The Boys' Season 5 Episode 4 snuck in a major 'The Last of Us' reference that we're sure you missed
Contains spoilers from 'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 4: 'King of Hell'
'The Boys' isn't new to major pop culture references, and/or even taking digs at them. The playful ones in Season 5, episode 4, 'King of Hell', saw Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) boast his manhood with a Nell Carter reference and troll Homelander (Antony Starr) by comparing him to Orson Weller. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) explains 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' to Ryan (Cameron Crovetti), only for the young supe to mix up the references. The best one, however, comes in the form of Frenchie (Tomer Capone) and Hughie (Jack Quaid) talking about 'The Last of Us' in the middle of what can rightfully be called a suicide mission.
For context, the boys decide to go to Fort Harmony to find any last remaining bit of compound V1, oblivious to the fact that Homelander and Soldier Boy are already en route to do the same. However, the environment at the creepy and dilapidated research center reeks of dead bodies and hate. The latter shows Frenchie deducing that Fort Harmony had mind-bending effects from the vines that engulfed the facility. This sees Hughie acknowledge that the infectious spores are straight out of HBO Max's post-apocalyptic drama, 'The Last of Us.' Frenchie responds with a crisp, but hilarious: "That is just 'The Walking Dead' with mushrooms." For those unaware, 'The Last of Us' sees a fungus based on real-life Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a parasitic fungus that takes over the motor control functions of ants. The 'zombie-ant fungus,' as it is known, is central to the series' plotline.
As it turns out, the lab was not entirely empty with a supe called Quinn (Kris Hagen) whose superpower is spreading pure hate to anyone in his vicinity. He meets his maker when Soldier Boy incinerates him with his nuclear blast after Frenchie pushes him to kill the supe, who is revealed to have a brief history with Soldier Boy. Killing Quinn leaves the supe shattered as he is later seen sitting dejected in the lab. The episode also sees one death in the form of Quinn, after teasing a dire end, as members of the boys turn on each other due to the effect of the spores. In the end, the supes — Homelander and Soldier Boy — beat a hasty retreat, as does the resistance after it is revealed that the remaining vial of V1 is in the possession of another supe, Bombsight (played by Mason Dye). The new character is expected to appear at some point during the season. For more easter eggs and references, fans can catch 'The Boys' Season 5 episode 4 on Prime Video.
