The Boys Recap: No Room for Heresy

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Going into the final season of The Boys, we expected some characters we loved to be killed off, and the next-to-last episode seems like the perfect place for a major loss. The episode title hinted at a sacrifice, even before knowing the details from the original comics. “The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man Called Mother’s Milk” really focuses on those three supporting characters – who have been essential to the show since the beginning – and it felt inevitable that at least one of them wouldn’t make it to the end.

This episode feels similar to recent ones, with the team splitting up for different assignments. Hughie, Butcher, MM, and Annie go to Vought Studios, pairing off to investigate Oh Father and his surprising push to make the Democratic Church of America the national religion. They discover he’s using powerful psychics – including someone called Synapse – to run focus groups and then eliminate anyone who doesn’t seem truly devoted to Homelander. This impacts a huge number of people – 24 out of a group of 30 alone – and Vought isn’t doing themselves any favors with a ridiculously cheesy ad campaign featuring Jesus Christ endorsing the change.

The plot also serves as a way to understand how Annie and MM feel about the war right now. Both characters have become tougher this season, and Annie is especially having a hard time believing in what she’s doing, especially since it seems like almost half the country agrees with the conflict. (This continues to mirror real-world events.) She appears distant and unemotional during a meeting to share information with Marie Moreau and Jordan Li from Gen V.

MM unexpectedly gives Annie a glimmer of hope by sharing the story behind his nickname. When he was a child, he cared for an injured bird, partly to cope with the grief of losing his grandfather, who had been harmed by Soldier Boy. Other kids teased him and called him “Mother’s Milk,” but he embraced the name because it represented kindness and compassion. The story is touching, and it resonates deeply considering how hardened he became while working at the detention center. Annie feels foolish for letting herself care, but MM reminds her that being vulnerable and compassionate is actually a sign of strength.

MM and Annie successfully stop Dogknott and Sheline from harming the focus group participants, and Annie feels revitalized when one of the survivors expresses their gratitude. She quickly brings Marie and Jordan back into the fold. Meanwhile, Butcher and Hughie are having a much tougher time. Synapse quickly captures them and uses his mental abilities to disable Butcher’s powers. He then transforms into a familiar face – Joe Kessler, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan again – to verbally attack Butcher and divert their attention while secretly examining their minds.

Honestly, Butcher revealing his suicide mission – and being the only survivor – didn’t surprise me, and it didn’t seem to faze Hughie much either. They’ve actually been getting along well recently, so it feels pointless for Synapse to try and drive a wedge between them. It was also a bit unbelievable how easily Hughie and Butcher got out of the situation: Hughie distracted Synapse by bringing up his past trauma, while Butcher regained his powers and defeated him. The fact that no one was watching them is convenient, allowing them to escape, but Synapse already told Homelander where Sage is.

This week’s episode hints that Kimiko might be in serious danger. The team is trying a risky plan to give her the ability to neutralize Homelander – exposing her to increasing levels of radiation, hoping she can copy Soldier Boy’s energy blast. Hughie and Frenchie are worried about the plan, but Kimiko is determined to go through with it. Luckily, they have Sage, arguably the smartest person they know, who could help. However, Sage is currently upset after realizing Soldier Boy’s unexpected affection for his son (and possibly Clara Vought). Frenchie manages to snap Sage out of it by appealing to her interests – referencing the reality show Love Island. He points to a successful couple from season six, Serena and Kordell, to convince her that love can be a powerful force, and help him keep Kimiko safe. It’s a good thing Sage didn’t focus on another couple from the show, or Kimiko wouldn’t have stood a chance.

It’s clear Frenchie isn’t going to make it. I felt terrible when he started agreeing with Kimiko’s dreams of a family, even picturing a specific dog and a house in France. It got even worse when he spoke so beautifully about love to Sage. However, his last scene was very effective – he cleverly tapped on the wall to distract Homelander and protect Kimiko and Sage. He taunts Homelander with, “I bet you never danced a day in your life,” right before taking a powerful blow that the show thankfully doesn’t show directly.

Honestly, I’ve always been a bit lukewarm on Frenchie and Kimiko as a couple. I really loved their dynamic as close friends – almost like siblings – and I felt the show kind of forced their romance. It’s part of a bigger feeling I’ve had lately; The Boys just hasn’t hit me emotionally the way it did in the early seasons, and when it tries for big moments like this, it doesn’t quite land. That said, seeing Kimiko break down over Frenchie’s body was genuinely heartbreaking – it was probably the most powerful vocal performance we’ve gotten from her since she started speaking regularly. I almost wish the show had saved her voice for this moment, though maybe that would’ve felt too predictable.

It’s almost comforting to watch someone else have such a public and messy breakdown. This episode really focuses on the Deep, and things are not going well for him. It starts with Homelander firing him from the Seven – presented like a typical workplace layoff, complete with a dismissive “Wishing you all the best.” Things get even worse when his friend, Xander the Shark (played by Samuel L. Jackson), warns him he’ll be killed if he ever goes near water again. This is a huge problem, considering the Deep’s entire persona revolves around being an aquatic hero! He even refuses to risk his life to save a drowning man, despite a crowd begging him to help.

There’s a satisfying irony in seeing a horrible person get what they deserve, and in this bleak final season of The Boys, it feels almost necessary. Honestly, we all need a little release, and that’s when the show truly shines. The big question now is whether the finale will deliver the satisfying conclusion we want to see, or a more realistic, and perhaps disheartening, one.

Extra Frames

Congratulations to Ashley! She’s now president after the shocking death of Calhoun at the hands of Homelander. Even her own inner voice is appalled by her actions, but Ashley has always been incredibly self-critical.

I’m really puzzled by Homelander’s reaction to being rejected and called “weird” – locking his dad back up like that was disturbing. I’m wondering if we’ll see Soldier Boy again in the finale, or if his story is finished on the show. (He is expected to return in Vought Rising, which will be a prequel series.)

I’ve noticed Sage’s personality hasn’t always been consistent, particularly after she appeared in Gen V. I mostly see the idea of her being the ‘smartest person in the world’ as just a bit of an overstatement.

It was amusing to see Langston Kerman’s Eagle the Archer character return, this time upset about how his show – a right-wing program pushing anti-immigration views – ended. Taylor Sheridan probably wouldn’t appreciate the joke about being imitated by AI, either.

• I wish I could vape with Annie and MM.

It doesn’t make much sense that Homelander didn’t allow Oh Father to kill Butcher and Hughie while they were captured. It feels unrealistic, particularly since they managed to escape so quickly.

We’re sad to hear about Sheline, who, being a cat, naturally dislikes water. As for Dogknott, it’s unclear how much damage has been done, but Annie definitely caused him some trouble.

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2026-05-13 19:55