The Boys Season 5: Why Critics Say It Misses The Mark

Alright, so The Boys is back with Season 5, and critics have finally let loose with early reactions. As usual, the show is earning a ton of praise—Rotten Tomatoes has it sitting at a ridiculous 97% with critics, and Metacritic shows a strong 80. But, as always with a show this dense (and, let’s face it, a little bit unhinged), it’s not all smooth sailing. Now, if you’re curious, critics only had access to the first seven of the eight episodes, which means plenty of reviewers are sitting on their hands and holding off final judgment until they see how this whole disaster ends. But for now, here’s what’s bugging reviewers about the supposed last hurrah for Prime Video’s goriest superhero circus.

Not All the Toys Get Played With

Easily the most common gripe: too many characters, too little time. If you were dying to see more of the teenage supes from Gen V, tough luck. Despite that finale teaser where Starlight and A-Train recruit Marie Moreau’s blood-bending team into the resistance, the crossover to The Boys proper is...well, kind of a cameo drive-by. Marie, whose powers can literally revive the dead and possibly stand up to Homelander, mostly just pops up for plot reminders.

As Variety bluntly puts it: 'Integration with the main show has been clunky at best.' IGN agrees, calling the spinoff kids little more than occasional name-drops. The theory? They’re worried not enough viewers actually watched Gen V (which, if true, is both business-savvy and a little cowardly). If you’re craving meaningful screen-time or big moments—don’t hold your breath.

Ryan Butcher: The Human Hot Potato

You’d think after last season, the show would be all over the homicidal wonder-kid that is Ryan Butcher. Season 4 set him up big time—stuck between psycho-dad Homelander and morally-exploding stepdad Butcher, then accidentally killing his handler Mallory (which, fun fact, sent Butcher into full supervillain mode thanks to a tumor that gives him tentacles—this show is subtle as always). Yet now? Ryan’s basically benched. DiscussingFilm calls it out straight: Ryan is 'surprisingly underutilized,' especially for a kid who could literally tip the show’s scales. Sure, when he does show up, he’s apparently 'compelling' and 'powerful.' But that’s kind of like praising a shark in a kiddie pool.

Sister Sage: MIA (Again)

Next up, Sister Sage. Remember her? Supposedly the smartest person in the world, she spent all last season shaking up Homelander’s chessboard—then told him to get ready for 'phase two.' She even shows up in Gen V Season 2, freeing a dangerous supe just to keep the teen cast alive. Sage also has inside info about 'V-One,' a kind of immortality serum, and basically dangles it over Homelander’s head like catnip.

So—big player, right? You’d think. But according to IGN, the show 'mostly glosses over Sage,' keeping her motives murky until the last minute. By the time she actually matters, it’s apparently a case of 'too little, too late.' Variety even points out the backstory gets dumped in via awkward dialogue, just to tidy things up. To be fair, Sage isn’t exactly known for laying her cards on the table. Her own sharpest line, at a billionaire blowout, says it all:

'One hand in their pockets while the other slits their [expletive] throats.'

Hopefully, the finale gives her more to work with—fingers crossed.

One List: What Else is Rubbing Critics the Wrong Way?

• Frenchie and Kimiko: That endless trauma-laden pairing is hitting a low point, at least for DiscussingFilm. Despite Kimiko finally speaking, their relationship is apparently spinning in circles.
• Soldier Boy Returns: The show knows fans want more of Jensen Ackles, but his comeback feels a little forced. IGN says the father-son tension with Homelander could’ve been a goldmine, but the show just doesn’t go there.

The Bottom Line

Even with some missteps and missing character arcs, The Boys is still getting raves—nearly universal critical praise based on the early episodes. But it’s not perfect (surprise, surprise), and some of the boldest moves from prior seasons seem to be getting sidestepped in favor of bringing this super-powered train to a screeching, bloody stop. Basically: check out the new season when it drops (the two-episode premiere lands April 8, with weekly rollouts after that), but don’t be shocked if some of your favorites are mostly stuck in the background, watching the carnage like the rest of us.