The Boys season 4's ending raises the stakes higher than ever, as its preparing to take its final bow in season 5.
There are many storylines the Amazon show needs to wrap up in season 5, as well as a number of questions it needs to answer before coming to a close. Needless to say, The Boys season 5 promises a gripping final installment, even if fans are sorry to bid farewell to characters like Billy Butcher, Hughie Campbell, and Homelander. But it's for the best that the show is ending when it is, as it'd be equally tragic if the writers kept it going beyond its natural run.
10 Eric Kripke Had Another Show That Went Beyond His Original Plan
Supernatural Wasn't The Same After Season 5
Showrunner Eric Kripke has a plan for The Boys, and season 5 will finally see it through. Going beyond his original vision would risk the series' legacy, as it could leave the later seasons feeling disted and repetitive. Kripke has already experienced something similar, as Supernatural was also intended to run for five seasons. Kripke departed as showrunner around that time, and while the 10 seasons of Supernatural that followed weren't necessarily bad, they never reached the heights of the first five.
I'm Devastated The Boys' Most Exciting Supernatural Reunion Now Can't Happen
The Boys season 4’s most exciting Supernatural reunion can’t happen after the Amazon show’s recent twist, but season 5 may be able to rectify it.
There's no denying that Supernatural's later seasons have a much different feel to them than the earlier ones. They never really recapture the magic of Sam and Dean's first few outings. Supernatural's series ending is also quite divisive, something the show might have avoided if it concluded when it was supposed to. The Boys shouldn't try to follow in Supernatural's footsteps; it could have even worse consequences for the Amazon series.
9 The Boys' Butcher Vs. Homelander Battle Has A Limited Premise
There's Only So Long The Show Can Drag Out This Feud
The Boys builds to a final showdown between Billy Butcher and Homelander over its run, and there's only so long it can drag this premise out for. While Hughie's narrative sets the events of The Boys into motion, Butcher is one of the biggest forces moving the main story along. His relentless pursuit of revenge against Homelander is the heart of the show, but it can't go on forever. Eventually, the two characters must face one another and determine who emerges victorious.
As they're both crucial players in The Boys, the show must end with their stories.
With Homelander holding more power than ever and Butcher forfeiting his humanity, The Boys season 5 must end the characters' feud once and for all. Having them dance around each other for more seasons would make their final confrontation lose its appeal. And as they're both crucial players in The Boys, the show must end with their stories.
8 The Boys Season 4's Pacing Is A Sign To Wrap Things Up
Season 5 Must Keep The Momentum Going Until Its Ending
The Boys' earliest seasons feel naturally paced and structurally sound, but the wheels start to come off in seasons 3 and 4. The Boys season 4, in particular, has a pacing problem. It feels like the show is focusing on subplots in order to drag its central narrative out a little longer. That may be the goal, but it shouldn't be noticeable to people watching the series. And while The Boys season 4 finale gets back on track, it's mostly because it's getting to the meat of the series: Homelander's takeover and our heroes' response to it.
The Boys season 5 is expected to come out in 2026, but there is no official release date yet.
To keep that momentum going, The Boys season 5 needs to address all the major conflicts and questions that have arisen over the past four seasons. The series is reaching its ending point, and that's perfectly fine. It can go out on a high note, but only because it's finally closing the curtain. If The Boys had more seasons, it would likely return to meandering storylines and questionable pacing, which would only make its ending feel less epic.
7 Some Of The Boys' Storylines Are Getting Repetitive
This Contributes To Its Recent Pacing Issues
In addition to The Boys season 4 struggling with pacing issues, it also features several storylines that feel repetitive — and that's a sign the characters are running out of places to go. Frenchie's subplot is probably the best example of this, as he spends much of season 4 addressing demons he's already grappled with during prior outings. He's not the only one whose arc elicits feelings of déjà vu. Mother's Milk is also forced to choose between a life with his family and working with the team — again — and Butcher finds himself at odds with The Boys once more.
It's understandable that The Boys team needs to wrestle with their personal demons before facing Homelander. However, the fact that their arcs are starting to repeat themselves indicates this should be the last time they do so. The Boys season 5 will ensure that's the case, as the ending won't have time to rehash these narratives again. And with the show wrapping up, viewers won't be forced to watch as it falls into this pattern again.
6 The Boys' Characters Arcs Feel Like They're Nearing Their Conclusions
Characters Like Hughie & A-Train Have Grown
The Boys' main characters are a big reason the show should end with season 5, and it's not just repetitive storylines that make this a good decision. Many of the series' major players feel like they're nearing the end of their arcs, showcasing growth that leaves no direction for them beyond the final season. Hughie and Annie have evolved into better people over the past four outings, deciding who they want to be and how they want to handle the looming conflict. If The Boys were to continue beyond season 5, there's a good chance they'd regress or stagnate.
Their arcs are reaching natural conclusions, so it's a positive thing that the Amazon series is honoring that.
