'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 5 Recap: Soldier Boy and Homelander clash intensifies as violence hits new highs
Contains spoilers for 'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 5: 'One-Shots'
If there were moments that hinted 'The Boys' was switching to high gear through episodes 1-4, the latest chapter titled 'One-Shots' sets the foot firmly on the pedal. The episode takes a non-linear approach and tells stories from the perspectives of the different supes. Engrossing and electric, 'One-Shots' brings jaw-dropping cameos, drama, death, and promises copious future Homelander mayhem.
The body count piles up in Los Angeles
The storyline picks up from where it left off: The search for V-One. Homelander (Antony Starr) and Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) jet off to Los Angeles to meet a discarded supe, Mister Marathon (Jared Padalecki), and Malchemical (Misha Collins). With the defunct speedster expected to know the compound's whereabouts, things get messy when the father-son duo turns the meeting into a bloodbath. Mister Marathon reveals Bombsight (Mason Dye) has the serum, but the whole meeting in Los Angeles becomes a let's-kill-Homelander mission and goes sideways in seconds. While at it, the episodes also use some filler content by bringing in cameos from Seth Rogen, Kumail Nanjiani, Will Forte, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Craig Robinson — all of them falling victim to Marathon's erratic speed as he runs through them. In the end, the speedster's plan to kill Homelander fails after he's brutally trampled to death by the former.
Firecracker fizzles
After four episodes, Firecracker (Valorie Curry) becomes the second supe from the Seven to die this season. Like A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) in the season opener, she meets her end at Homelander's hands after he finds out about her affair with Soldier Boy and the "pillow talk" (read as uncertainty embracing Homelander as god) that ensues after. In the previous episode, Firecracker came inches to sell out her soul after pledging loyalty to the evil supe, and in episode 5 watches helplessly as the newly-minted Messiah (again Homelander) decimates all churches not falling under the Democratic Church of America. He questions her loyalty and later brutally bashes her head against the wing of a metal eagle. Last we see is a lifeless Firecracker as the episode cuts to a close.
The Deep and Black Noir tussle continues
The Deep's (Chace Crawford) pettiness comes to the fore when he kills Black Noir's mentor (Adam Bourke), after the latter upstages him in one of their conversations with Oh Father (Daveed Diggs). In the end, Deep makes it clear that he owns Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell) while continuing his journey to curry favor in Homelander's eyes.
Sister Sage is a wily minx
Sister Sage (Susan Hayward) was introduced as the smartest person in the world. In 'One-Shots', she manipulates both the Ashleys (Colby Minfie) to help start a world war between supes and humans as both parties race against time in search of the virus. It would not be a surprise if she's next on the kill list if Homelander finds out that his loyal aide was all about her own vested interests.
'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 5 ending explained: Soldier Boy has an agenda
The series so far has established Soldier Boy's conflicting feelings for Homelander. The tough love relationship seems too artificial, and it appears he's playing along with his son, waiting for the opportune moment, though it is unclear what he wants. For now, all signs point to becoming the leader of the Seven, and the only person standing in his way is Homelander. Firecracker's death came only after he revealed he was in a physical relationship with the supe, while adding he was getting tired of her "pillow talk." It appears he is working his own angle, and that might lend another major twist in the story.
Quick take:
- Paul Rudd and Jared Leto catch some strays with some slapstick references about their careers
- Terror gets some screentime as the dog has some carnal Homelander dreams
- This episode featured less than 5 minutes collectively on the boys, with the supes taking the spotlight
'The Boys' Season 5 Episode 5 is streaming on Prime Video.
