The Boys fans devastated over early season 5 tragedy - as episode 1 proves no one is safe

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The Boys season 5 episode 1.

The Boys boss Eric Kripke has been teasing for some time that no one is safe in the long-awaited season 5 - but now that's been proven once and for all already in episode 1.

The first two episodes of the final season are officially here and they've not held back, with the show's signature brutality taking centre stage and making Jessie T Usher's A-Train our first high-profile death.

Despite being our very first example of a villainous supe in season 1, A-Train has been on a journey of redemption, with one season 5 scene showing him clearly avoiding the same devastating mistake he made in the very first episode (when he killed Hughie's girlfriend) and finally standing up to Antony Starr's Homelander.

"You're just an empty f**king suit," he tells him. "Take away these powers and what are you? A pathetic, weak, snivelling f**king loser."

As A-Train continues to laugh at him, Homelander takes action, brutally breaking his neck and killing him.

Actor Usher previously teased that A-Train may meet his demise in season 5, reportedly telling ABS-CBN (in an interview that now appears to have been taken down): "I saw the end coming long before it came and I was glad that I had an aired-out, isolated moment with Antony."

Usher reportedly added: "He’s like a person who I’ve built a lot of the driving force of what motivated this character or changed this character. I was happy that we were able to end it in a moment that was shared just between us."

Fans are devastated by the loss of the character, however, with one writing on X (formerly Twitter): "This scene him saving the boys and dodging the woman not repeating his mistake and facing Homelander and dying a hero god i can’t take this RIP a-train i will miss you so much king."

"My heart f**king dropped man… Oh my God. A-Train…" another said, while one more added: "He had his speedster moment, saved the boys, rage baited Homelander and had the best redemption arc in the show… a-train he became the hero his family always wanted him to be."

Kripke previously made it clear that he wouldn't be playing it safe this season, calling out other sci-fi shows that have ended without any major deaths.

He told SFX: "It bums me out when you have a big, epic sci-fi show, and then at the end, it's like, 'Oh, everyone's fine.' I keep yelling at the screen, 'Things cost things, you can't just get away with this!' So yes, I wouldn't get too attached to any single character."

Roger that, Eric. Roger that.

The Boys season 5 continues on Prime Video on 15 April 2026 – try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime.

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