A Diabolical Return: A Review of “The Boys” Season Five’s Premiere

Spoiler Warning: “The Boys” Seasons 1–5

After a cliffhanger season finale and a two-year wait, Amazon Prime’s hit original series, “The Boys,” returned for its fifth and final season on April 8, 2026. With the stakes higher—and bloodier—than ever, fans are expecting the final season to deliver a satisfying conclusion. While the season is scheduled for eight episodes, fans will be happy to know that the two-episode premiere sets a solid precedent for the rest of the season. “The Boys” is back, and as William Butcher would say, it’s diabolical. 

“The Boys” follows a crew of cunning vigilantes known as The Boys as they work to take down the mega-corporation Vought International (Vought). Vought manages a group of super-powered humans (Supes) who aren’t the typical smiling, crime-fighting heroes. Supes are arrogant, violent, and depraved celebrities, the most dangerous of whom is Homelander (played by Anthony Starr). Through Vought and its Supes, “The Boys” provides viewers with a satiric portrayal of modern celebrity and corporate culture. However, what continues to bring fans back is the show’s unfiltered gall. “The Boys” gets very political, and its sheer vulgarity and violence increase with each season. It’s a fresh and sardonic take on the superhero genre, and the fifth season continues the motif. 

Season five picks up immediately where season four left off: Homelander emerges victorious over The Boys, imprisons them, and installs himself as the de facto leader of the United States. The few remaining members of The Boys are on the run, constructing a plan to free those in prison and defeat Homelander. 

The breakneck pacing of the first episode is an immediate improvement over the previous season. While season four seemed to get lost in itself, pushing for shock value to the point of gratuitousness, season five immediately manages to balance “The Boys’” classic crudeness with meaningful plot and character direction. Characters like William Butcher (played by Karl Urban) and Starlight (played by Erin Moriarty) display a compelling willingness to abandon their morals if it means victory. This is especially interesting ground for Starlight, a character who was more traditionally good in previous seasons. Her new arc contrasts well with her boyfriend, Hughie Campbell (played by Jack Quaid), one of the main characters, who struggles to remain good in a world that doesn’t always allow it. 

These new arcs are concisely set up in a prison-break style episode, which delivers a high-stakes confrontation between Homelander and The Boys to start the season. While the action sequences are nothing too impressive, the episode hits the right emotional beats. The Boys manage to reunite, and the long-awaited battle between the speedster Supe, A-Train (played by Jessie T. Usher), and Homelander finally plays out. The battle culminates in A-Train’s death, wrapping up one of the show’s strongest character arcs. Watching A-Train grow from one of Vought’s arrogant celebrities to a true hero is nothing short of cathartic, and his sacrifice to save The Boys sets the tone that not all the fan-favorite characters will make it to the end of this season. 

While the first episode gets the emotions right, certain thematic and character choices are concerning. Season five has the largest emphasis on political commentary so far, and while this has been a staple of “The Boys,” it lacks thematic depth. There’s lots of fun satire to be found in seeing characters like The Deep (played by Chase Crawford) hosting an absurd far-right red pill podcast, or in seeing Vought attempting to use religion to back their corrupt practices. However, the commentary doesn’t go much further than poking fun. It feels like a massive waste of potential, considering this is a show so deeply rooted in contemporary culture. “The Boys” has the setup to say something meaningful, but doesn’t follow through enough to move beyond the surface and provide meaningful insights or perspectives. 

Additionally, season five doesn’t stick the landing in developing a fan favorite character, Kimiko (played by Karen Fukuhara). After being mute and communicating through sign language for the first four seasons, Kimiko finally begins to speak in season five. However, Kimiko’s snarky quips and modern lingo are a jarring switch from her original characterization. The effects of this switch are apparent in Karen Fukuhara’s performance, which is noticeably worse compared to previous seasons. This decline can likely be attributed to the poorly written dialogue, something that will hopefully improve as the season progresses. 

The same positives and negatives carry into the premiere’s second episode. The plot continues in a compelling direction, with The Boys manufacturing and testing a virus that can kill Supes. The crude humor lands well in this episode, much aided by returning fan-favorite character Soldier Boy (played by Jensen Ackles). Anthony Starr and Jensen Ackles’ chemistry in every scene between Homelander and Soldier Boy makes for some of the most engaging character interactions in “The Boys” yet. Soldier Boy is one of the few characters unafraid to call out Homelander for the incessant man-child he is, which pairs well with Homelander’s refusal to recognize his constant need for validation. Their dynamic seems set up to reach a boiling point that can only end in an exciting clash between the two most powerful Supes. 

Based on the premiere, there is much to be excited about for “The Boys” season five. The writers seem to understand the urgency required of a final season, and the characters continue to be as offensive and endearing as always. Aside from some thematic and character hiccups, “The Boys” season five promises exactly what the fans want. It’s dark, it’s bloody, and it’s absolutely diabolical.

Benjamin Alvarez is the News Editor/Arts & Culture writer for The Triton.

We welcome responses to opinion pieces. If you’d like for us to publish a response or  comment on a different issue affecting the UCSD or UC community, you can do so here.