It all comes down to this: the fifth and final season of The Boys, set to make its debut this week. Following a bloody Season 4 finale, there’s no telling what will happen now. Will The Boys succeed in their quest to take down Homelander? Who will come out on top: Butcher or Homelander (or neither)? Ahead of Wednesday’s massive double premiere, let’s share our predictions for what will go down, including who will die in Season 5 of The Boys:
When does The Boys Season 5 come out?
Season 5’s two-episode premiere can be streamed on Amazon Prime on Wednesday, April 8th at 3:00 am ET/12:00 am PT. All six remaining episodes this season will be released on a once-a-week basis. Runtimes for each should be somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour.
What to expect in The Boys Season 5
A lot went down during the Season 4 finale. In case you forgot, a few major plot points:
- Butcher, with mere months left to live, killed Vice President Victoria Neuman against Hughie’s wishes, then drove off with a potential Supe virus.
- President Singer was arrested by Homelander, and martial law has been declared by the new president, former Speaker of the House Steven Calhoun.
- Ryan refuses to kill his father Homelander, kills Mallory in a fit of rage, and is now on the run.
- Hughie, Mother’s Milk and Frenchie have all been captured by Homelander’s forces. Starlight and Kimiko managed to escape.
- The location of Soldier Boy, last seen during Season 3, was revealed to his son Homelander during the end credits.
The central conflict at the core of this story is Butcher vs. Homelander. Some kind of climax between those two is a near-lock. However, Butcher’s internal dynamics with The Boys, his former friends, is also something to monitor. Ditto for The Seven, which has already dealt with internal division during Homelander’s ascension to power. Could both of these rivals be undone from within? It’s certainly not out of the question.
Here’s the trailer for Season 5 of The Boys:
Which major characters will die?
- A-Train: This one feels almost too obvious. A-Train spent most of Season 4 grappling with what it means to be a true hero. The typically self-centered speedster decided to play secret agent, going against Homelander and The Seven. Currently in hiding with his family, it feels like only a matter of time until A-Train is forced to make a stand. From a thematic point of view, it would be a satisfying way to end his character arc as well.
- Frenchie: If any one of the supporting Boys is going to kick the bucket this season, Frenchie feels like one of the safer choices. His relationship with Kimiko has always been somewhat tragic, and there would be no better way for it to end than with one of them dying. Frenchie has been dragged down by guilt about his past for years now, mostly finding solace through Kimiko. He was her biggest defender and her best friend before they finally became a couple in Season 4. While the plot details of Season 5 are still under wraps, it’s easy to envision Frenchie sacrificing himself in some way to save Kimiko – either from dying herself or from committing an act that crosses a line.
- Butcher: As previously mentioned, Billy is dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Instead of prioritizing health, his desire to take down the Supes has meant more and more Compound V consumption. Season 4’s murder of Victoria Neuman only serves to reemphasize his cold-blooded, win-at-all-costs mindset. Beyond his illness, Butcher is too good at making enemies to live. Whether it’s from Homelander or someone else, this iconic character seems destined to meet his end sooner rather than later.
- Homelander: A major theme of The Boys is the similarities between Butcher and Homelander. Both men are determined to emerge victorious, willing to trample on anyone that gets in their way. In the moment, it’s difficult to see Homelander’s reign coming to an end. He’s at the peak of his powers, with control over both The Seven and the federal government. Regardless, all things come to an end. Even if he ends up vanquishing Butcher, Homelander’s massive ego could ultimately be his downfall. Besides, it feels difficult to imagine this series ending with its leading villain left alive.
Who will win at the end of The Boys?
We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the fate of Butcher and Homelander, and for good reason. They are the two most iconic characters on the show, and should deliver plenty of dramatics this season. Still, it wouldn’t feel right for either to emerge triumphant when its all said and done. Homelander is a straight-up villain, a super-powered narcissist that steps on people like ants. Butcher is a full-blown anti-hero, willing to kill anyone in his personal vendetta to destroy the world’s most powerful Supe.
In what should be a massive confrontation between The Boys and The Seven, expect plenty of death and destruction. Still, for all its gore and social commentary, The Boys has its moments of hope. Keeping that in mind, I’d expect some combination of Hughie, Starlight, and friends to survive. That’s not to say all of The Boys will make it; in fact, I’d say that’s pretty unlikely. Regardless, a few of our favorites should escape the finale unscathed…just don’t get too attached.
The Boys Season 5 FAQs
When does The Boys Season 5 come out?
The Boys Season 5 will premiere on Wednesday, April 8th.
Where can I watch The Boys?
Episodes can be streamed on Amazon Prime every Wednesday at 3:00 am ET/12:00 am PT.
Will there be another season of The Boys?
No; Season 5 will be the end of the series.
Who is most likely to die in Season 5 of The Boys?
A-Train, Frenchie, Butcher and Homelander are our picks for characters most likely to die during Season 5 of The Boys.
