<em>The Boys</em> debuted on Prime Video in 2019, and the universe has expanded significantly since then, with four impressive seasons released alongside two seasons of its spinoff show, Gen V. Focusing on a realistic portrayal of superheroes, The Boys highlights some of the more sinister realities of relying on individuals with superpowers to protect the world.
Their resilient nature makes the possibility of them going rogue much darker, with the central antagonist, Homelander, perfectly illustrating what a narcissistic and uncontrollable supe would look like. The series also explores how these superheroes are marketed, with Vought International using them less as crime fighters and more as merchandise sellers.
The conclusion of Gen V season 2 added even more excitement to the story, as it perfectly set up the main show’s conclusion while solidifying its young supes as the franchise’s future. With The Boys now officially confirmed for season 5 in 2026, it stands as one of Prime Video’s biggest IPs, and while every season maintains a high standard, some rank slightly higher than others.
6
Gen V Season 2
2025, 8 Episodes
Credit: Prime Video via MovieStillsDB
After Gen V season 1 set a high bar, season 2 failed to capitalize on this momentum as hoped. There were still notable moments of quality, such as Hamish Linklater’s performance as Cipher and how Gen V honored Chance Perdomo’s death, but the story did not meet the usual standards of The Boys.
Thomas Godolkin’s reveal felt rushed, while many of the main heroes made decisions that frustrated the audience and at times felt out of character. While the first iteration used cameos from the main show effectively without harming this fresh new project, season 2 struggled to incorporate familiar faces without them feeling out of place.
That said, Starlight had a brief yet impactful role that worked well, while Stan Edgar truly stole the show during episode 6. Gen V season 2 continued to introduce fun new supes and abilities into the show while maintaining genuinely high stakes, proving it was still a worthy entry despite falling just short of expectations.
Harshly, it is considered the weakest outing yet in The Boys universe, but there is still plenty to admire about the spinoff’s second installment. While it may not have showcased the best from all its main cast members, Cipher proved to be a standout addition while perfectly setting up The Boys season 5.
5
The Boys Season 4
2024, 8 Episodes
The Boys season 4 was easily the most anticipated outing so far, but its political satire and slow-paced storytelling ultimately divided audiences, leading to mixed reviews. While the season still performed well critically, The Boys season 4 received a rotten audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, becoming the first installment in the franchise to do so.
Although some of that criticism is valid, much of the negativity stemmed from The Boys‘ social commentary and political themes. This indicates that the audience score is not an accurate reflection of the season’s overall quality since there were still plenty of highlights. New additions like Sister Sage and Firecracker elevated the show and continued to make The Seven fascinating despite losing Queen Maeve.
Likewise, A-Train’s redemption arc was a great storyline and one of the most exhilarating episodes yet concluded season 4 while setting up an exciting final outing.
The confirmation of season 5 unfortunately meant that season 4 lacked a sense of jeopardy. Even some stronger plots had a filler element as The Boys played for time ahead of its grand finale. Nevertheless, season 4 demonstrated that even at its weakest, The Boys remains an engaging series capable of entertaining its audience.
4
The Boys Season 3
2022, 8 Episodes
Despite being one of the weaker installments in The Boys franchise so far, season 3 was still an excellent season of television. Its sixth episode, “Herogasm,” is arguably the best episode in the entire series, showcasing that season 3 remains full of quality.
It introduced Soldier Boy, a memorable character portrayed by Jensen Ackles who proved so popular that he was brought back for a cameo in Gen V, and after seasons of build-up, Homelander and Billy Butcher finally had a physical confrontation when Butcher decided to take Temp V.
A significant portion of the story revolved around this substance, allowing The Boys to fight back on equal footing against supes. Season 3 also highlighted divisions among main characters, with Hughie and Starlight becoming split on how to approach fighting Vought.
This lack of unity among the main cast created an engaging narrative but also slightly hindered the flow of the season. Having separate characters pursue their own paths slowed down pacing somewhat. As great as Soldier Boy’s addition was, he did not significantly advance the overarching story.
Still, even if season 3 wasn’t the best in the series’ history, it continued to add drama to Homelander and Butcher’s feud heading into season 4 while providing audiences with laughs and shocking moments.
3
Gen V
2023, 8 Episodes
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