‘The Boys’ Season 5 Premiere Doesn’t Pull Any Punches [SPOILER WARNING]

 A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) | Credit: Jasper Savage/Prime

When a show has been as explosive as The Boys, there’s a lot of pressure to stick the landing. The series has always had its finger on the pulse of real-life politics, pop culture, and more – but it’s going to take more than cultural relevance to deliver a strong final season. Luckily, The Boys doesn’t waste any time. We’re immediately thrown into an increasingly chaotic world – and a ticking time bomb, a.k.a. Homelander, with far too much power for a man like him.

Season five picks up about a year and a half after the events of season four, so if you don’t remember what happened – or you skipped season two of Gen V – consider this your sign to catch up. Homelander is still clashing with Starlight supporters, half of the team is on the run while the other half is imprisoned, and he’s desperate enough to unfreeze his dad from cryo. Yep—this isn’t a spoiler. It’s been all over the trailers. Soldier Boy is back, and this time, it’s a father-son duo.

Slight Spoilers

Before we get to that, let’s talk about a few key moments from the first two episodes. This dips slightly into spoiler territory, but remember the plane scene from season one? Of course you do. Not only was it horrifying and unforgettable, but it’s continued to haunt the narrative. It’s great to see that it wasn’t just shock value – it’s a metaphorical grenade that could blow everything up. And while its release has been teased for seasons, Annie and her crew aren’t holding back anymore. The clip is out there, and Homelander is forced to deal with the fallout. Despite previously taunting Starlight that releasing it would only make him more unstable, he’s now scrambling to maintain control—launching a disinformation campaign to sway public opinion.

While there’s plenty of action in these first two episodes, the real standout moments come from the character developments. Butcher is on borrowed time, and despite the fast pace, the show smartly slows down to give us a powerful scene between him and his father. One thing is crystal clear: Butcher isn’t seeking redemption or forgiveness- determined to make the most of whatever time he has left.

We also get some intriguing moments between Sister Sage and Homelander, where Sage actually appears uneasy. This feels unusual, given how composed and calculating she typically is—even around someone as volatile as Homelander. It raises an interesting question: is Sage putting on a performance, or is she starting to realize that Homelander isn’t someone you can manipulate—he’s someone who may need to be stopped?

One of the highlights of these episodes is the long-awaited payoff between Frenchie and Kimiko. Honestly, it made no sense for season four to push them as “just friends” after three seasons of buildup. They’re easily the best couple on the show – yes, even more than Hughie and Starlight – and it’s a relief to see the writers finally commit.

Full Spoilers

Finally, let’s talk about A-Train – this is full spoiler territory. A-Train has always walked the line between doing the right thing and protecting himself. The series began with him killing Hughie’s girlfriend without remorse, but over time, it became clear he was never fully aligned with Homelander or Vought. He was simply too jaded and too afraid to push back. Much like The Deep is now. But at last, A-Train makes the right choice. While it might have been nice to have him around longer, his arc concludes in a powerful way – finding the courage to laugh in Homelander’s face. It may have cost him his life, but he hit Homelander where it hurt most: not physically, but in his fragile ego.

So far, season five is off to a strong start, effectively setting the tone and raising the stakes. The chess pieces are in place, and in true The Boys fashion, we’re likely in for plenty of brutal, unexpected twists.