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The Boys · Season 5 · Episode 5

The Boys Season 5 Episode 5: One-Shots

Aired Apr 29, 2026 69 min Prime Video
In season 5 episode 5 of The Boys, titled "One-Shots," Firecracker's past comes calling when her former priest asks for help with a church vandalized by Homelander's fans. The church is attacked again, and Firecracker responds by betraying the priest with a slanderous news report. In season 5 episode 5 of The Boys, titled "One-Shots," Firecracker's past comes calling when her former priest asks for help with a church vandalized by Homelander's fans. The church is attacked again, and Firecracker responds by betraying the…
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Firecracker's former priest comes to her for help: his church has been vandalized by Homelander's fans. When the church is attacked again, Firecracker responds by betraying him — playing a slanderous news report. Black Noir II tries to join an acting troupe, looking for a way out of The Seven. That exit closes when The Deep kills the troupe’s director, Adam Bourke. The Boys push their virus program forward. Butcher declares that once V1 is found, Annie and Kimiko will use it.

Quick Answer

One-Shots is Episode 5 of The Boys Season 5, aired 2026-04-29 (runtime 69 minutes). Firecracker betrays her former priest after his church is attacked again, Black Noir II’s attempt to leave The Seven for an acting troupe ends when The Deep kills the troupe’s director, and Homelander and Soldier Boy’s hunt for V1 produces a double killing in Los Angeles. The episode closes with Homelander killing Firecracker after learning she doubts his divinity.

Quick Facts

Episode Information

Episode guide →
Episode
Season 5, Episode 5 of 8
Title
One-Shots
Air Date
Apr 29, 2026
Runtime
69 min
Director
Philip Sgriccia
Writers
Judalina Neira

Overview

Episode Summary

In season 5 episode 5 of The Boys, titled "One-Shots," Firecracker's past comes calling when her former priest asks for help with a church vandalized by Homelander's fans. The church is attacked again, and Firecracker responds by betraying the priest with a slanderous news report. Meanwhile, Black Noir II attempts to join an acting troupe and exit The Seven, but The Deep kills the troupe's director, Adam Bourke.

While The Boys develop the virus, Butcher names Annie and Kimiko as the future users of V1. Sage recruits Ashley to stop Homelander from obtaining V1, preserving her apocalyptic war plan. Homelander and Soldier Boy interrogate Edgar and track Mr. Marathon to Los Angeles, where Malchemical incapacitates Soldier Boy. Marathon tries to turn Soldier Boy, who refuses, kills Malchemical, and watches Homelander kill Marathon. In the end, Homelander kills Firecracker after learning she doubts his divinity.

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The Boys Season 5 Episode 5 still

Full Recap

The Boys Season 5 Episode 5 Recap

Firecracker's former priest comes to her for help: his church has been vandalized by Homelander's fans. When the church is attacked again, Firecracker responds by betraying him — playing a slanderous news report.

Black Noir II tries to join an acting troupe, looking for a way out of The Seven. That exit closes when The Deep kills the troupe’s director, Adam Bourke.

The Boys push their virus program forward. Butcher declares that once V1 is found, Annie and Kimiko will use it. On the other side, Sage asks Ashley to help stop Homelander from getting V1 — because it would interfere with her plan for an apocalyptic war between supes and humans.

Homelander and Soldier Boy interrogate Edgar and learn that Mr. Marathon is in Los Angeles. There, Malchemical incapacitates Soldier Boy, and Marathon tries to turn him. Soldier Boy refuses and kills Malchemical — and Homelander kills Marathon.

The episode closes on Homelander learning that Firecracker doubts his divinity. He kills her.

Full Recap & Ending Explained

Read the complete scene-by-scene recap and ending explanation for The Boys Season 5 Episode 5, “One-Shots”.

Read the full recap and ending explained

At a Glance

Key Moments

Firecracker Betrays Her Priest

After the vandalized church is attacked again, Firecracker turns on her former priest by playing a slanderous news report.

Noir’s Exit Blocked

Black Noir II tries to join an acting troupe and leave The Seven — until The Deep kills the troupe’s director, Adam Bourke.

Sage’s Counter-V1 Plot

Sage asks Ashley to help stop Homelander from obtaining V1, protecting her plan for an apocalyptic war between supes and humans.

Double Killing in Los Angeles

Malchemical incapacitates Soldier Boy and Mr. Marathon tries to turn him; Soldier Boy refuses and kills Malchemical, and Homelander kills Marathon.

Firecracker’s Death

Homelander kills Firecracker after learning she doubts his divinity.

Analysis

Character Development

Firecracker's arc closes in two beats: asked for help by her former priest, she betrays him with a slanderous news report once his church is attacked again — and she is ultimately killed by Homelander for doubting his divinity.

Black Noir II reaches for a life outside The Seven through an acting troupe, a door slammed shut by The Deep’s killing of director Adam Bourke.

Soldier Boy proves his loyalty cannot be bought: incapacitated by Malchemical and courted by Mr. Marathon, he refuses to switch sides and kills Malchemical himself — before Homelander kills Marathon.

Sage’s long game comes into focus as she recruits Ashley to block Homelander from V1, safeguarding her plan for a final war between supes and humans.

Cast

Main Cast

Full cast →
Karl Urban
as Billy Butcher
Jack Quaid
as Hugh 'Hughie' Campbell
Antony Starr
as Homelander
Erin Moriarty
as Annie January / Starlight
Laz Alonso
as Marvin T. 'Mother's Milk' Milk / M.M.
Chace Crawford
as Kevin Moskowitz / The Deep
Tomer Capone
as Serge / Frenchie
Karen Fukuhara
as Kimiko Miyashiro
Nathan Mitchell
as Justin / Black Noir II
Colby Minifie
as Ashley Barrett

Cast

Guest Stars

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Jensen Ackles
as Ben / Soldier Boy
Seth Rogen
as Seth Rogen / SIR-CUMS-A-LOT-779 (uncredited)
P.J. Byrne
as Adam Bourke
Giancarlo Esposito
as Stan Edgar
Kumail Nanjiani
as Kumail Nanjiani (uncredited)
Jared Padalecki
as Mr. Marathon
Misha Collins
as Malchemical
W. Earl Brown
as Reverend Greg Dupree
Nia Cummins
as Truthbomb Producer
Liam Marshall
as 'Robin Gibb' Thespian

Analysis

The Boys Season 5 Episode 5 Ending Explained

Spoilers below

This section discusses the ending of "One-Shots" in detail. Stop here if you haven't watched the episode.

The ending belongs to Firecracker. Homelander has learned that she doubts his divinity — and he kills her for it.

Her death follows the Los Angeles confrontation: Soldier Boy, incapacitated by Malchemical and offered a place at Mr. Marathon’s side, refuses and kills Malchemical, before Homelander kills Marathon.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in The Boys Season 5 Episode 5?

Firecracker betrays her former priest, Black Noir II’s attempt to leave The Seven for an acting troupe ends with The Deep killing director Adam Bourke, and the V1 hunt in Los Angeles ends with Soldier Boy killing Malchemical and Homelander killing Mr. Marathon. Homelander then kills Firecracker after learning she doubts his divinity.

Does Firecracker die in The Boys Season 5?

Yes. In Episode 5, Homelander kills Firecracker after learning that she doubts his divinity.

Why does Sage want to stop Homelander from getting V1?

Sage asks Ashley to help stop Homelander from obtaining V1 because it would interfere with her plan to engineer an apocalyptic war between supes and humans.

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