe is The Boys Presents: Diabolical. While Diabolical adds to the show’s world, many of its episodes aren’t considered official canon, so viewers don’t need to treat it as essential viewing.
With The Boys: Mexico, the universe of The Boys is growing, heading to Mexico and starring actors like Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna. Another spin-off will take us back to the 1950s, bringing back characters like Stormfront and Soldier Boy. It’s still unknown how closely these new shows will connect to the original The Boys.
Why The Boys Ending with Season 5 Makes Sense
Eric Kripke, the show’s creator, has hinted the series could continue beyond its fifth season, but he’s avoiding a firm commitment. Meanwhile, some viewers are starting to feel there’s too much focus on expanding the franchise.
From the beginning, The Boys has been built on constantly increasing tension. Each season ramps up the conflicts and challenges faced by the main characters. The show follows the downward spiral of Homelander, Butcher’s increasingly questionable choices, and the slow reveal of Vought’s deceitful practices – all storylines carefully crafted to eventually intersect, clash, and ultimately reach a conclusion.
Considering the intricate relationships and power struggles within the show, it’s important that this core story reaches a satisfying conclusion. While spin-offs can expand the universe later, the main plot of ‘The Boys’ needs a proper ending – one that gives dedicated fans closure without feeling forced or insulting.
The fifth season of The Boys is scheduled to premiere between April 8th and May 20th, 2026, with eight episodes rolling out over seven weeks. So far, only the first episode has a title: “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite.” Excitement for the final season is at an all-time high, boosted by the addition of new cast members like Misha Collins, Jared Padalecki, and Seth Rogen. Additionally, cast members from Gen V will appear, suggesting a connection between the storylines of both shows.
Honestly, if you’re a busy fan, you could probably skip The Boys Presents: Diabolical – though that Homelander episode is interesting and shows a different side of him. But you really need to watch both seasons of Gen V – it’s crucial for understanding everything that’s going on. It feels like the end of an era for one of the biggest shows of the last few years, and we’re all hoping it has a fantastic finale.
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2026-03-04 14:13