The same can be said of characters like A-Train and Ashley, both of whom start the show as incredibly unlikable people. A-Train successfully redeems himself in The Boys season 4, and even Ashley finally comes to with what Vought really is. They may still have a part to play in The Boys' final season, but it doesn't feel like they have much left to do. Their arcs are reaching natural conclusions, so it's a positive thing that the Amazon series is honoring that.
5 The Boys Can't Keep Topping Its Wildest Moments
It's Getting Harder For The Amazon Show To Surprise Viewers
One of the things that earns The Boys its positive reputation is its ability to surprise viewers. Unfortunately, it's getting harder and harder for the Amazon series to continue doing that. The longer we watch Homelander and Butcher go to extremes for their causes, the less shocking it is when one of them does something despicable. Scenes like Termite's introduction and Herogasm also don't land as well, as we've seen just about everything. There's only so much The Boys can do to top its wildest moments.
10 Biggest The Boys Season 5 Theories & Predictions
The Boys has deviated from the original comics, and with season 5 being the last The Boys season, here are the biggest The Boys season 5 theories.
It's possible The Boys will successfully deliver a few more surprises, but it wouldn't be able to keep this up beyond another season or two. If the show wants to maintain its daring reputation, it needs to end with season 5. Otherwise, viewers will become desensitized to the gore and absurdities The Boys universe is known for.
4 The Boys Stakes Can't Get Much Higher
Season 5 Has To End Or Embrace Lower Stakes
The Boys may not be able to top the gore and gags of previous outings, but it'd face an even bigger problem continuing beyond season 5. The stakes are already as high as they can go heading into the final season, so there'd be nowhere to go but down. Homelander taking control of the White House and rounding up non-Supes is about as bleak as a series like The Boys can get. Unless a more powerful Supe emerges, there's no way to sur the threat that Homelander poses to the nation and world.
This would make anything beyond The Boys season 5 feel like starting over — or at least less monumental than the looming conflict between Supes and non-Supes. While the show might be able to spread that out for one or two extra seasons, going further would be risky. That's why it's a relief it's only going until season 5.
3 Spinoffs Are Better For The Boys' Future Than Season 6
Gen V Proves That They're The Best Way Forward
The Boys feels like it's naturally approaching its ending, but its Gen V spinoff is one of the freshest and most exciting additions to the franchise in recent years. With Gen V's story heavily connected to the main series, it's possible it will conclude around the same time as The Boys. However, Gen V does confirm one thing: that The Boys future looks brighter if it continues through spinoffs rather than more seasons.
Showing different parts of the world and following different characters can reignite the excitement of seasons 1 and 2.
While the characters and conflicts within the main show are growing old, The Boys has the same vast franchise potential as many other superhero stories. Showing different parts of the world and following different characters can reignite the excitement of seasons 1 and 2. It also allows the original show to go out on a high note. Fortunately, The Boys has several spinoffs planned, including one about Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy and one set in Mexico.
2 The Boys Shouldn't Copy The Franchises It's Parodying
It Could See The Same Problems As Marvel & DC
The Boys parodies franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe, and it often mocks them for having too many spinoffs and sequels. However, if The Boys continues beyond its natural conclusion, it has no right to poke fun at other franchises for doing the same. And it could face similar consequences, with viewers losing interest in the series over time.
Fortunately, The Boys won't have that problem because it's wrapping up with season 5. It will be able to give the story a proper ending, something a surprisingly large number of series and franchises aren't able to do. With The Boys expanding, there's a chance it could still end up like the MCU or DCU down the line. However, it's promising that the creators know when to say when.
1 A Proper Ending Is Better Than Risking Cancelation
It Feels Like No Show Is Safe In The Streaming Era
Outside the narrative reasons that The Boys should end with season 5, it's also best that the show gets a proper ending rather than risking cancelation later on. While it seems unlikely a series as popular as The Boys would get the ax, it also feels like no show is safe during the streaming era. Even series with huge fan bases sometimes get canceled, and it can happen after numerous seasons — especially if they decline in quality.
The Boys' Next Spinoff Show Creates A Huge Problem For Season 5
While The Boys’ spinoff set in Mexico sounds exciting, the new show’s potential timeline risks hurting The Boys season 5’s Homelander story.
If The Boys went on too long, it would risk not being able to end on its own . That would leave viewers without a proper or planned ending, which would be far more disappointing than bidding farewell to the show after several seasons. It's best to just let it conclude as the creators intend.
The Boys
- Release Date
- July 25, 2019
- Showrunner
- Eric Kripke
- Directors
- Jack Quaid, Eric Kripke
Cast
Billy Butcher
Hugh Hughie Campbell
WHERE TO WATCH
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
- Writers
- Eric Kripke
- Franchise(s)
- The Boys
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Main Genre
- Action
- Creator(s)
- Eric Kripke
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