The True Meaning Behind The Boys Season 5, Episode 1’s Big Death

Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for The Boys season 5, episodes 1 & 2.

With The Boys‘ fifth and final season finally underway, it was inevitable that we’d see some big character deaths sooner rather than later, and Prime Video’s hit superhero show didn’t waste any time delivering its first big loss. Despite the project’s gore and brutality, it has kept its major character deaths to a minimum, all things considered.

Over the past four seasons, Black Noir, Victoria Neuman, and Stormfront have probably been the biggest casualties, but most of the core heroes and villains have survived. Given The Boys has one of the best casts on Prime Video, it’s no surprise that getting rid of characters for good has been difficult, but season 5 is changing everything.

With it being the final installment, The Boys season 5’s premiere featured a major death to set the tone, which will likely be the first of many. However, having been a series regular since the pilot episode, it was a real blow to lose Jessie T. Usher’s A-Train, but the character’s exit couldn’t have been pulled off any better.

For years, audiences viewed him as one of the show’s most cowardly villains, as he constantly carried out Homelander’s bidding despite knowing it was wrong. Fortunately, season 4 gave him the redemption arc he needed, allowing him to step up in season 5’s premiere by saving The Boys from Homelander inside the Starlight interment camp.

With Hughie about to get lasered by Homelander and MM at risk of being shot, A-Train showed up to save the day before attempting to run from Homelander, but he was eventually caught, providing a poetic and incredibly meaningful end to his story.

A-Train’s Death Scene Is A Callback To His Introduction In The Boys Episode 1

As one of the very first characters introduced in Prime Video’s The Boys, it felt right for A-Train’s journey to come full-circle, as his death acted as the perfect callback to his episode 1 introduction. After saving Hughie and MM, A-Train attempted to flee the interment camp, but Homelander flew behind him in pursuit.

Ever since A-Train turned his back on the Seven, catching him has quietly been a top priority for Homelander, who has been sending The Deep and Black Noir after A-Train, Starlight, and Butcher. Therefore, finally getting the opportunity to kill his former teammate wasn’t one Homelander was about to pass up.

The villain’s speed was on full display as he kept up with A-Train while trying to laser the speedster, but the Seven defector remained that little bit faster. Unfortunately, the tide turned when a civilian got out of her car just in front of A-Train, who opted to dodge her, resulting in him losing his balance and falling into the woods.

Here, Homelander finally caught and confronted him, allowing them to have one last conversation before the lead antagonist snapped A-Train’s neck. Back in season 1, A-Train killed Robin by being too distracted to avoid what was just a random civilian in his eyes, clearly not caring much for others, given his unique power and strength.

His final scene also showed just how much he’s changed throughout The Boys, as season 1 A-Train would have run through the woman without hesitation, prioritizing his own preservation over some stranger’s. Come season 5 though, he is a true hero who cares about others, hence why he was willing to risk his own life to avoid repeating history.

While Gen V season 2’s ending hinted at a big role for A-Train in The Boys season 5, his death in the premiere was the perfect way for him to go.

He knew the risks of coming back to save The Boys and avoiding the stranger, but he wanted to be a hero and avoid taking away another young woman’s life, even if it cost his own. His death wasn’t in vain either, as it allowed the supe to finally stand up to Homelander and express his true feelings.

Why A-Train’s Death Genuinely Hurts Homelander

Considering how many people he’s killed, it’s rare that Homelander is genuinely affected by death, yet A-Train’s did seem to hurt him. The biggest reason for this is that Homelander once trusted him, and his warped perspective on relationships makes the villain truly believe he treated A-Train well, hence being heartbroken at his betrayal.

Despite all the times he intimidated and mistreated A-Train, Homelander speaks to the hero’s casket in episode 2, referring to himself as a “big brother” to A-Train before asking if he was too nurturing and forgiving. He also stated the speedster “wasn’t like the others” and claimed to have loved him, showing how different their relationship was in his eyes.

A-Train completely resented Homelander, and while he was once terrified of the Seven’s leader, he called the villain pathetic and empty in his final scene, having gotten over that fear. From Homelander’s perspective, he’s completely alone and sees his loyal allies as friends, hence why their conflict affects him that much more.

The same can be seen in season 3, where Homelander killed Black Noir for not telling him about Soldier Boy, yet he seemed genuinely upset at murdering his friend. Perhaps A-Train’s words of truth also stung, but it’s Homelander’s desire to be loved that makes it all the more painful when those around him distance themselves out of fear or eventually leave him.

It’s what drives him to release Soldier Boy from his pod, as the antagonist constantly needs someone who he feels can understand him. However, with Homelander ruthlessly punching someone in The Boys season 5’s trailer, he could potentially be putting down yet another supposed loved one, highlighting just how twisted his story is.

Even though he was desperate to catch and kill A-Train, the supe’s death offers an insight into how flawed Homelander’s mindset really is, giving this departure an even greater meaning.

A-Train’s Redemption Has Been One Of The Boys’ Best Stories

The Boys certainly won’t be the same without A-Train, but while he made for a great villain in the earlier seasons, his redemption has been one of the show’s best overall stories. Considering he killed Hughie’s girlfriend in the first episode and didn’t seem apologetic about it, it was hard to imagine A-Train ever finding a way back.

He’s had numerous opportunities to do the right thing throughout the series, and yet despite some glimpses of hope, A-Train took the cowardly option more often than not, continuing to soak up the spotlight and fame, rather than stand for something more meaningful.

However, once MM finally managed to get through to him in season 4, his transition from a slimy bad guy to a proper hero has been terrific. Seeing him save MM while he was suffering a panic attack was one of last season’s best scenes, which perfectly built up to A-Train putting himself on the line in season 5’s premiere.

The Boys didn’t rush his redemption either, as it was a slow journey from villain to hero, with A-Train still somewhat apprehensive to fully join Starlight’s plan in season 5. However, the payoff was excellent and shows that the superhero project is great at writing complex characters, hence why it’s one of Prime Video’s best current shows.

As entertaining as Homelander and Butcher’s long-running feud has been alongside the various other great storylines we’ve experienced over the years, A-Train’s path to heroism is definitely among the most satisfying, and his death will serve a bigger purpose to season 5’s overall narrative.

A-Train’s Death Perfectly Sets The Tone For The Rest Of The Boys Season 5

In terms of impact, A-Train was probably the perfect person for The Boys to kill off in season 5’s premiere, as it sets the tone going forward. The decision keeps the core group safe despite some close calls, but it also proves Homelander isn’t holding back anymore, as he only kept Hughie, MM, and Frenchie alive to draw out the others.

With A-Train being the fastest man alive, the fact that even he can be caught and murdered proves that no one is safe, with Love Sausage’s death confirming that there will be many casualties on both sides. Killing Homelander in The Boys season 5 will be far from easy, and while it’s hard to see the villain surviving, sacrifices will be required.

It would’ve felt a little too early to kill one of The Boys off in the first episode, and their role in episode 2 proved how important their teamwork is. Working together allowed them to kill two members of Teenage Kix, proving they are needed to construct a detailed plan against Homelander, hence A-Train being the perfect first casualty.

His arc was pretty much complete, and he was a much easier death to take than a member of the core group. However, the fact that he is more powerful than most of them shows that the central characters are at real risk throughout the remainder of The Boys season 5, adding even more weight to A-Train’s heartbreaking departure.

Release Date

2019 – 2026-00-00

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

• 
  

•