After almost two years, the long-awaited Season 5 of “The Boys” premiered in a two-episode Amazon Prime Video rollout on April 8. As of April 22, the season is halfway through its eight episodes.
Since “The Boys” premiered in 2019, it has risen to the status of a modern cult classic. The fourth season of “The Boys” was not as popular in comparison to the preceding three seasons. While it received awards and nominations at the 2025 Saturn awards and the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, it also had the lowest average audience rating due to its stagnant story and basic writing. But this didn’t dim the lights for Season 5; while the fourth season got mixed reviews, fans were still hyped to see how the story ends.
At the fourth-episode midway point of the final season, the quality of weekly-released episodes has varied in both plot and production. Thankfully, we are only halfway through, and I am expecting the good to keep going as the show comes to an end.
Acting has been outstanding so far throughout this season. The actors have been perfecting their characters over the past seven years and this season shows their dedication, evoking emotions from the viewer and showing a deeper sense of authenticity for a show about superheroes. Most main characters from season 1 have stuck around, like Billy Butcher, Hughie, Starlight, Frenchie, Kimiko, Mother’s Milk (MM), Homelander, The Deep, Black Noir, and Ashley Barrett.
While consistently being a standout and the main source of the show’s memes, Antony Starr’s sociopathic portrayal of Homelander this season is his best to date. Homelander is more sensitive, angry, self-conscious and reckless than he’s ever been. Starr won a Saturn award in 2025 and I expect him to win more awards for this season.
Chace Crawford’s depiction of The Deep has provided necessary comedic relief for Season 5 as we see Homelander becoming more unhinged in each episode. Crawford’s take on the frat boy superhero is the best comedy of the show.
The series has also given major development to Colby Minifie as Ashley Barrett, where in Season 5 she is shining with her screen time. Playing a speaking tumor on her character’s head, she basically plays two characters at once and excels at it.
The writing for “The Boys” has also been a prominent factor in how good some of the final season is. The producers have always prioritized pop-culture references and modern politics to bring the show to life. Season 5 doesn’t skimp on satire. There are many allusions to the abuse of AI, citizens being taken away by the government and thrown into camps and tongue-in-cheek references to Trump’s posts on Truth Social.
Showrunner Eric Kripke gave his thoughts in an interview with DEADLINE on any fallout from the show’s themes.
“I’d be genuinely stunned if anyone in any real position of power is paying attention to this show. Look, I love this country,” Kripke said. “I am a staunch believer in the First Amendment, and as of today, I still have the right to say what I want to say, and I take that really seriously. I’m not overly concerned.”
While it’s exciting to see “The Boys” coming up from an underwhelming season four, the episodes have been inconsistent in quality. Episode 1 pushed the storyline further, but Episode 2 oversimplified the story’s future. Episode 3 was the best of the season so far, regarding story, acting and story — just “The Boys” at its best. The best comparison is to one the most popular episodes, “Herogasm,” definitely for the episode’s plot and fight scenes and not the giant superhero orgy.
Following this season-defining episode, I was excited for the following fourth episode. While watching Episode 4, the excitement left after the first 10 minutes. It was disjointed with poor acting and strange editing with cutting to and from two different storylines in the episode that gave it a completely different tone. I wasn’t expecting such a mid episode this late into the series.
Halfway through the season, there is only so much to be impressed by, with major highs and desperate lows. However, I am expecting the show to ramp up in quality and consistency heading into the last episodes. “The Boys” always know how to go out with a bang.
The last episode of “The Boys” Season 5 airs on May 20.
