StruggleNation effectively highlights how A-Train’s sacrifice provides a rare moment of moral clarity in a series defined by nihilism. The analysis captures the weight of a character finally choosing a legacy over survival.
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THE BOYS 5x1 | Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite | Reaction | ReviewAdded:
NOTHING.
NOTHING IS OVER.
NOTHING. NOTHING.
YOU JUST DON'T TURN it off.
Nothing.
I'm always cautious going into this show because you never know what you going to get. You never know what you going to see, but I guarantee you will not be ready for it.
No matter how much you try to prep. You could be shadow boxing for a year, doing drills, moving like Mike Tyson in his prime with the side to side joint. He walk in the ring. Yeah, as soon as you as soon as you hit play, huh huh.
You're not going to be ready. And and it it's not it's not just the gross out factor. It's just it's the story. Like the twists and turns this [ __ ] takes.
There's no amount of prepping for this and I love that because I never know It's like it's like, you know, the a jack in the box. And then you you open it but it's a fist. It comes out and hits you right in the center of the face. Like super fast.
Like you can't even breathe. Huh. Then your whole [ __ ] caved in.
Every single [ __ ] time.
>> [laughter] >> Every every [ __ ] time.
>> [laughter] >> Jesus. And then you get decapitated on the way down, too. Like that's that's this show.
And and now that we've mixed Gen V with this >> Mhm.
Oh, man. I I don't know. I I don't know.
The the the best part of this, you know, it being the final season and things going to amp up a little bit is is is my wife is is talking now. You know what I mean? She's speaking. I was a little worried that at the at the end of the last one like she said, you know, she said something but it was out of stress. I thought it was going to be a one time thing but now, you know what I mean?
Got got got got the vocals back. So, I'm I'm I'm excited. I'm locked in more than I have been the whole show so far. Oh, here spill my coffee getting excited.
But yeah, I'm here. We here. Season 5 is here which is the final joint.
Let's [ __ ] do this.
Your wife? Yep. You know what it is.
She'll probably stop talking again when she met you. Whatever. YOU STAY THE [ __ ] BACK OR I'LL YEP. YEP.
THAT'S MY KINGPIN [ __ ] JESUS, MAN. I AM NOT SEXUALLY attracted to you. It's about loyalty.
We need to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Who's handling all this? I [ __ ] am. I miss her, man.
You got to be [ __ ] kidding me. This whole time.
Yeah, we [ __ ] go. Heart's racing already. Yeah, like you said, ain't no point in trying to prepare for this [ __ ] >> Nope.
>> [cheering] >> Didn't give a [ __ ] about any of them.
>> None of them. Laser the whole crowd.
Thank you. Shut the [ __ ] up.
Okay, give me my firecrackers.
Places, ladies, places. Let's go. Let's go. Ballroom full of ass.
Each one that walk by. That's going to be home in his hand across your face.
Oh, [ __ ] Damn, Annie.
Oh, god damn it, man. Yo, [ __ ] And together, we soared INTO A NEW GOLDEN DAWN.
>> [cheering] >> JESUS CHRIST.
I say dude on some John Connor [ __ ] yo.
He Damn.
Keep going. Don't let any of them hit this [ __ ] >> Stop.
Damn. designated the Starlighters a terrorist organization. Other proudly serving in the armed forces billion. And do not get me started on the EBITDA margins.
You finally know what they those are?
Yeah. [screaming] Mhm.
The big nuggets.
Got you, [ __ ] Home under and queen mate. Oh, not that video. All of you stay back.
STAY THE [ __ ] BACK. STAY THE [ __ ] BACK OR I'LL LASER YOU, GOD DAMN IT. I'll laser every [ __ ] one of you. Spin that.
Oh god. Oh no. Oh [ __ ] This was an AI-generated disinformation campaign, period. And the American people have the good sense to call out a lie when they see IT.
>> STAY BACK. YOU'RE ALL LIARS, EVERY [ __ ] ONE OF YOU.
OH, GET the [ __ ] Oh my Tik Tok would do some dumb [ __ ] like this. The Vice President of the UNITED STATES. [ __ ] WHAT?
HOW? THIS SO-CALLED FLIGHT 37 video is an obvious deep fake put out by Marxist starlighters. Let's open it up.
>> She knows what she got to do to survive.
They called damage control? Just because I happen to be a super able-bodied American does not compromise my objectivity or allegiance to the USA.
