The Boys’s Jessie T. Usher Shot That Final Scene a Hundred Times

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Spoilers follow for the season-five premiere of The Boys, which aired April 8.

As The Boys headed into its fifth and final season, Jessie T. Usher expected his character, A-Train, wouldn’t survive – the original comic books hinted at this. But when the show began in 2019, Usher didn’t anticipate A-Train would die as a hero. The series famously started with A-Train accidentally killing Robin, Hughie’s girlfriend, and showing no regret. This event motivated Hughie to join the Boys and fight against the powerful Homelander. However, by the end of the first episode of the final season, A-Train found redemption. He saved Hughie, avoided hitting another innocent person, and ultimately died confronting his former leader, Homelander – finally showing some courage.

As a movie fan, one thing that really struck me about this scene was finally understanding the villain’s motivation. We never truly knew why he did what he did before, specifically with the Robin situation. But this time, we got a real look inside his head, and it felt like everything connected. It’s pretty unusual to see a character’s journey start and finish in such a mirrored way, and it was incredibly satisfying.

A-Train used to reluctantly work with the superhero team The Seven, led by the unstable Homelander. However, he’s had a change of heart and is now helping Starlight (Annie January) fight against Homelander. When the season begins, A-Train is a fugitive. Initially hesitant, he eventually agrees to help Starlight rescue Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie from a Vought prison. He uses his super-speed to slow down time and save Hughie from a laser blast from Homelander, which then leads to a chase. While trying to escape, A-Train almost collides with a woman, mirroring a past tragedy, but manages to avoid her. The sudden maneuver causes him to fall into the woods, where Homelander catches up to him.

It was chilling to watch A-Train finally stand up to Homelander, mocking him and everything he represents. He actually laughed, asking what he ever feared from someone so…empty. He basically called Homelander a nobody without his powers – pathetic, weak, a loser. Then, in a split second, Homelander just snapped his neck. It was a brutal, shocking moment, and honestly, it sets the tone for what’s coming next. As Usher said, it really drives home the point that absolutely nobody is safe in this fight. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a wild ride!

When Eric Kripke first called me, I was immediately impressed. He’s incredibly talented, and I’ve always had faith in his creative choices, even when the story, like with A-Train, was confusing at first. He explained the deeper meaning behind the show and how it would mirror a specific, impactful scene with A-Train and Robin. Honestly, I thought, ‘This is brilliant – he’s like Shakespeare, writing poetry!’ I never imagined the character would go on such a journey, with genuinely moving moments showing real change.

As a huge fan of Eric Kripke’s work, I honestly felt honored to have my character killed off by him! He’s taken out so many characters over the years, and it’s kind of a badge of honor to be among them. Whenever I sign on to one of his shows, I’m always curious about how my character’s arc will end. So, to make it all the way to season five and have A-Train go out like that… it actually got a little emotional, I’m not gonna lie!

A-Train’s final act wasn’t just rescuing Hughie; he purposefully avoided hitting another woman, which ultimately led to his capture. It was a fitting conclusion to his character arc. This moment was crucial, and we spent a lot of time making sure it landed – showing A-Train recognizing the situation and deliberately choosing not to repeat his past mistake. It was his final moment of facing consequences, and we filmed it countless times to get the emotional impact just right.

A-Train’s death in the comic books was quite different – Hughie killed him to avenge Robin, and A-Train never showed any regret. Were you expecting something similar in the show? I always wondered how his death would happen, and I initially thought Hughie might be the one to do it. But after talking with Jack, who played Hughie, I realized it didn’t feel right for his character. Jack brought a genuine innocence to the role, and it made sense that Hughie wouldn’t be the one. I actually prefer that A-Train is confronting his own demons and even laughs at Homelander. It feels more impactful than simply following the comic book storyline. Though, I suspect some fans would have enjoyed seeing Hughie deliver the final blow – it would have been shocking!

Considering the years of mistreatment from Homelander, when do you think A-Train finally stopped being afraid of him? I believe it wasn’t until a specific moment that he truly felt a shift. For a year, he was a fugitive, constantly worried about being found by Homelander and knowing how powerful Vought is. He was always looking over his shoulder, living in fear. In this episode, he repeatedly claimed he wasn’t scared, which felt like a way of hiding his true feelings.

Once he’s cornered, there’s a sense of relief in no longer having to hide. For A-Train, choosing to face the consequences, even if it means death, felt more powerful than continuing to run. I discussed this with Eric during filming. A-Train is injured, but he could keep going if he pushed himself. But eventually, you just get exhausted by it all. I wanted him to feel depleted, fed up with the lies, and prepared to confront his inner demons, even if that confrontation led to his death.

A-Train delivers that defiant smile and laugh right to Homelander’s face. We really discussed how to make that final moment impactful. It started with a conversation with Antony about the psychological battle those two have been having. We asked ourselves what A-Train was trying to communicate, what his true intentions were, and how he wanted to affect Homelander knowing his fate. During one take, I suddenly realized how absurd Homelander looks in his costume – the tights, the suit, the hair – and it struck me as genuinely funny. I laughed, and seeing the anger flash in Antony’s eyes, I knew that was the right approach. We experimented with many different options, but that felt the most authentic.

Even though it’s just a short scene, it’s clear A-Train and Starlight have formed a genuine connection since we last saw them. Considering how badly A-Train and The Seven initially treated her, and his past betrayals, were you happy to see their partnership evolve? I didn’t anticipate such a close bond, but I’m glad it happened. I especially loved the scene with them and Kimiko – it’s short, but full of meaning. I was focused on everything they’ve been through in the last year, and how much vulnerability it would take for A-Train to connect with her. I was pleased he was able to do that. As soon as she asks for his help, A-Train realizes he has to be there for her, because she would do the same for him. He doesn’t have many people left who he can rely on.

A-Train and Deep share a complicated history and are both intimidated by Homelander. When Homelander tasks Deep with finding A-Train, A-Train warns him that siding with Homelander will only lead to trouble. It’s questionable whether A-Train’s message will resonate with Deep, who isn’t known for being particularly insightful. However, both characters are under Homelander’s control, allowing for a moment of genuine honesty between them. Deep is surprised by A-Train’s vulnerability and willingness to admit his fear, something he doesn’t often encounter. After years of hiding their true selves from each other, A-Train’s honesty provides a refreshing change.

Are you going to experience the rest of the season like a regular viewer, or did you already find out what happens? I’m going in completely blind – I haven’t read any scripts beyond what I filmed. I even left the group chat when everyone started talking about the show, and I warned my co-stars not to spoil anything for me! I really want to be surprised and enjoy it week by week, just like everyone else. I want to be shocked and react in the moment. I’m looking forward to playfully yelling at my castmates later for keeping secrets – that’s what makes this so fun!

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2026-04-10 15:56