The Boys Season 5, Episode 7’s Ending Death Breaks the Show’s Biggest Rule To Setup the Series Finale

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With only one episode remaining in the final season of The Boys, the tension is incredibly high – and the latest episode really drives that home. While the show has taken its time reaching the climax, focusing more on character development and introducing new faces, some viewers have felt the pacing was slow. Whether you agree with that criticism or not, it’s now obvious we’re heading towards the final showdown. Please be aware that this article contains spoilers.

This week’s episode, “The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man Called Mother’s Milk,” focuses mainly on two storylines. While Homelander tries to appear godlike and the Boys attempt to infiltrate Vought, Frenchie and Kimiko return to base. Butcher, after reviewing footage of the experiments on Soldier Boy, devises a plan to give Kimiko the ability to neutralize a Supe’s powers using radiation. The plan succeeds, but comes with significant consequences.

Why Frenchie Had To Die In The Boys & What It Means For The Finale

Okay, so the end of Episode 7 in Season 5 of The Boys was insane! Homelander shows up, really focused on finding Sister Sage after she betrayed him, but he doesn’t locate her. Instead, he stumbles upon Frenchie and figures out their plan. Frenchie knows he’s no match for Homelander, so it’s all about keeping Kimiko safe. While she’s hidden using that zinc stuff – remember, Homelander can’t see through it – Frenchie activates this radiation device, basically sacrificing himself to hurt the guy. It really damages Homelander, and while it kills Frenchie, it buys enough time to genuinely scare Homelander, letting him know someone else is coming who can take him down.

Frenchie’s death, while surprising, felt inevitable. Throughout the series, the core team – Butcher, Hughie, M.M., Frenchie, Kimiko, and Starlight – had remarkably survived, despite numerous character deaths. It was only a matter of time before that changed, and the second-to-last episode provided the ideal moment. This development raises the stakes for the finale, making it clear that any character is vulnerable and creating a much-needed sense of danger.

Frenchie’s death felt inevitable, considering the story’s direction. With Kimiko gaining powers and being positioned as a potential Homelander opponent, the show needed a sacrifice – victory always comes at a cost. For Kimiko, that cost was losing Frenchie, making his death tragic but narratively fitting. Hints were dropped earlier in the episode, like his talk of a future with children, which often foreshadows danger in this series.

Despite his importance to the show, this felt like a natural conclusion to his story. He successfully dedicated himself to finding a way to defeat Homelander, and while he wasn’t a strong fighter compared to the others, he played a crucial role, similar to Hughie needing to be the one to ultimately succeed. If this was his final appearance, it provided a heroic and fitting end – a brave sacrifice against Homelander to save Kimiko’s life.

Will Kimiko Be The One To Defeat Homelander?

Beyond Frenchie’s death, the latest episode of ‘The Boys’ hints at a potential way to defeat Homelander. While many believed Soldier Boy, Marie Moreau, or Ryan Butcher were the only ones who could challenge him, Kimiko was never considered a likely contender. However, thanks to Sister Sage’s guidance and careful testing, it’s now revealed that an experiment worked, and Kimiko has gained the ability to weaken or even take away some of Homelander’s powers.

Just because Kimiko has the power to potentially harm Homelander doesn’t mean she easily can. He’s incredibly strong and could cause a lot of damage before anyone could stop him, though her healing ability does give her a slight advantage. However, it’s probably not going to be a simple fight. One possibility is Kimiko could weaken Homelander, maybe by taking away his V-One power, making him susceptible to the virus. But even then, figuring out how to kill him and use the virus safely on other Supes remains a huge problem.

I really think we’ll see some of those sidelined characters come back into play. Ryan’s been missing since his fight with his dad, Marie barely had any screen time, and they put Soldier Boy back on ice again – it feels like all of that is going to be important in the finale, and used to try and take down Homelander. Honestly, I’m bracing myself for a huge sacrifice. It’s going to cost a lot to defeat him, and it’s not just Frenchie who’s in danger. Butcher feels like a goner, but I wouldn’t be shocked if we lost another member of The Boys before it’s all over.

The Boys series finale releases on Wednesday, May 20th, on Prime Video.

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2026-05-13 19:15