The Boys season 5 review: A more sombre than satisfying goodbye to Prime Video’s anti-superhero hit

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

After nearly seven years, one spin-off series called Gen V, an animated anthology titled The Boys Presents: Diabolical, and with two more projects on the way (Vought Rising and The Boys: Mexico), the popular and darkly humorous show, The Boys, will conclude with its fifth and final season.

As a fan, I have to say this show is just incredible! It’s given us so many unforgettable moments – seriously, who could forget ‘Herogasm’?! – and spawned a ton of hilarious memes. Beyond the shocking twists and turns, it’s really bold in how it tackles important social and political issues. It’s just so refreshing to see something different from the usual superhero formula, and it’s become a real cultural moment, honestly.

Like all great shows, The Boys will eventually end, and thankfully, it seems the creators are wrapping things up at a good time. Showrunner Eric Kripke has planned five seasons, which should prevent the show from going on too long. However, the biggest worry now is whether the writers can deliver a satisfying conclusion. Many fans still remember disappointing series finales like those of Game of Thrones, Dexter, and Lost, so the pressure is on to stick the landing.

With Butcher and the Boys returning for a last adventure, the question is whether the creators can deliver a suitably wild ending to this group of flawed heroes and villains. The answer isn’t the explosive finale many might expect, but something far more disturbing – a deeply emotional story that feels frighteningly relevant to the world we live in today.

Season five begins immediately after the previous season ended. America has become a frightening dystopia, completely controlled by the arrogant and oppressive Homelander. He’s aided by Vice President Ashley and her husband, a powerful religious figure. Meanwhile, most of The Boys are facing public execution in one of Homelander’s so-called “freedom camps.”

Butcher is determined to release his virus that can kill superpowered people, even if it means sacrificing everything, in his final attempt to defeat Homelander. At the same time, Annie and Kimiko are trying to inspire a revolt and rescue Frenchie, Mother’s Milk, and Hughie.

The second-to-last season ended on a very bleak note for the group, with Butcher killing Victoria and spiraling out of control, and almost all of the team being captured. Now, with a new president openly supporting Homelander, imposing martial law, and dismantling the Starlighters, the final season promises an even darker look at a terrifying America completely controlled by Supes and their oppressive rule.

A key plot point this season, centered on Butcher’s plans, mainly serves to build towards the final confrontation. However, it effectively raises the tension and cleverly connects events from the spin-off series, Gen V, and previous seasons of The Boys. Even more compellingly, it expands the backstory of Vought, revealing the early, noteworthy (and surprisingly self-aware) experiments of a notorious doctor.

Even though the world is in danger, this season feels surprisingly personal and emotional. The stakes are higher than ever, especially for characters like Kimiko and Frenchie, and for the relationship between Annie and Hughie. A storyline about love and living forever is also unexpectedly moving, even with all the action and violence.

This season, Karen Fukuhara and Tomer Capone are standouts, bringing a genuine and heartwarming connection to the show. Their believable chemistry provides a welcome emotional balance to the series’ often grim storyline.

True to form for The Boys, this season doesn’t shy away from its over-the-top violence and shocking deaths. In fact, there’s even more brutal carnage than we’ve seen before. The showrunner warned viewers not to get too invested in any one character, and he wasn’t kidding – expect major losses.

Though the show has seen characters depart before (we’re still sad about Ambrosius!), this loss feels particularly impactful. It hits hard because the season has already been so bleak and reflects the difficult times we’re all facing.

While Deep (Chace Crawford remains the funniest character!) and Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) deliver some truly funny lines, the show generally lacks the playful, often shocking humor it’s known for.

The show’s biggest problem now is its tone. It used to be brilliantly satirical, but it’s drifted too close to real-world issues like extremism, oppressive governments, and environmental disasters – making it less funny. While there are still moments of humor, like a clever parody of a Nicole Kidman ad, the show just isn’t as consistently funny as it once was.

The show also struggles with having too many characters, especially as the story goes on. With so many heroes and villains involved, it’s hard to keep up with who’s on which side, as their relationships and loyalties keep changing.

Though the storylines for Teenage Kix and Daveed Diggs’ Oh-Father didn’t quite land, Mason Dye’s new character, Bombsight, was a great addition. He cleverly connected plot points involving Soldier Boy and the original heroes from the 1950s, which will likely have a significant effect on Jenson Ackles’ character and pave the way for the upcoming prequel, Vought Rising.

This final season of The Boys feels less like a satisfying conclusion and more like a foregone conclusion – similar to the unavoidable ending of a movie like Avengers: Infinity War. Plus, important storylines from the second season of Gen V haven’t been properly explored, which is disappointing because it leaves potential conflicts unresolved and unfulfilled.

The season often feels predictable, revisiting the same themes – arguments among the main group, characters dealing with difficult family relationships, and constantly changing alliances. With only one episode left, the show has a lot of plot points to resolve in a short amount of time.

Compared to earlier games, the scope of this one feels smaller, with fewer large battles and tense confrontations – except for a memorable prison escape at the beginning and a single character having a particularly impressive, fast-paced scene.

The fifth and final season of The Boys is surprisingly bleak, lacking the show’s previously sharp wit and rebellious energy. While it still delivers the expected over-the-top violence and shocking scenes—especially during a sequence packed with guest stars—the season feels more depressing than truly rewarding.

Still, in the end, The Boys go out dramatically… even if it’s more bittersweet than expected.

Season 5 of The Boys arrives on Prime Video on April 8, 2026. You can try Amazon Prime Video free for 30 days.

Seriously, if you haven’t seen The Boys yet, add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! I just downloaded the app and it’s awesome – I get daily TV recommendations and all sorts of cool features. You won’t regret checking it out!

Authors

Nicola AustinFreelance Writer

Nicola Austin is a freelance journalist with a passion for science fiction, fantasy, and animation. She’s written for many publications, including Empire, Digital Spy, and SciFiNow, covering TV and film. And she firmly believes that The Mummy is a classic 90s film.

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2026-04-06 19:47