Oh, [ __ ] Xavier?
In the last 24 hours, we have flooded the zone with so much disinformation, people can't tell their clip from their column.
Yep. What's this? That is a Gutenberg Bible. Martin Shkreli sold it to me at a discount.
Peter Thiel, the Obamas calling you for advice?
Damn. Everyone loves you. You can't [clears throat] really think I care.
>> They exist in this [ __ ] world? You're not distracted at all after Thomas Godolkin dumped you?
You're not numbing the heartache by stabbing your brain?
I WAS HUMILIATED.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MEMES? Posting them should be a crime. Yes. Shh. Oh, [ __ ] I need people to be devoted to me. Duh.
Proceed with caution.
You know what's going to make me happy?
I think I'll be happy when Starlight and William Butcher are corpses.
Oh, he's so scary, yo.
>> Yeah, I cannot be in it. If I've ever met Anthony Starr in in in real life, like I can't even just shake his hand and say I loved him in Banshee and this cuz to me he's Homelander. Yeah, but he was really good in Banshee.
But after him playing Homelander I Yeah.
I I look look at that show with different eyes now.
Yeah, fight club what's going on?
Roman, you got this.
Here you go.
[ __ ] [ __ ] up.
That'll do.
>> All I heard was boom.
>> Mhm. Roman, my bread.
And he got the flight 37 video out.
>> [screaming] >> Jesus Christ, man.
Really?
Cuz why he cut his [ __ ] off?
You really wanted them, huh?
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, we got smoke forever.
Put your [ __ ] away, man. Nobody want to see that. Hope he catch the clap.
Hello, Dad. Oh, [ __ ] Good to see him again. I mean, not the pops, the actor.
She's dead and there you are. Damn. Thriving with ass cancer. Does it hurt when you take a [ __ ] [ __ ] hope so.
>> [snorts] >> Where did you find that? In the attic.
Five [ __ ] weeks Lenny practiced that rings trick. I still remember the look on his face when he won.
And then he come home and you called him a little puff.
>> [groaning] >> I'm bleeding grateful for all the times you knocked the [ __ ] out of me, gave me the belt or whatever.
Made me who I am.
Made me just like you.
I'll show you.
Oh. I got a long to go.
You wish. Waste of time.
I know.
But it will give [clears throat] me a good [ __ ] laugh. Jesus.
Jesus Christ.
Oh, he's it's a wrap.
Who says I want to change?
Yeah, that's a wrap.
Mhm.
Jesus, yo.
He on some Homelander [ __ ] Your heart's pounding.
Are you scared? No, I I just love being at work.
>> Please don't hurt her.
It's your face, man.
And your demeanor and everything. And it's you in general.
Yeah, just just go. Just go. Just go.
I don't know how much they pay. I would have been quit.
News at Elon interviewed us Thursday.
I'll tell Jerry I said [ __ ] off.
They just look up to you, is all.
Please be careful.
He hates everything.
No.
Our [snorts] enemies have started using cutting-edge technologies like AI.
Yeah, but did anyone actually believe that? I mean, how stupid does she think we all are?
>> sadistic he is in The Boys.
>> Yep. Yeah.
>> [laughter] >> I mean, last I checked, I do not have seven fingers on one hand. Yo, they are too God damn it, man.
I've been strangled by Ezekiel, I've been hunted by Noir, chased by sharks inside of a whale, shot at by Russians, almost blown up at Herogasm, and I should be dead or crazy or both. Then why aren't you?
Cuz if you lose hope in here, you're not going to make it.
Get the [ __ ] down.
>> I SAID [ __ ] YOU!
>> Come down, RIGHT HEY! HEY!
WHAT TYPE OF BULLET HE GET HIT WITH?
OH, Jesus Christ.
Oh, [ __ ] Yeah, [ __ ] God damn it. Why you working Oh, you need to be working with us.
>> [sighs] >> What the ass?
>> Why is 11 working for them? It's why I cut out all women. No love, no sex, no problems. And literally, bro, I have never felt manlier. You a monk?
Flowers. Cuddling, kissing. That's beta male [ __ ] bro.
That's super gay. No, I'm I right?
Jesus.
Oh, wow. Your skin is so oily, like a huggable McRib. Did Did you just How? [ __ ] speech therapy and [ __ ] therapy therapy and so much [ __ ] Tik Tok. Hell yeah. 16-hour flight and not a [ __ ] peep.
