List of The Boys episodes
In a world where superheroes are not only real but also celebrities, what happens when they become dangerously corrupt? "The Boys" pulls back the capes to reveal the dark, corporate underbelly of heroism, forcing a band of determined vigilantes to fight back. This groundbreaking series reimagines the superhero genre with a gritty, satirical lens that asks uncomfortable questions about power and celebrity. "The Boys" originated as a controversial comic book, facing a long journey to its acclaimed television adaptation. The series cleverly uses its episode structure and companion media to deepen its world-building and satirical commentary. Far from a typical superhero story, the show explores themes of corporate greed, moral decay, and the cost of true heroism.
AI Summary
In a world where superheroes are not only real but also celebrities, what happens when they become dangerously corrupt? "The Boys" pulls back the capes to reveal the dark, corporate underbelly of heroism, forcing a band of determined vigilantes to fight back. This groundbreaking series reimagines the superhero genre with a gritty, satirical lens that asks uncomfortable questions about power and celebrity.
- "The Boys" originated as a controversial comic book, facing a long journey to its acclaimed television adaptation.
- The series cleverly uses its episode structure and companion media to deepen its world-building and satirical commentary.
- Far from a typical superhero story, the show explores themes of corporate greed, moral decay, and the cost of true heroism.
The World of "The Boys"
Imagine a world where superheroes exist—not as paragons of virtue, but as corporate assets, pampered celebrities, and often, unchecked sociopaths. This is the darkly fascinating premise of "The Boys," an American satirical superhero series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2019.
Developed by showrunner Eric Kripke, the series pits an eponymous team of human vigilantes against 'The Seven'—the world's most powerful superhero team, revered by the public but secretly abusing their powers and status. It's a brutal, no-holds-barred fight for justice, or at least, revenge.
From Page to Screen: A Long Road
Before it became a hit TV show, "The Boys" was a provocative comic book series created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Its journey to the screen was a long one—originally conceived as a feature-length film trilogy back in 2008, with Adam McKay slated to direct.
However, creative differences stalled the project for years. It wasn't until 2016 that the idea was revived, finally finding its home as a television series under the guidance of Kripke, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg joining as executive producers. Filming primarily takes place in Canada, despite the story being set in a gritty New York City.
Episode Releases and Series Milestones
The series launched on July 26, 2019, with its entire first season dropping at once—a common practice for streaming services. However, for subsequent seasons, Amazon Prime Video switched to a weekly release model, premiering the first three episodes together, then rolling out the rest one by one.
As of July 18, 2024, 32 episodes of "The Boys" have been released, concluding its fourth explosive season. But the story isn't over yet! On June 11, 2024, it was announced that the series is set to conclude with a fifth and final season, currently in development, promising an epic conclusion to this superhero saga.
Season 1 (2019)
The inaugural season introduced us to Hughie Campbell, Billy Butcher, and the terrifying world of The Seven, setting the stage for their escalating conflict. All eight episodes were released simultaneously, allowing for an immediate deep dive into its dark universe.
No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 1 1 "The Name of the Game" Dan Trachtenberg Eric Kripke July 26, 2019 2 2 "Cherry" Matt Shakman Eric Kripke July 26, 2019 3 3 "Get Some" Phil Sgriccia George Mastras July 26, 2019 4 4 "The Female of the Species" Fred Toye Craig Rosenberg July 26, 2019 5 5 "Good for the Soul" Stefan Schwartz Anne Cofell Saunders July 26, 2019 6 6 "The Innocents" Jennifer Phang Rebecca Sonnenshine July 26, 2019 7 7 "The Self-Preservation Society" Dan Attias Craig Rosenberg & Ellie Monahan July 26, 2019 8 8 "You Found Me" Eric Kripke Anne Cofell Saunders & Rebecca Sonnenshine July 26, 2019
Season 2 (2020)
The second season delved deeper into the political landscape and introduced new, complex characters. This season shifted to the weekly release schedule after its initial three-episode premiere.
No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 9 1 "The Big Ride" Phil Sgriccia Eric Kripke September 4, 2020 10 2 "Proper Preparation and Planning" Liz Friedlander Rebecca Sonnenshine September 4, 2020 11 3 "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men" Steve Boyum Craig Rosenberg September 4, 2020 12 4 "Nothing Like It in the World" Fred Toye Michael Saltzman September 11, 2020 13 5 "We Gotta Go Now" Batan Silva Ellie Monahan September 18, 2020 14 6 "The Bloody Doors Off" Sarah Boyd Anslem Richardson September 25, 2020 15 7 "Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker" Stefan Schwartz Craig Rosenberg October 2, 2020 16 8 "What I Know" Alex Graves Rebecca Sonnenshine October 9, 2020
Season 3 (2022)
Season three raised the stakes considerably, exploring the origins of supes and the darker sides of some key characters. It also featured one of the most talked-about and controversial episodes in its run: "Herogasm."
