Why The Boys’ quiet, simple death in episode 7 was the most sucker-punching kill all season

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The Boys spoilers follow.

It’s getting harder and harder to surprise viewers of The Boys with a shocking death. After five seasons and so many violent, gruesome deaths, they’ve become a routine part of the show. It’s as predictable as hearing Butcher (Karl Urban) give one of his signature, fiery speeches.

Fans were shocked when A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) was killed off in the first episode of the final season. Many felt his departure was sudden and didn’t allow enough time for his character to fully develop into the hero he had the potential to be. The story moved quickly, leaving little room to explore what might have been.

Even though fans are used to the show’s extreme violence—like the infamous Firecracker scene—The Boys has finally delivered a death that genuinely shocked and deeply affected viewers.

If you haven’t watched episode seven yet, now’s your chance to stop reading! From here on out, we’ll be discussing major spoilers, so be warned!

**SPOILER WARNING**

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When Frenchie (Tomer Capone) died in Kimiko’s (Karen Fukuhara) arms, we were stunned. Unlike many deaths in this world, his was peaceful and understated, but it was incredibly moving and left us feeling just as heartbroken as Kimiko.

Many viewers felt a key character’s death was inevitable, and they were right. It always seemed unlikely The Boys would survive this long, especially with the dangerous Homelander relentlessly pursuing them. While Homelander becoming essentially immortal raised the stakes, making some casualties likely, Frenchie’s death still came as a shocking surprise.

Eric Kripke, the creator of The Boys, really demonstrates his talent as a storyteller here. It’s remarkable because the hints about what was going to happen were definitely there, but we somehow managed to overlook them.

Frenchie unexpectedly starting to support Kimiko’s wish for a family and a peaceful life should have been a major hint. We really should have noticed when he showed her a picture of the dog he wanted to adopt – it showed how he was already imagining their future together. But it’s understandable if you missed it, because the whole episode focused on Kimiko’s life being in danger, not Frenchie’s.

The team’s recent attempt to give Kimiko the power to neutralize Soldier Boy – by exposing her to radiation – was extremely risky and ultimately failed. Frenchie’s emotional appeal to Sage, focusing on his love for Kimiko, only highlighted the danger she was in. It was a predictable distraction from the larger problem.

To be realistic, viewers never truly believed Kimiko would die. And if we weren’t concerned about her character being unexpectedly removed, Frenchie wasn’t even on anyone’s radar as being in danger.

We can thank Kripke for lulling us into a false sense of security. After five seasons of The Boys consistently escaping danger, viewers started to believe the show’s flawed heroes were invincible. It almost felt guaranteed they would all survive to the end.

Even when Homelander confronted Frenchie alone in the radiation chamber, a small part of Frenchie still expected to come out of the situation relatively unharmed.

Kripke intentionally delayed showing Homelander deliver a fatal blow, giving viewers a false hope that Frenchie might live. We clung to that idea as Homelander flew away. But the reality set in when Frenchie was discovered, wounded and in terrible pain, at the end of a trail of blood. Only then did we fully accept that he was going to die.

He tells Kimiko ‘I love you, from the very beginning’ before their last kiss, and truly, if you weren’t moved by Kimiko’s story, this show wasn’t for you.

Honestly, what really got to me about Homelander was letting Frenchie suffer and ultimately die from the radiation poisoning. It felt extra cruel, especially after everything Frenchie had been through. It just seemed so… calculated and cold.

It was almost as if the character didn’t even deserve the effort of being killed with laser vision. The timing of his death was particularly brutal, and removing such a significant character in the second-to-last episode was a brilliant move.

As a huge fan, I can tell you this new development couldn’t have come at a better time! It’s totally reignited The Boys’ fight – honestly, things were starting to feel hopeless, but now they have a real reason to keep going. And the fans? We’re absolutely buzzing! Everyone is desperate to see how the final battle plays out, and the anticipation is incredible.

The Boys season 1-5 are available to stream now on Prime Video.

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2026-05-13 20:50