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Warning: Spoilers ahead for “The Boys” Season 5, Episode 5 — “One-Shots”
Jasper Savage/Prime Video
In the inaugural season of “The Boys,” a pivotal event unfolds in Episode 1 when A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) accidentally obliterates Hughie Campbell’s (Jack Quaid) girlfriend, Robin Ward (Jess Salgueiro), during a tender moment on the street. This gruesome incident not only sets the tone for the series but also ignites the intense rivalry between Hughie and A-Train. It propels Hughie into the chaotic world of Billy Butcher’s (Karl Urban) vigilante group, marking the beginning of a tumultuous journey.
In “The Boys” Season 5, Episode 5, titled “One-Shots,” the show revisits this iconic scene with renewed intensity, demonstrating that in the darkly satirical universe of the Amazon Prime Video series, nothing is sacred. During the “Soldier Boy” segment, A-Train’s infamous encounter is reimagined as a recurring peril for speedsters.
Jared Padalecki’s Mister Marathon engages in a battle with Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy, inadvertently replicating A-Train’s deadly mishap multiple times, mowing down a string of Hollywood stars. As actors like Will Forte, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kumail Nanjiani, Craig Robinson, and the show’s executive producer Seth Rogen meet their demise in various renditions of the same grim scenario, the sequence unfolds as a macabre comedy that leaves Marathon increasingly frustrated and soaked in blood.
The death of Robin emerges as a significant callback in the audacious and ingenious fifth season of “The Boys.” The tragic demise in the season opener echoes this theme, with A-Train failing to escape Homelander (Antony Starr) because he avoids colliding with a civilian woman—something he failed to do with Robin.
While it may seem jarring for the series to transform such a poignant moment into a macabre gag in “One-Shots,” it aligns perfectly with the show’s distinctive approach. “The Boys” masterfully balances profound philosophical reflections with sharp critiques of politics, corporate greed, and consumer culture. Simultaneously, it delivers irreverent humor and witty jabs, including playful references to shows like HBO’s “The Last of Us.” This blend of depth and levity is a hallmark of the show’s wicked allure.
This isn’t the first time The Boys Season 5 references Robin’s death
Amazon Prime Video
Robin’s death seems to be a key callback element of the bold, brilliant “The Boys” Season 5. The season premiere’s most tragic death is also a full-circle moment, as A-Train fails to flee Homelander (Antony Starr) because he decides to dodge a civilian woman — something he famously didn’t do with Robin.
After such a poignant moment, it may seem surprising that the show is so happy to turn the exact same plot point into what amounts to a running joke in “One-Shots.” Then again, isn’t that how “The Boys” has always rolled? Sometimes, the show offers deep philosophical musings and scathing criticism of politics, corporations, and consumerist lifestyle. Other times, we get lowbrow jokes and hilarious shots at HBO’s “The Last of Us.” It’s all part of the show’s devilish charm.
“The Boys” Season 5 is streaming on Prime Video.
