Mon ami! Frenchie says goodbye as ‘The Boys’ comes to a close

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This article contains spoilers for the penultimate episode of “The Boys.”

Only one episode remains in the fifth and final season of “The Boys,” the popular and often shocking superhero series on Prime Video. Created by Eric Kripke, the show is a darkly comedic and insightful look at a group of unlikely heroes who try to uncover the corruption of Vought International, a powerful company that controls a team of often-villainous superheroes.

Tomer Capone plays Frenchie, one of the more unconventional members of the group. He’s the team’s self-taught chemist and inventor, a former hitman whose troubled past fuels his creativity – particularly when it comes to finding new ways to defeat seemingly invincible superpowered individuals. Despite his dark background, Frenchie shares a deep connection with Kimiko, played by Karen Fukuhara. He rescued her from being exploited for her abilities, and she was unable to speak at the time. They both carry the scars of childhood abuse, and their relationship provides a rare moment of tenderness within the show’s fast-paced exploration of corruption in America, the power of the media, and how easily people are misled.

Fans of “The Boys” are devastated by the show’s ending, and Wednesday’s episode brought another heartbreaking moment: the death of fan-favorite character Frenchie, killed by the villain Homelander (played by Antony Starr). Actor Shoval Capone, who plays Frenchie, discusses the emotional scene, the show’s conclusion, and dealing with the loss of his character. This interview has been edited for readability and conciseness.

Review

Why you need to watch ‘The Boys,’ even if you loathe superheroes

I’m so excited “The Boys” is back for Season 2 on Amazon Prime Video! Honestly, whether you usually love superhero stuff or you’re totally critical of it, this show has something for everyone. It’s a really sharp and funny take on our culture.

OK, so the big question first. Do you actually speak French?

You and me? [Laughs] Yeah, a little, but it’s a different style of French. But that wasn’t the hardest part of the role. Playing Frenchie is a dream come true for an actor – a complete and fully realized character. He’s an outcast, a foreigner, and everything about him – his walk, his speech – is distinct. And of course, there’s his look, with the crop tops and unique hairstyle…

He’s a really unique person, and his French background was just one piece of who he is. His relationship with Kimiko, especially their use of sign language, and the emotional bond they shared were even more important to me when I was playing Frenchie. I focused on capturing that connection and those feelings.

Get ready for a heartbreaking moment – Frenchie makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Kimiko. He bravely distracts Homelander, ensuring her safety but losing his own life in the process.

Oh my God, I can’t watch it. I didn’t watch it. I can’t. I’m too involved.

So you really haven’t watched the scene yet?

No. It’s the longest character I ever had in my career, and I can’t. Something tells me not yet.

When you shot that scene, was there an intensity on set? How did that play out?

Filming ‘The Boys’ is usually very high-energy because there’s always a lot to get done. But surprisingly, that particular scene was filmed in the calmest, quietest atmosphere I’ve ever experienced on set. I remember talking with the incredibly talented cast and crew about how the scene would unfold, and I noticed a stillness – everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts. That’s when I started to feel anxious, realizing they were all expecting something special.

I realized early on that I needed to just let go and share everything I had for this scene – all my plans, thoughts, and ideas. I kept telling myself, ‘Let the character take over!’ And honestly, it was the best decision. It felt incredibly right, almost spiritual. These moments are rare – when you feel like you’re simply observing the character, letting them lead, and you’re just along for the ride.

Television

‘The Boys’ creator Eric Kripke and actor Antony Starr talked about the season four finale and how the character Homelander reflects similarities to Donald Trump.

The TV show “The Boys” is inspired by a comic book series of the same name, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson in the early 2000s. However, unlike most comic book adaptations, it actually pokes fun at the entire superhero genre.

The best part of working with Eric Kripke and the team on this show is that even during fast-paced, major events, everything feels grounded in genuine emotion. As an actor, that makes it easy to understand my character’s actions and the story’s direction – you know why things are happening and where it’s all going.

Were you surprised when you first learned about Frenchie’s fate?

When Eric told me Frenchie had passed away, it didn’t really shock me. I’d had a feeling for a while, but I hadn’t wanted to say it out loud. Honestly, after watching them for five seasons, a lot of us suspected this was where things were headed. It was just… understood.

As a huge fan of the show, I have to say Frenchie really felt like the heart of the group. I genuinely wept when they killed him off – he brought so much compassion to everything. Losing him just leaves us with Homelander, who’s utterly terrifying and, frankly, completely without a soul now.

But Kimiko lives.

True, but I haven’t seen the finale. How does Kimiko go on without Frenchie?

