WithThe Boysseason 5 set to bring Prime Video’s tale of twisted Superheroes to a close, it is undeniable that certain characters will finally receive their long-awaited comeuppance, though certain characters deserve to have a happier ending. The series began in 2019, exploring a world where the profession of Superheroes is highly commercialized, leading to some of the worst people becoming empowered titans abusing their power.
The Boysseason 4’s endingbrought the world of the series into a dire new place by the end. After a season of covert power-plays, unexpected alliances, and twists, Homelander (Antony Starr) is able to position himself as the de facto leader of the United States of America by framing the Boys for the murder of politician Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), enacting martial law through his legion of superpowered supremacists.Several members of the Boys are apprehended while others are on the run, leaving us nervous for their fates by the end ofThe Boysseason 5.
6Reggie Franklin/A-Train
A-Train Has Discovered What It Means To Be A True Hero
Jessie T. Usher’s A-Train is one of the most infamous members ofThe Boys' cast of Supes, as he is the inciting figure in Hughie’s (Jack Quaid) through his murder of his girlfriend, Robin, (Jess Salgueiro) while under the effects of Compound V. Initially portrayed as somewhat fame-hungry and willing to do whatever was necessary to maintain his status, Reggie Franklin is a initial introduction into how flawedThe Boys' supes can be. However,A-Train isn’t void of a conscience, and was willing to help stand against Voughtwhen necessary.
As such, A-Train has undergone a journey of self-discovery, as he gradually took more of a stand against Homelander and actively acted as an inside man for the Boys. Because of this, A-Train is one of the show’s true examples of what a Superhero should be,with season 4 giving him a moment where he is finally presented as an idealized superherowhen saving Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso). A-Train was stated to be in hiding with his family after exposing his true allegiances, and should be allowed to emerge as a positive figure once the dust settles from Homelander’s reign.
5Ryan Butcher
The Son Of Homelander Should Make His Own Choices
Ryan Butcher (Cameron Crovetti) is another pivotal character forThe Boys, bridging the worlds of both the Seven and the titular team due to his complicated parentage. The child of Homelander and Billy Butcher’s (Karl Urban) ex-wife Becca (Shantel VanSanten), Homelander attempted to be a father to the child, bringing him into further conflict with Butcher, who had attempted to care for the child.Ultimately, after Becca’s death, Ryan was taken primarily into Homelander’s care in season 3, but still maintained a good relationship wth Butcher.
Of course, while Homelander did not want to raise Ryan as he had been under Vought’s scientists, he still saw the boy as nothing more than a way to further his ambitions of Supe supremacy and hoped that Ryan would carry on his ideals, using threats to keep him in line. However, as Ryan publicly denounces Vought and Homelander’s heavy-handed propaganda, he also loses trust in Butcher after learning the full extent of his origin, leaving him alone in the world. Like A-Train,Ryan could represent a brighter tomorrow, but deserves the chance to choose that path for himself.
4Marvin T. Milk/Mother’s Milk
Marvin Has Earned His Retirement
One of the earliestmembers of the Boys, Marvin T. Milk has given much of his life to the fight against Vought, having been brought back into the fight by Butcher in season 1 after stepping away to spend time with his family.Not only did he lose his father and grandfather due to Vought’s corruption and neglect, but his fight against the Supes has tested his own relationship with his wife and daughter.Yet he has still remained dedicated.
As someone who has actively tried to place the blood and brutality behind him time and time again,an ideal ending for Marvin would be to see him leave the Boys once and for all. Much of Marvin’s life has been dedicated to fighting Vought ever since a very young age, and he deserves the chance to finally enjoy the peaceful life he has created for himself. However, with Mother’s Milk in Supe custody, things are not looking optimistic for one of the Boys' longest-serving members.
3Annie January/Starlight
Starlight Is The Face Of A New Generation Of Superheroes
While she may have begun as the newest member of The Seven, Annie January has become one ofThe Boys' most developed characters. Breaking out of her belief in Vought’s mission,Annie quickly dedicated herself to doing right, initially as a spy within the company before taking up a public role against Vought. Even with the full superpower and political force of Vought against her, Annie stands as a face of revolution against terrifying powers.
Because of this status, while it would be powerful to see Annie give her all and sacrifice herself for her cause, it would also be disappointing to see her not be present to see the better world she gave her all to create. Furthermore,much ofThe Boysseason 4 saw Annie replaced with a shapeshifting duplicate amidst her own identity crisis, effectively losing control of her own story and hurting her relationships. Now the sole active member ofThe Boys, season 5 should allow Annie the chance to shine and truly choose how her story ends.
2Kimiko Miyashiro
The Reluctant Supe Dreams Of A Normal Life
Abducted and experimented on in her youth, Kimiko Miyashiro (Karen Fukuhara) is one ofThe Boys' most tragic figures. Undoubtedly, the power house of a team of cunning, crafty combatants, thanks to her healing factor, superstrength, and enhanced senses, all these gifts came at a cost for Kimiko, as she went from a child soldier to a Compound V experiment, losing her family and ability to speak. Yet, despite their dark mission statement,being part of the Boys has brought some light back to Kimiko’s life.
Even when their bonds have been strained, such as with Butcher’s worsening condition, the team has become a found family for her, especiallyKimiko’s romantic relationship with Frenchie(Tomer Capone). Furthermore, Kimiko has clear dreams beyond what happens when the fight with Vaught comes to a close, as season 3 showed that she still held onto a dream to speak, sing, and have a normal life through her own musical number.Despite season 4’s ending and Kimiko’s comic fate leaving things dire for her,she is more than deserving of achieving her happy ending.
1Hughie Campbell
Hughie Represents Humanity Enduring In A Bleak World
Asthe first on-screen victim of a Supe and the audience surrogate through whom viewers learned about the truth ofThe Boys' world, many fans are incredibly attached to Quaid’s Hughie Campbell. While his world-view may have been shattered and he has been forced to become more ruthless to fight the true monsters of Vought, Hughie has remained the heart of the team, something that Butcher recognizes. He acknowledges that they will have to do whatever is necessary to face a greater evil, but still hopes to ensure his friends retain their humanity.
However, like Mother’s Milk, Kimiko, and Frenchie, Hughie is in custody of Vought’s new regime as of season 4’s ending, and may therefore be subject to some ofThe Boys' truly darkest moments in its final act. Because of this, not only will Hughie’s faith in humanity be tested, but his physical well-being too. Hughie is a character who represents true heroism without reward or glory within the world ofThe Boys, so him dying may leave many disappointed and at odds with just what the series wanted to say about what it means to be a hero.
