The Boys’ Long-Awaited Character Death Makes Me Wish I Could Watch His Fake M

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Be warned, this contains spoilers for The Boys Season 5, Episode 5, “One Shots.” The latest episode of The Boys featured a surprising and sad moment: the death of Adam Bourke (P.J. Byrne). While Homelander killing Firecracker was a major event, many viewers were particularly affected by Bourke’s death, and it’s led some to wish the fake movie his character directed actually existed. The episode, “One Shots,” was a standout and memorable installment of the season.

Adam Bourke appeared in season 2 of The Boys as the director of Dawn of the Seven, a hugely expensive superhero movie produced by Vought International. Bourke was a satirical take on famous superhero film directors like Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon, and Dawn of the Seven itself was a parody of team-up movies such as DC’s Justice League and Marvel’s The Avengers.

In season 5, episode 5 of The Boys, Adam Bourke had lost his status in Hollywood and was now directing plays. He recognized talent in Black Noir II (Nathan Mitchell) and guided him as the star of a film about The Bee Gees. Sadly, Adam became caught in a conflict between Noir and The Deep (Chace Crawford), and was shockingly killed by Noir while using the restroom.

Dawn Of The Seven Was The Boys’ Best Fake Movie

Although Adam Bourke is no longer with us, he created the most famous fake movie within the world of The Boys: Dawn of the Seven. While the final version shown in theaters wasn’t exactly what Bourke intended—it was rewritten by Joss Whedon—it was still a huge success for the show’s most well-known fictional director.

Season 3 of The Boys opened with the debut of Dawn of the Seven, a movie within the show. The premiere featured a massive fight between the superheroes Homelander, Queen Maeve, Starlight, A-Train, and Black Noir against the villain Stormfront. The scene cleverly parodied the over-the-top action found in superhero films directed by Zack Snyder and Josh Whedon.

Fans of The Boys know that the heroic image presented by Dawn of the Seven is a carefully constructed illusion. The Seven, marketed as the world’s protectors, are simply a fabrication of Vought International. Homelander, in particular, is a dangerous figure who has eliminated or driven away many of his teammates, making him the biggest threat around. Interestingly, Dawn of the Seven continues a running gag from The Boys – The Seven rarely actually have seven members.

As someone who sees every superhero movie that comes out of Marvel and DC, I have to say I’d happily spend a couple of hours in an IMAX watching Dawn of the Seven. Adam Bourke’s film really nails the over-the-top nature of superhero blockbusters, much like The Boys does – and it’s almost scary how accurate both are in mirroring what’s happening in Hollywood and the real world.

Surprisingly, Dawn of the Seven could turn out to be a really good superhero film. Considering everything that happens in The Boys, it wouldn’t be that shocking.

Adam Bourke Was One Of The Boys & Gen V’s Best Recurring Characters

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of famous faces pop up on The Boys, often playing exaggerated versions of themselves. But while those cameos are fun, it was Adam Bourke, played consistently from season two through five, who really stood out as one of the show’s best recurring characters. He wasn’t just a guest star; Bourke had a genuinely compelling story that unfolded and developed with each appearance, making him a truly fascinating figure in the show’s universe.

In seasons 2 and 3 of The Boys, Adam Bourke was introduced as an insecure and unqualified individual who acted overly confident. Despite his lack of talent, Vought’s powerful marketing was going to ensure Dawn of the Seven was successful, and Bourke benefited from that success, achieving the biggest break of his career and even having a brief romantic involvement with Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie).

In the world of The Boys, Adam Bourke became a figure representing the #MeToo movement. Season one of Gen V showed that after his inappropriate behavior towards Minka Kelly, Bourke was demoted to teaching acting at Godolkin University. However, by season four of The Boys, he was directing movies for Vought again, and even suggested a TV show centered around Ryan, Homelander’s son (played by Cameron Crovetti).

The experiences of Adam Bourke in The Boys offer a clear look at how the show satirizes the real-life successes and scandals of Hollywood. His career—filled with rises and falls, and repeated cycles of both—mirrors the controversies surrounding figures like Josh Whedon and Harvey Weinstein, and many others in the industry.

Adam Bourke, much like the character Homelander, represents how corrupt the world of The Boys is. Whenever he appeared, it was impactful, going beyond just providing comedic relief. It’s surprising he lasted until season 5, but his undignified death felt appropriate for his character.

I’m still hoping to see the full Dawn of the Seven movie, but it looks like it depends on whether The Boys will #ReleaseTheBourkeCut.

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2026-05-07 04:09