I can’t reveal any specifics, but I’m confident Episode 8 will really surprise and captivate viewers with its direction. It takes the story in a powerful and meaningful new direction.

“The Boys” is famous for being incredibly shocking and pushing boundaries – it consistently goes further than most other shows. We’ve seen everything from a speedboat crashing into a whale to superheroes with bizarre and disturbing powers, like poisonous vomit and, yes, even a ridiculously oversized and dangerous appendage. They even had killer sheep flying around! It makes you wonder if there’s anything the show won’t do.

Nearly every time we filmed, something unexpected would happen. I specifically remember hearing about a whale scene, and the team hadn’t even decided how they were going to create it yet – it was meant to be a surprise. One day, I was driving to the set, and it was a beautiful, sunny day in Toronto. Suddenly, a huge shadow fell over my windshield, and I wondered what was happening – if clouds were rolling in or if it was about to rain and ruin the day. Then I looked up and saw they were bringing in a full-size, robotic whale! Even people who weren’t involved with the show were stopping their cars to watch this giant whale being moved along the Toronto waterfront. That’s when I knew things were really getting started.

There’s a memorable musical scene in Season 3, Episode 5, where Kimiko, while in the hospital, imagines herself and Frenchie dancing to “I Got Rhythm.” Karen and I were on set, and it was surreal. There were around thirty professional dancers warming up behind us – they looked amazing! We just looked at each other, wondering what kind of show we were even making. It was one of those moments as an actor where you have to remind yourself it’s real – a truly unique experience.

The musical number, did you actually have to practice the choreography for that?

I used to think I was a good dancer, but it turned out I needed a lot of practice. Thankfully, Karen was incredibly dedicated, and we rehearsed constantly – even during breaks from filming, just working on the steps until we got it right. Something surprising happened during this process: I usually hate watching myself on screen, like many actors. But I found myself watching the fight scenes to check the choreography, and then I realized I actually enjoyed watching myself dance, too!

With all the fighting in that show, that’s also requires quite a bit of physical acting.

We were lucky to work with incredibly talented stunt performers. They handled the dangerous parts of the job, making things much simpler for us. Honestly, though, I’m glad I don’t have to wear those harnesses anymore – I definitely won’t miss those!

Harnesses?

I’ll never forget filming the first episode’s camp scene with Frenchie, Hughie, and Mother’s Milk as captives. I remember Starlight rescuing me by flying me out of there – it was incredibly cold, around minus 40 degrees, and snowing. We were both harnessed and literally flying away. It was an amazing experience.

The show “The Boys” cleverly reflects the political climate in America, but does so by focusing on the lives of self-absorbed superheroes. A striking example is how Homelander presented himself as a savior at the same time former President Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus.

I’m honestly amazed by how accurately they predicted certain events – you’d have to ask Kripke and the writers about that. But I really appreciate that the show explores those themes. For me, playing Frenchie is about finding the humanity within the chaos of ‘The Boys.’ It’s about how people still choose love and compassion even when they’re scared and everything is crazy – that’s what the show is really about, or at least, that’s how Frenchie sees it. It all comes down to family, loyalty, and protecting the people you care about.

How did you imagine the character of Frenchie when you first learned of the show?

When I first got the audition, I hadn’t read the novel or seen the comic books that inspired the show. I immediately started researching the character of Frenchie online, and the first image I found was of a wild-looking guy with a buzz cut and goggles. It was surprising because Frenchie’s appearance actually varies quite a bit across different versions of the story. That gave me a lot of freedom to create a unique interpretation. Then, I worked closely with Eric Kripke to develop Frenchie’s backstory and overall story. We had a good sense of where the show was headed, which was a great advantage when understanding the larger narrative of “The Boys.”

Do you have a favorite Frenchie moment?

Yes, I do have a favorite moment from the show, but it’s probably not what you’d guess. It’s from the first season, a scene with Frenchie and Hughie. Hughie had just left his father’s house, really upset, and my character shares that my own father had bipolar disorder and once tried to smother me with a Hello Kitty blanket. We just couldn’t stop laughing while filming that scene! It was the longest one Jack and I did together – I think we did fourteen takes! Everyone on set was cracking up, and we almost gave up on it. But I really wanted to get it right, and thankfully, it became a popular quote with fans, which means a lot to me. I’m glad I pushed for it!

Have you thought about how you’ll console distraught fans once they’ve seen Episode 7?

Oh, my God. Do you have any tips for me, please?

Sorry, no. I’m in mourning too.

Frenchie will live forever. Viva la Frenchie.

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2026-05-13 19:32