Fans React to Controversial Finale of The Boys Season 5

The Boys Season 5 Concludes with Mixed Reviews

As streaming series wrap up, audience reactions are becoming increasingly vocal. On May 20, the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys aired its series finale after five thrilling seasons. The climactic showdown between Homelander (Antony Starr) and Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) was filled with intense action and numerous fatalities. Despite maintaining an average IMDb rating of around 8, the final two episodes have sparked significant discussion online, as they are currently the lowest-rated installments in the series. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Lowest Ratings for The Boys Season 5 Episodes

On IMDb, episodes 7 and 8 hold ratings of 6.3 and 6.6, respectively. The seventh episode, which previously had a rating of 7.1, has seen a decline. Approximately 32,000 viewers rated the seventh episode titled The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man Called Mother's Milk, while the series finale, Blood and Bone, received votes from 51,000 viewers. The premiere episode of the final season, titled Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite, is the highest-rated at 8.9, with no episode surpassing a score of 9.

Created by Eric Kripke, this superhero satire is based on the comics by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Fans have expressed dissatisfaction with several adaptations from the comics, particularly regarding the fate of the main antagonist, Homelander. His demise, occurring midway through the episode, was met with criticism as viewers felt it was uncharacteristic for him to plead for mercy before his death at the hands of Butcher. Additionally, there were questions about the relevance of the spinoff series Gen V, which followed characters Marie (Jaz Sinclair), Jordon (London Thor), and Emma (Lizze Broadway) in the finale. Unfortunately, Gen V has been canceled after its second season, meaning these characters will not return.

Eric Kripke Responds to Elon Musk's Take on The Boys Finale

On X (formerly Twitter), showrunner Kripke expressed his delight at Elon Musk's reaction to the finale, stating it was the best review he could receive. In the episode, Homelander sends a billionaire reminiscent of Musk into space, leaving him stranded after he makes demands of the new U.S. leader. Although The Boys has concluded, a prequel spinoff titled Vought Rising is set to debut next year, featuring Jensen Ackles in the lead role.