Warning: This review contains full spoilers for The Boys Season 5, Episode 4!

If you followed my previous coverage of the season, you know I gave episodes 1-7 a respectable 7. However, this The Boys Season 5, Episode 4: "King of Hell" Review finds the series hitting its absolute nadir. This chapter is surprisingly inconsequential and serves to further bog down the show's already flagging momentum.

A Failed Mission at Fort Harmony

The central premise involves characters from both sides of the conflict taking a field trip to the mysterious Fort Harmony. Their goal is to search for samples of the elusive V1 formula, but the mission is ultimately a failure. No one finds what they are looking for, leaving everyone unhappy and the plot stagnant.

This setup primarily serves as an excuse to force character drama through the introduction of a violent fungus. The substance brings out the most wicked impulses in everyone, leading to scenes where our heroes spend the episode screaming at or trying to kill one another. Much of this feels unnecessary—more like a way to fill space than meaningful storytelling.

The forced nature of the drama is particularly evident during an awkward scene featuring Hughie (Jack Quaid), Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), and Frenchie (Tomer Capone). While intended to foreshadow future conflicts, it feels disconnected from the actual stakes.

Highlights and Lowlights in "King of Hell"

While much of the episode struggles, the dynamic between Homelander (Antony Starr) and Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) provides some much-needed entertainment. Their bickering offers a genuine sense of character development that is otherwise lacking in this installment.

The most memorable moment occurs when Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) confronts an ailing Homelander in the radiation chamber. Butcher's promise—"Before I die, I'll have you"—is a chilling highlight, though it remains unclear if it is true foreshadowing or just another empty threat.

To summarize the state of the episode:

  • The Mission: A failed search for V1 that could be skipped entirely without impacting the narrative.
  • Starlight Subplot: A predictable B-plot involving Starlight (Erin Moriarty) and her father, Rick (Tim Daly), which serves mostly to keep her away from the main conflict.
  • Vought Drama: Entertaining squabbles between The Deep (Chace Crawford) and Black Noir II (Nathan Mitchell).
  • The "Golden God" Arc: A fascinating, headline-inspired subplot regarding Homelander's rising status.

As we look back at the previous installment, the narrative struggle is already evident:

"The third chapter of The Boys Season 5 is a fairly disappointing one, as it becomes even more clear that the series is seeking ways to forestall the big showdown between Butcher’s team and Homelander rather than pushing that conflict forward. Even the return of Giancarlo Esposito’s Stan Edgar can’t help on that front. But Homelander himself remains a highlight, with the character reaching new heights of desperation and delusion with each new episode. Throw in the welcome return of his son, and Episode 3 still manages to find some dramatic weight despite the lagging narrative." — Jesse Schedeen, 4/15/2026

A Season Lacking Consequences

In this The Boys Season 5, Episode 4: "King of Hell" Review, it is difficult to ignore the heavy use of plot armor. Despite the "no one is safe" mantra, we see no deaths, no major revelations, and no V1. As Hughie tells Starlight, it was simply a good mission to miss.

The episode is partially saved by the drama unfolding at Vought headquarters, specifically the effective pairing of Ashley (Colbie Minifie) and Oh Father (Daveed Diggs). Currently, Season 5 is doing a much better job of handling its villains than its heroes—and that is a significant problem for the series.