>> Cuz all you can say is oi oi oi, [ __ ] [ __ ] [ __ ] I'd like to bet you have a mouth shut.
Nothing to be scared of. I've seen what your chest full of murder decks can do.
So, are you still dying, hopefully? No.
Hearty and hale. Mhm.
Now, you going to help us save the boys?
Or not.
I don't have a choice.
We doing some invincible [ __ ] I don't want that [ __ ] poison.
We are getting executed.
Flight 37 video. Half of that type [ __ ] Mhm.
We're getting out of here first.
>> [laughter] >> We're going to need a lot more malt sauce, so let's get going.
>> Okay. It's a practice thing. Been Been working. All right. They even if I can get us in, how the [ __ ] we going to get out? I have someone we can call.
All right.
Or he watches the [ __ ] Hey, you want to see us? Y'all might not want to Jesus Christ.
Should we come back?
Can you believe the gall cooking up these lies about me? Tarnishing my good name.
What the [ __ ] do you know is real? Why'd you let her get away?
What What are you? I was there, keeping eyes on the on the other side of the stage. Bro.
What? Bro, these nuts, [ __ ] Who are the stars life? Oh my god. Yo, I'll be [ __ ] my You're [ __ ] up on purpose. I mean, I know you're not. That would be suicidal.
You know, I had a good chat. God.
He betrayed me.
How? He liked a couple of Starlight posts in the past.
And a horrible meme about me. Sir, you can check my history. I've never liked one of her shitty posts here. Just check it. Look.
>> That won't be necessary, but >> [laughter] >> [ __ ] [ __ ] And you will be, TOO.
>> I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW. I know.
Do your [ __ ] jobs. Yes, sir.
Listen, listen. I would be stuttering.
He would think I'm guilty just because I can't talk. He would kill me cuz I would [ __ ] right on that floor right now.
No. Yep.
What do you want me to >> Yep. And he ripped the top of the head.
Like, come on, man.
Jesus.
>> [laughter] >> Turning me into a whole animatronic.
He's the most unhinged he's ever been.
Hey, Joe.
It was like the Lord smiled upon us.
Talk about a match made in heaven. Amen.
Listen, she in this a wild [ __ ] so if they actually together, good luck. Like y'all's initiative to abolish DEI, now it's funny how those three little letters are all in devil.
It's racist to give people a leg up based on skin color. Isn't white a color, too?
>> Let's cut.
>> [snorts] >> My sister in Christ.
>> Um, no. I don't believe in your magic sky ghost or his baby sky ghost.
Jesus.
[ __ ] your hole still smells like deep Great Barrier queef. Damn. What? He wants more Starlighters arrested.
>> [sighs] >> God. It's just that we've already purged the CIA, DOJ, FBI, FTC, CDC, EPA, DHS, HHS, and USPS. We deported the nation's nannies and gardeners. We arrested Chapel Roan and Tyler the Creator and they canceled Coachella.
Made you [ __ ] vice president. As long as you stay useful, everything will come up Ashley.
Yeah, good talk.
I was like, you got to get out of there.
Ain't nowhere you can go.
Massive enters the motel.
Reacher? Kind of Reacher fan fiction writing.
>> They have huge [ __ ] Hope Alan Wake and Smacks Shadow.
His fist was [ __ ] hit. Hello, William. Yeah, hi. You're like America's literal most wanted. Did anyone see you come in here? It's not my fault there was a contraction in the TV business.
>> [laughter] >> I came here for an ex-supe with a certain set of skills. I need us a tunnel dug.
Oh, that's why you're okay. Took you long enough. You slowing down in your old age?
>> [laughter] >> [ __ ] you, JonBenét.
You guys are friends? Hey, you. You talk. Don't give a [ __ ] So, they act it. Okay. We need your help to break them out. Of a Vought prison camp.
>> Hey, are you going to keep running forever? I got a family to protect.
I can't.
Yeah, they'll go after them, too.
Homelander [ __ ] him up. Yeah. You know, I did two tours in the 38th in the Federal Province.
>> [snorts] >> The [ __ ] I saw will [ __ ] you up. And even that was Emily in Paris compared to the [ __ ] that we looking at here.
If I'm the Homelander is looking for me and I'm enemy number one, then you can't even chill. And here they got Oh my god, what happened here? Well, Annie, today marks two months. [ __ ] me.
