The Boyscreator Eric Kripke speaks on the difficulty of ending the series.The Boysseason 4 left viewers on a tense note, as major characters died and Homelander began his rise to power. The wait for season 5 continues as the showbegins filming again on November 25.The Boysseason 5is slated to be the final season, and as of now, is set for release in 2026. The series also has a spinoff show,Gen V, which has had one season so far.
As perCollider, Kripke discusses endingThe Boyswith season 5. The creator expressed apprehension towards concluding the show, noting that “you can count the amount of truly great series finales on one hand.” The creator also noted that it is “hard to land one plane” but thatThe Boysis trying their hand at “landing eight different planes.” Check out the full quote from Kripke below:
At the same time, I’ll say that you’re able to count the amount of truly great series finales on one hand. It’s so hard to land that plane, much less we’re landing eight different planes. I am appropriately respectful and have an appropriate amount of trepidation for how hard that job is. I’m not walking into it cocky at all. I’m walking into it like, ‘Okay, let’s second and triple guess every single decision becausewe really wanna land this plane.’Game of Throneswas an amazing show. When you think of the amount of work and effort and craft that went into that show, and all anyone talks about is the finale. I’m just like, ‘F*ck!’ It’s really exciting, but it’s scary too. Once I have my dragon come in and burn down the conference room, I’ve gotta make sure I stick that moment.
What This Means For The Boys Season 5
The Boys Has To Gain Back Its Audience
Kripke is right in drawing a comparison between his show andGame of Thrones. Whereas the first several seasons of the HBO series were acclaimed and adored by fans and critics alike,Game of Thronesseason 8is notorious for being one of the worst ways to close out a series. The show’s ending enraged fans, many of whom had been following the project for years before the finale.The Boyshas a similarly rabid following, and by extension, a wide fan base to potentially disappoint.
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The Boysis in an especially challenging position, as its audience reception did falter in season 4. Sitting at a 54% Popcornmeter,The Boysseason 4 was the only season of the series to get a rotten audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. While fans liked some episodes, such as episode 4, “Wisdom of the Ages,” a number of people thought that the Prime Video series had fallen off in quality from its previous installments. As a result,The Boysseason 5 will not only work to end the series, but restore viewers' faith.
Our Take On The Challenge Of Ending The Boys Season 5
The Boys Has External Challenges
In addition to the general challenges of ending a long-running television series,The Boysmust grapple with the extent to which it wants to touch on current events. The show has always been responsive to local and global news, featuring characters that loosely parody real-life political figures. With Donald Trump recently re-elected as President of the United States, the American political climate is tense, and thus some viewers might find aspects of Homelander’s rise to power, as detailed inThe Boysseason 4 ending, more upsetting. AsThe Boyshopes to gain an audience back, this political messaging will be tough to navigate.
The Boys
Cast
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.
