The Boys - 5x7 - Full Length Reaction (Patreon)

FULL LENGTH VERSION of The Boys Season 5 Episode 7!

I wanted to include my thoughts on the show so far, I will probably include audio of me discussing this in the final edit (Youtube version) of this episode so I figured I would write about it here for our Patreon users. I finally have been able to gather my thoughts and I find myself very conflicted about this final season. Had it been a regular season of The Boys, I think I'd enjoy it more, but as the conclusion to the entire series, it falls short of what it should be. That said, it is still a clear improvement over the previous season as I said in our past reactions.

My main issues are with the pacing, dialogue, and overall story. The pacing is particularly inconsistent, lurching between moments that drag and moments that feel rushed, making certain scenes almost a chore to sit through. Some feel entirely unnecessary, did we really need the scene of Sheline and Dogknott sniffing each other and discussing what they'd eaten? That runtime could have been far better spent on more meaningful or alternative scenes, like additional screen time for Marie and Jordan.

This uneven pacing also results in a lack of buildup toward the finale. There's no sense of the epic feeling you'd expect from a series closing out its run. That problem is compounded by the writing, set design, and cinematography. Most scenes take place in small, confined spaces with flat, unimaginative camera work which only reinforces how small the season feels when it should feel monumental.

The focus on Soldier Boy also seems excessive and another writing misstep. After all the screen time devoted to him this season, his arc ends with him right back in the exact same place he started. It's a frustrating non-conclusion that makes his entire storyline feel unfulfilling and a waste of time that could have been invested in characters and threads that actually matter to the series' endgame.

I am perhaps being harsher than necessary and I can be a tough critic, just look at my review of The Last of Us show. The season is still entertaining, but it had potential to be something really special. There is still one more episode, so they may be able to wrap it up in a fulfilling and epic way. However, these episodes so far (barring episode 1), are not giving me a lot of hope. - Lia