Season 5 of ‘The Boys’ has already begun to remove characters from the board in brutal fashion, and as the show ramps up for its final episode, we have no idea what to expect.
However, as fans were fixated on the shocking killings and Homelander’s latest terrifying power-up, another major departure quietly passed by almost unnoticed: Soldier Boy has officially come to the end of his story in the main series.
Soldier Boy’s Story In ‘The Boys’ May Have Ended More Tragically Than Fans Expected
Showrunner Eric Kripke says that episode 7 was the last time Jensen Ackles appeared in ‘The Boys’. The reveal was part of a conversation about the episode’s subtle nod to ‘Supernatural‘ with an Impala reference. Kripke acknowledged it as a “good send-off” to Ackles.
Related: Why ‘The Boys’ Finale Feels Impossible To Predict After Episode 7
“Yes, of course. Of course, we did. Knowing that that was going to be Jensen’s last scene in the series, we wanted to put in one last reference,” he told Collider. “Should it be ‘Impala’?” And I was like, “Yeah, it probably should be ‘Impala.’” And so, Jensen looped in ‘Impala’ just to do one last nod.”
It’s a surprisingly quiet goodbye for a character who was a cause of so much chaos in the series. Since Soldier Boy’s debut in season 3, he has been one of the most interesting characters on the show. He was not a typical violent supe. He was a walking example of toxic masculinity, old school patriotism, and generational trauma in one explosive package.
Ackles also infused a weird charm into the part that made Soldier Boy impossible to ignore. Something was captivating about Homelander and the other members of ‘The Boys’ getting into a tussle with the character. So his ending feels a bit cold. Soldier Boy doesn’t go out in a big battle or die heroically. Instead, he just ends up back inside a cryogenic chamber, hidden away. Meanwhile, the door is open, in theory. Ackles will still be coming back in ‘Vought Rising’, so Soldier Boy’s story isn’t over.
‘The Boys’ Is Entering Its Most Dangerous Stretch Yet
Episode 7 also brought another heart-wrenching moment as Frenchie sacrificed himself to save Kimiko. It was a devastating moment, as it took away one of the emotional pillars that had been holding the series up in the midst of the violence and satire.
In case you missed it: ‘The Boys’ Finally Makes Soldier Boy Feel Like More Than A Walking Punchline
And it seems that the episode has split audiences more than almost any episode in the show’s history, judging by fan reaction. The IMDb score is surprisingly low, and many viewers were unhappy with the pacing, character decisions, or how the big storylines were handled so near the end.
This puts a lot of strain on the last episode. ‘The Boys’ has been coming to this conclusion, and now it’s time to make it count before some of its most popular characters depart. Fans are either thrilled or appalled by the ending. However, there is one thing that is certain: the series is going to leave a mark before it’s done.
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