The Boys’ V-One Storyline Has One Fatal Flaw

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Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 5, episode 5, “One Shots.”

The latest season of ‘The Boys’ has gotten a varied reaction from viewers. Some think it’s been fantastic, while others feel it’s moved too slowly. Despite this, the show still delivers what makes it great, but there’s a major plot issue that’s hard to overlook.

Even though Vought and Homelander are clearly villains, the show also doesn’t portray its heroes as perfect. Characters like Butcher, Frenchie, Starlight, and Hughie all have flaws and have made difficult, sometimes questionable, decisions throughout The Boys, especially in season 4.

After five seasons of building tension, the conflict between the characters finally exploded in the “King of Hell” episode, leading to a fight within Fort Harmony. While intended to help them resolve their differences and work together, their ultimate goal is surprisingly complicated and raises some confusing plot questions.

Butcher’s always been a bit of a self-serving character, but generally, the rest of the team has tried to do the right thing. That’s why their decision to unleash the supe virus – even with the condition that Annie and Kimiko get V-One – seems so surprising, as it clashes with their usual values.

The team knows taking down Homelander will require difficult choices, and they’re uneasy with the idea of killing all other supes. However, in the upcoming season, everyone seems to have reluctantly agreed to use a dangerous virus, as long as they can ensure their own safety.

The Big Problem With The Boys Season 5’s V-One Storyline

The V-One plotline in The Boys season 5 moves the story along because both the heroes and the villain are pursuing it, though for different goals. The heroes need to get V-One into the hands of Starlight and Kimiko so they can use it to weaken Homelander with a special virus before destroying it.

As a huge fan of ‘The Boys,’ I’m really fascinated by what’s going on with Homelander and this virus. It’s not just about him surviving, it’s about him achieving actual godhood – becoming the untouchable figure he always believed he was. But what’s bugging me is The Boys themselves. They seem okay with letting a lot of the supes perish, which feels inconsistent. I mean, they’ve bent over backwards to save some pretty questionable characters before, so why the sudden willingness to let so many others fall? It just doesn’t quite add up.

I was really surprised by some of the choices made regarding the Gen V characters. Seeing them risk so much to fight against Homelander, it just felt wrong to see them abandoned. It reminded me of how, even after everything, The Boys gave characters like Victoria Neuman and even A-Train a chance to turn things around, to really grow and redeem themselves. Hughie forgiving A-Train before his death really stuck with me, and that willingness to see the good in people felt core to the show. So, to see the Gen V heroes left vulnerable after actively helping the cause just didn’t ring true to everything we’ve seen before.

Starlight specifically requested Marie’s assistance, making it especially harsh to deny her and her friends the opportunity to secure V-One. Furthermore, the group appears unconcerned with the fate of the many innocent super-powered individuals who haven’t misused their abilities, as long as Kimiko and Starlight remain safe.

Even though MM’s storyline became much darker in season 5, he still demonstrated empathy by saving Countess Crow in episode 2, recognizing she was a victim of Vought’s corruption rather than an inherently bad person. Because of this, her eventual death from the virus felt like a wasted, and ultimately frustrating, act of kindness.

The show is trying to raise the tension this season, but it feels wrong that so many good superheroes are being killed off just to save two people. This doesn’t fit with how these characters have acted before and creates a noticeable inconsistency in the story.

Why The Boys Are Going Along With Butcher’s Virus Plan Now

As a longtime fan of ‘The Boys,’ I’ve been thinking about Butcher’s plan. It’s interesting to remember he was pushing for this supe virus way back in season four, and the others shut him down. Something had to shift for them to finally agree. But honestly, I don’t think their support is solid. I get the feeling they’ll likely have second thoughts – and maybe even turn on Butcher again – as soon as the virus is actually a reality.

We’re also seeing some characters change their minds, especially MM and Starlight, who are starting to agree with Butcher’s methods. After witnessing Homelander’s unchecked power, they believe the potential dangers of the virus are worth the risk, especially since they don’t fully understand Frenchie’s alternative solution.

Starlight is determined to survive, and MM and Butcher both want to protect Kimiko and Ryan. Plus, Butcher himself has powers. Because stopping this villain and his super-powered army seems impossible any other way, they’re reluctantly following Butcher’s lead for now.

Hughie, Kimiko, and Frenchie are hesitant, wanting to be sure they have V-One and understand the virus completely before acting. However, it’s their only hope of stopping Homelander.

Everyone is still on edge, but they all understand they’re fighting a war. While they don’t necessarily care who defeats Homelander in season 5 of The Boys, they’re all in agreement that he needs to be stopped. This unity is fragile and could shift once the virus is perfected, but for now, they’re working together despite their differences.

With only three episodes remaining, it’s going to be interesting to watch how the team interacts and whether their disagreements will hinder their ability to achieve their goal. Despite their issues, The Boys are cooperating again, but mostly because they have to.

The Boys’ Final Season Would Work Better If They Weren’t Trying To Save Starlight & Kimiko

Although the danger facing Starlight and Kimiko adds an interesting layer to season 5 of The Boys, the story could be even stronger if it didn’t focus so much on rescuing them. It would be more compelling to see the characters grapple with the difficult question of whether killing Homelander is justifiable, even if it meant innocent people would be harmed.

Okay, let’s say the whole super-virus-spreading panic wasn’t a thing. Even if it was just a targeted weapon, the story could have been so much more focused. Instead of widespread fear, we could’ve seen a tense, strategic hunt – taking down the remaining members of The Seven, one by one. The real brilliance would have been in crafting a trap for Homelander, something he couldn’t just solve by flying away. It would have forced a genuine confrontation, and that’s what the narrative really needed.

It’s great that The Boys continues to focus on its characters and their personal struggles, even with all the excitement. The premiere of season 5 is easily the strongest episode yet, largely due to the high stakes created by the increased focus on V-One. The danger feels more real in this episode than in previous ones.

The Boys Season 5 Episodes IMDb Rating
Episode 1 — “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite” 9.0
Episode 2 — “Teenage Kix” 8.6
Episode 3 — “Every One of You Sons of Bitches” 8.4
Episode 4 — “King of Hell” 7.7
Episode 5 — “One Shots” 7.9
Episode 6 TBC
Episode 7 TBC
Episode 8 TBC

As a fan, it’s frustrating to see Hughie and Frenchie so focused on getting their partners back – they’d never risk a full-on war with Vought and Homelander until they do. And honestly, Annie and Kimiko are understandably hesitant to go all-in when their own lives are in danger. It feels like the final season is carefully avoiding the big showdowns we’ve been hoping for since season one, which is a little disappointing.

While the ultimate result will likely be satisfying, the current season could be more exciting if the team focused more on aggressively taking down their enemies. The show’s attention to Starlight and Kimiko’s storylines has unfortunately held back The Boys from being a truly grand spectacle in season 5.

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2026-05-02 21:03