The Boys Season 5 Episode 4 Review: A Soapy, Self-Aware Struggle to Conclude the Saga

This review contains spoilers for The Boys Season 5, Episode 4.

It’s no small feat to craft a satisfying final season for a beloved show, and The Boys writers attempt to address that challenge through the character of The Worm—a self-insert TV writer who occasionally stumbles into humor. The episode wades into the meta, acknowledging the difficulty of wrapping up years of storytelling, servicing multiple character arcs, and weaving in crossovers. Yet, despite this self-awareness, the episode itself feels like a soapy slog, particularly for viewers who, like this critic, have endured the Lost finale.

Homelander’s march toward becoming America’s new god continues, eliciting sycophantic grins from his followers. The moment Firecracker’s face crumples upon learning his new mission is electric—her sellout of the last remnants of her soul is chilling. If history’s warnings ever reached her, she’s long since forgotten them.

Hughie, ever the reluctant narrator, steps in to clarify the stakes for the audience. “Homelander has Stan Edgar,” he reminds us. “If we get the V1 first, we save Annie, we save Kimiko, we save Butcher. If Homelander gets it, he’s immortal, the virus is useless, and we’re fucked sideways. So who wants to go to [place] where [plot device] is?” Thanks for the update, Hughie. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Meanwhile, Soldier Boy appears rattled by the hunt for V1 doses at Fort Harmony, and this episode finally reveals why. Jensen Ackles, a worthy addition to the season despite the show’s reliance on spinoffs, brings a reliably charming presence—and the ability to convey thought without words. His performance elevates the material, even as Soldier Boy’s signature “I haven’t done X since Y!” dialogue risks veering into Family Guy-style flashback territory.

Fort Harmony and the Familiar Trope of Darkened Characters

Fort Harmony becomes the epicenter of the episode, where the crew confronts a familiar mind-altering trope. Whether it’s the amplifying darkness of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, vengeful spirits turning Sam and Dean Winchester against each other in Supernatural, or any number of other examples, we’ve seen this before: characters grow meaner and more unrecognizable until someone calls out the absurdity—and a solution emerges just in time to prevent mutual destruction.

For the record, Ryan is fine. If you’re a fan of his storyline, which mostly involves hiding and attempting to bond with people, rest assured he survives this episode.