No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 17 1 "Payback" Phil Sgriccia Craig Rosenberg June 3, 2022 18 2 "The Only Man in the Sky" Phil Sgriccia David Reed June 3, 2022 19 3 "Barbary Coast" Julian Holmes Anslem Richardson & Geoff Aull June 3, 2022 20 4 "Glorious Five-Year Plan" Julian Holmes Meredith Glynn June 10, 2022 21 5 "The Last Time to Look on This World of Lies" Nelson Cragg Ellie Monahan June 17, 2022 22 6 "Herogasm" Nelson Cragg Jessica Chou June 24, 2022 23 7 "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed" Sarah Boyd Paul Grellong July 1, 2022 24 8 "The Instant White-Hot Wild" Sarah Boyd Logan Ritchey & David Reed July 8, 2022
Season 4 (2024)
The recently concluded fourth season escalated the political tension, with supes directly impacting national elections and the world teetering on the brink. New alliances were formed, and old wounds resurfaced.
No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 25 1 "Department of Dirty Tricks" Phil Sgriccia David Reed June 13, 2024 26 2 "Life Among the Septics" Karen Gaviola Jessica Chou June 13, 2024 27 3 "We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here" Fred Toye Ellie Monahan June 13, 2024 28 4 "Wisdom of the Ages" Phil Sgriccia Geoff Aull June 20, 2024 29 5 "Beware the Jabberwock, My Son" Shana Stein Judalina Neira June 27, 2024 30 6 "Dirty Business" Karen Gaviola Anslem Richardson July 4, 2024 31 7 "The Insider" Catriona McKenzie Paul Grellong July 11, 2024 32 8 "Season Four Finale" "Assassination Run" Eric Kripke Jessica Chou & David Reed July 18, 2024
Season 5 (Expected 2026)
The upcoming fifth season is confirmed to be the final chapter, promising to tie up loose ends and deliver a definitive conclusion to the ongoing battle between The Boys and the corrupt supes of Vought International. While details are scarce, expectations are sky-high for an explosive finale.
No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 33 1 "Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite" Phil Sgriccia Paul Grellong 2026
Beyond the Main Series: Other Media
The world of "The Boys" extends beyond its main seasons, with various supplementary content designed to enrich the narrative and provide deeper insights into its universe. These spin-offs and companion pieces help flesh out the show's intricate lore.
"Seven on 7" (2021–Present)
One such extension is "Seven on 7," a brilliant faux current affairs digital series. These 'minisodes' serve as viral marketing campaigns, providing in-universe news updates and cleverly bridging gaps between seasons and even linking to the spin-off series "Gen V." As of September 2022, nine of these insightful minisodes have been released.
"Butcher: A Short Film" (2020)
For fans craving more of the enigmatic Billy Butcher, a companion short film was released in 2020. Set between the first and second seasons, it provides a crucial glimpse into Butcher's movements and motivations during a pivotal time in his story.
Title Directed by Written by Original release date Running time Butcher: A Short Film Liz Friedlander Garth Ennis, Eric Kripke, & Darick Robertson September 10, 2020 5:08
This short film, featuring Karl Urban reprising his iconic role, was uploaded to Twitter on September 10, 2020, coinciding with the release of the main series episode, "Nothing Like It in the World." It follows Butcher as he evades authorities, framed for Madelyn Stillwell's murder, and seeks help from an old friend named Jock.
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List of The Boys episodes
The Boys is an American satirical superhero television series developed by showrunner Eric Kripke that premiered on July 26, 2019, on the streaming service Amazon Prime Video. Kripke also serves as an executive producer, alongside Evan Goldberg, Neal H. Moritz, and Seth Rogen. Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, it follows the eponymous team of vigilantes as they attempt to take down The Seven, a team of superpowered individuals who abuse their powers.
Originally intended to be a film trilogy, the comic book series began its development in 2008 with Adam McKay set to direct, until a number of creative differences led to the project's cancellation, until it was revived in 2016 as a television series. The Boys stars an ensemble cast, originally consisting of Laz Alonso, Tomer Capone, Chace Crawford, Karen Fukuhara, Dominique McElligott, Erin Moriarty, Jack Quaid, Elisabeth Shue, Antony Starr, Karl Urban, and Jessie T. Usher. Although many actors joined and left the series throughout its run.
The entire first season was released on July 26, 2019. Ahead of the series' debut, a second season was confirmed to be in development, which ran from September 4, 2020, through October 9. Ahead of the second-season premiere, a third season was ordered, which ran from June 3, 2022, through July 8. A week after the third-season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season. The fourth season ran from June 13, 2024, and concluded on July 18. A month before the fourth season released, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which was later confirmed to be its last. The fifth season is expected to premiere on April 8, 2026, with the series finale set to release on May 20.
As of July 18, 2024, 32 episodes of The Boys have aired, concluding the fourth season.
