Assassination Run – The finale begins on the day the electoral votes are to be counted for the next president of the United States.  A very brief news segment not only makes a note of this but there is a mention of Vought Studios canceling A-Train/Reggie Franklin’s (Jessie T. Usher) documentary, despite it already being completed.

At the Boy’s Headquarters, Marvin T. Milk/Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) pushes Frenchie (Tomer Capone) to complete the virus while strategizing with Hughie Campbell Jr. (Jack Quaid) about finding the Shifter. Hughie’s focus is soon turned to the fake Starlight/Annie January (Erin Moriarty), who proposes to him. This ultimately leads to him giving her the ring that he’s been hoarding all season and ending up in bed together. When the Shifter notices her skin beginning to fail, she uses a champagne run as an excuse to get out of the apartment.

Despite William/Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) now being under the care of Grace Mallory (Laila Robins), Joe Kessler’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) incessant nagging certainly doesn’t improve his attitude. As Kessler attempts to goad him into asking for help, Mallory enters and immediately makes it known that she isn’t helping him for him. The scene ends with him requesting his phone so he can get to work.

Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) witnesses Homelander (Antony Starr) lose his cool when he discovers Butcher’s Christmas present squirreled away in the bottom of his backpack. It doesn’t help that Homelander is already disgusted by his aging and before either of them realizes it their Vought suite is a smoldering pile of rubble.

The fake Starlight can’t resist throwing her accomplishments in the real Starlight’s face when she stops by to check on her. While she tells the real Starlight about her and Hughie’s exploits and the assassination plans, Hughie speaks with Butcher. Hughie obviously wants to talk strategy but Butcher only wants to ramble about a topless steakhouse he once read about. He makes Hughie promise to visit it for him.

Homelander loses his cool once again as a guest on Firecracker’s (Valorie Curry) Truthbomb. He not only ousts Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) as a superhero to the entire world but he makes her unveil her abilities when he zaps her with his laser eyes. She is obviously outraged by this, but he practically tells her to suck it up and get on board. While leaving the show, he also orders Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie) to compile a list of anyone, including members of The Seven who has leverage over him.

As protests erupt in the streets and the media runs non-stop segments about Victoria, Marvin feels the walls closing in. This only leads to him pushing Frenchie even harder to finish the virus. Matters certainly aren’t helped when a subsequent phone call with Hughie reveals that their blackmail material has somehow been randomly deleted. As far as Marvin is concerned, they now only have one option: to go on the defensive.

While Robert Singer (Jim Beaver) publically expresses his outrage over Victoria, Butcher tries to convince Ryan to leave Vought with Mallory. Ryan refuses not only because he fears Homelander would find him anyway, but also because he likes it at Vought. Butcher tells him that if he really feels safe with Homelander then he will no longer ask. Instead of responding, Ryan turns his attention to a Connect Four game.

Elsewhere at Vought, Homelander rallies the Seven to kill everyone on the Ashley’s list. Much to everyone’s surprise, The Deep/Kevin Moskowitz (Chace Crawford) points out that Ashley would be the biggest threat if they are worried about people who have dirt on them. Eavesdropping from the other side of the door, Ashley hears this and immediately races into Homelander’s destroyed suite and injects herself with Compound V.

Along with Starlight, Hughie, and Kimiko Miyashiro (Karen Fukuhara), Marvin has Robert Singer secreted away in the Presidential Bunker. This is when Hughie realizes that the Shifter has taken Starlight’s identity. He attempts to relay this information to Marvin without drawing too much attention but this goes awkwardly wrong and forces the Shifter to go into kill mode. Kimko is the Shifter’s only real threat and even she only provides just enough of a distraction for Hughie and Marvin to get Singer to safety. The real Starlight shows up and although her powers are still on the fritz, she makes quick work of the Shifter.

When Victoria calls Homelander to apprise him of the situation, she begins to realize just how deep of a hole she’s dug for herself. At nearly the same time, the Boys return to headquarters where Frenchie has apparently just finished the virus. As expected, things between Hughie and Starlight are now as awkward as ever, but they get long to dwell on this thanks to a call from Victoria, who now wants to change sides. Hughie is obviously suspicious but ultimately agrees to help her. Things go about the same way when he shares this news with the rest of the team.

Mallory begins to feel the walls closing in when Marvin phones her about the failed assassination. Much to Butcher’s displeasure, she ends up telling Ryan everything about Homelander, including that he raped Becca Butcher (Shantel VanSanten). Ryan obviously has a hard time believing this and only becomes more frantic when he realizes about their plans to use him to kill Homelander. Ryan ultimately ends up killing Mallory when she refuses to let him leave. Butcher is too stunned to do anything and surprisingly enough, Kessler remains quiet.

After Hughie returns to the Boy’s headquarters with Zoe Neuman (Olivia Morandin) and Victoria, Butcher makes a surprise appearance. With the help of Kessler, he rips Victoria apart and takes the virus. Before leaving, he tells them they are welcome and advises them not to hang around too long.

After learning about Victoria’s death, Homelander is wallowing in defeat when Sister Sage (Susan Heyward) makes a surprise visit. He’s left practically speechless when she tells him that everything has gone practically according to plan. After several minutes of explaining how she pulled off her endeavor, Senator Calhoun (David Andrews) declares martial law and makes it that they will all be reporting to Homelander.

The episode ends with the Boys splitting up and going on the run. Unfortunately, none of them make it very far thanks to Homelander’s task force of superheroes. Starlight’s abilities return just in time to allow her to escape, leaving Hughie behind. Butcher is also loose with the virus.

After the credits roll, Senator Calhoun takes Homelander to see Solider Boy/Ben (Jensen Ackles), who appears to be being stored in some kind of experimental container.

 

The Boys Finale Review

Not a horrible season at all and the return of Jensen nearly makes the anticipation for the upcoming season far too great. Soldier Boy was easily one of the most humorous, wittiest, and interesting of the characters. Season 5 should be poised to be amazing. The prospect of Butcher on the run with the virus and nothing left to live for, the return of Jensen, and the Boys will not only be captive but they’ll likely be separated. Although I’m in the Butcher camp through and through, Homelander in control opens the shines the way for some intriguing potentials.

As for the finale itself, I wasn’t expecting Sage’s misdirection but when I think about it, I guess I should have expected it. The death of Victoria and Zoe’s confinement could lead to an intriguing redemption story as well. I am not an A-Train fan but I would have at least liked to know what his plans are. And, Ashley as a superhero? Now, that is intriguing!

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