The Boys season five

After four seasons, an excellent spin-off show, and tonnes of gore, The Boys is back for its highly anticipated fifth and final season. With sociopathic superhero Homelander (Antony Starr) on the verge of seizing total control and Billy Butcher’s (Karl Urban) ragtag resistance group now in possession of the superhero-killing virus from Gen V, the stakes have never been higher as the stage is set for a desperate last stand. The opening two episodes throw viewers straight back into the action, giving them more razor-sharp satire, enthralling character drama, and a whole lot more outrageous carnage.

At the end of the last season, Hughie (Jack Quaid), Frenchie (Tomer Capone), and Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) had been captured and taken to one of Vought’s internment camps. Meanwhile, Annie (Erin Moriarty) recruited the heroes from Godolkin University after narrowly avoiding captivity herself. The season premiere picks up about a year later, with Butcher planning to free his friends before they’re executed. It’s a tightly woven introduction that catches viewers up with where the key players are now before culminating in an epic set-piece. It’s then back to business as usual in the second episode as the reunited Boys resume their work to eliminate Vought. While this fallback on familiarity carries the danger of the finale becoming overly formulaic, there are enough surprises to keep events interesting.

The show has never shied away from its social commentary, and the latest season doesn’t pull any punches. By taking shots at AI, Christian nationalism, and ICE raids, showrunner Erik Kripke continues to hold a mirror up to the contemporary political climate and laugh at its absurdity. As the heroes find themselves at the precipice of a superpowered authoritarian regime, they’re forced to question if they still have the hope to keep fighting. This thematic core becomes the driving force behind the drama, which is already taking its toll on the team. Quaid, Urban, and Moriarty have never been stronger, while Kimiko’s (Karen Fukuhara) newfound voice adds a tenderness to her relationship with Frenchie, giving her some of the funniest lines so far.

Although The Boys quickly returns to familiar territory, the opening episodes are a very promising start to the final season. The political satire and insanity are back in full force while a riveting script introduces further complexity to the characters fans have come to love.