Episodes
Season 1 (2019)
<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>"The Name of the Game"</td><td>Dan Trachtenberg</td><td>Eric Kripke</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>"Cherry"</td><td>Matt Shakman</td><td>Eric Kripke</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>"Get Some"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>George Mastras</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>"The Female of the Species"</td><td>Fred Toye</td><td>Craig Rosenberg</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>"Good for the Soul"</td><td>Stefan Schwartz</td><td>Anne Cofell Saunders</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>"The Innocents"</td><td>Jennifer Phang</td><td>Rebecca Sonnenshine</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>7</td><td>"The Self-Preservation Society"</td><td>Dan Attias</td><td>Craig Rosenberg & Ellie Monahan</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>8</td><td>"You Found Me"</td><td>Eric Kripke</td><td>Anne Cofell Saunders & Rebecca Sonnenshine</td><td>July 26, 2019 (2019-07-26)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Season 2 (2020)
<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>9</td><td>1</td><td>"The Big Ride"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>Eric Kripke</td><td>September 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>2</td><td>"Proper Preparation and Planning"</td><td>Liz Friedlander</td><td>Rebecca Sonnenshine</td><td>September 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>3</td><td>"Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men"</td><td>Steve Boyum</td><td>Craig Rosenberg</td><td>September 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>4</td><td>"Nothing Like It in the World"</td><td>Fred Toye</td><td>Michael Saltzman</td><td>September 11, 2020 (2020-09-11)</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>5</td><td>"We Gotta Go Now"</td><td>Batan Silva</td><td>Ellie Monahan</td><td>September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>6</td><td>"The Bloody Doors Off"</td><td>Sarah Boyd</td><td>Anslem Richardson</td><td>September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>7</td><td>"Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker"</td><td>Stefan Schwartz</td><td>Craig Rosenberg</td><td>October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>8</td><td>"What I Know"</td><td>Alex Graves</td><td>Rebecca Sonnenshine</td><td>October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Season 3 (2022)
<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>17</td><td>1</td><td>"Payback"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>Craig Rosenberg</td><td>June 3, 2022 (2022-06-03)</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>2</td><td>"The Only Man in the Sky"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>David Reed</td><td>June 3, 2022 (2022-06-03)</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>3</td><td>"Barbary Coast"</td><td>Julian Holmes</td><td>Anslem Richardson & Geoff Aull</td><td>June 3, 2022 (2022-06-03)</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>4</td><td>"Glorious Five-Year Plan"</td><td>Julian Holmes</td><td>Meredith Glynn</td><td>June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>5</td><td>"The Last Time to Look on This World of Lies"</td><td>Nelson Cragg</td><td>Ellie Monahan</td><td>June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>6</td><td>"Herogasm"</td><td>Nelson Cragg</td><td>Jessica Chou</td><td>June 24, 2022 (2022-06-24)</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>7</td><td>"Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed"</td><td>Sarah Boyd</td><td>Paul Grellong</td><td>July 1, 2022 (2022-07-01)</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>8</td><td>"The Instant White-Hot Wild"</td><td>Sarah Boyd</td><td>Logan Ritchey & David Reed</td><td>July 8, 2022 (2022-07-08)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Season 4 (2024)
<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>25</td><td>1</td><td>"Department of Dirty Tricks"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>David Reed</td><td>June 13, 2024 (2024-06-13)</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>2</td><td>"Life Among the Septics"</td><td>Karen Gaviola</td><td>Jessica Chou</td><td>June 13, 2024 (2024-06-13)</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>3</td><td>"We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here"</td><td>Fred Toye</td><td>Ellie Monahan</td><td>June 13, 2024 (2024-06-13)</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>4</td><td>"Wisdom of the Ages"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>Geoff Aull</td><td>June 20, 2024 (2024-06-20)</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>5</td><td>"Beware the Jabberwock, My Son"</td><td>Shana Stein</td><td>Judalina Neira</td><td>June 27, 2024 (2024-06-27)</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>6</td><td>"Dirty Business"</td><td>Karen Gaviola</td><td>Anslem Richardson</td><td>July 4, 2024 (2024-07-04)</td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>7</td><td>"The Insider"</td><td>Catriona McKenzie</td><td>Paul Grellong</td><td>July 11, 2024 (2024-07-11)</td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td>8</td><td>"Season Four Finale" "Assassination Run"</td><td>Eric Kripke</td><td>Jessica Chou & David Reed</td><td>July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Season 5
<table><thead><tr><th>No. overall</th><th>No. in season</th><th>Title</th><th>Directed by</th><th>Written by</th><th>Original release date</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>33</td><td>1</td><td>"Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite"</td><td>Phil Sgriccia</td><td>Paul Grellong</td><td>April 8, 2026 (2026-04-08)</td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>2</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>Jessica Chou</td><td>April 8, 2026 (2026-04-08)</td></tr><tr><td>35</td><td>3</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>Ellie Monahan</td><td>April 15, 2026 (2026-04-15)</td></tr><tr><td>36</td><td>4</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>Geoff Aull</td><td>April 22, 2026 (2026-04-22)</td></tr><tr><td>37</td><td>5</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>Judalina Neira</td><td>April 29, 2026 (2026-04-29)</td></tr><tr><td>38</td><td>6</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>David Reed</td><td>May 6, 2026 (2026-05-06)</td></tr><tr><td>39</td><td>7</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>Anslem Richardson</td><td>May 13, 2026 (2026-05-13)</td></tr><tr><td>40</td><td>8</td><td>TBA</td><td>TBA</td><td>Judalina Neira & David Reed</td><td>May 20, 2026 (2026-05-20)</td></tr></tbody></table>