It's a little insane how much I miss you. Why would Starlight and Butcher piss away their lives to try and rescue you? Is envious? Because do it for them.
He can't understand that concept.
Everybody hates his ass. Everybody's afraid of his ass.
Stop trying to make me feel better about it.
You remember when we got into it at the park that day? When I told you that you had never really saved anyone. Mhm. I'm still breathing, ain't I? Yeah.
>> And Reina, your nephews? Reina, yeah.
That's going to make them join them.
>> Mom will be really proud of you, man.
That's motivation.
Why they doing that?
Oh god.
Oh no.
No. Oh no.
Oh god.
Should get the [ __ ] out of here, man.
>> with him dying right now? Right now it's you coming after me.
Then it'll be Noir coming after you.
New Noir, because Homelander killed the first one. Remember? Mhm.
And then I'm with Homelander. Scared.
>> Scared. 24/7. I'm all about that sigma life.
I ain't terrified of [ __ ] Yeah? Yeah, I said the same thing.
It's pathetic.
You're pathetic.
I had to kill this fish.
>> Yeah. Cuz he's not going to stop. You going to have to put him down. Your voice makes me want to kill myself.
Oh, sorry. Unfiltered honesty.
You left him in there cuz you don't want to look him in the eye after years worth of deep dog [ __ ] you've done.
Ain't nothing to feel good with here about.
Cuz that [ __ ] is going to get us all killed. Hey, what did you guys think of the uh Lost finale?
>> Get to work, [ __ ] Okay, I'm [ __ ] starving. Where do you want to pop out?
Bunk 19.
He's a whole mole.
That's a bot freedom camp. Is it?
>> No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, you said I got to stick it to the bot. I get [ __ ] lasered in half.
Hey, our friends are about to be killed.
So, you're going to dig us a hole or I'll bury you in one. Got to do what you got to do.
>> what you got >> do. [ __ ] it.
You're already here. You got to help us out.
I'm about to say this the greatest story ever. Oh, okay. All right.
Damn, the [ __ ] wonder. You guys are going to want to stay back.
And turn around.
Hey, listen. He's helping us [clears throat] out, so Jesus.
Come on, man. THIS [ __ ] DON'T GIVE A [ __ ] COME [ __ ] NO.
If they ever gave me V and S my power, shoot me in the face.
>> Yeah, blow my head off.
>> I I can't. I can't do it. Thomas Gedoinken?
>> [laughter] >> Kill me.
He's a whole leaf blower.
No, I wouldn't. I couldn't do it. I'm close to folding. It's like crawling in a [ __ ] coffin. Yeah, I'm cool.
Smelling like ass.
Oh, [ __ ] >> [ __ ] that. No. No. No. No. [ __ ] all this [ __ ] Yeah, I can't.
This makes me uncomfortable.
>> [gasps and sighs] >> I got room. I got room. I got room.
Don't ever contact me again.
>> [laughter] >> Is it cool if I use this for the A story in the Reacher's back I'm working on?
Oh, piss off, wanker. Taking that as yes.
>> [laughter] >> Harry butt bandit, you.
Wanker?
Surprise.
Welcome, William. The gang is almost all here. Oh, and uh you never told me that this one's nickname is mother's milk.
What's the big plan? What are you going to sandbag me with the Gedoinken virus?
God. Jesus You [ __ ] [ __ ] Hey, where's Starlight?
Jesus Christ. William, you've got a viper's nest in there. Heard about it, of course, but seeing it for myself, it's uh it's it's incredible.
You know, William, I know we're not exactly equals.
You are the only one that's ever challenged me.
[ __ ] off.
Yeah, get blinded, [ __ ] Oh, [ __ ] Man can't see, can't fight.
Yeah, you get her, too. Come on. You got to kill Eleven first.
God damn it. I'm not liking this scene right now.
I'm not liking it, either. I don't know why I don't like you. I like you, hater.
Yes, thank you. Yeah, you got to [ __ ] stop.
Go somewhere.
>> No, that's not enough. You got to get I'm going to chop that thing up like a party sub.
If you dick slap me, I'm going to kill you. I have to [ __ ] play >> Get Adams out of our house. Finish this [ __ ] now.
>> [groaning] >> Yeah, shut the [ __ ] up.
Put your hands up where I can see them.
[ __ ] Where is she going?
>> [groaning] >> Stick and move, stick and move.
Rip his [ __ ] off.
Don't waste time, butcher. No matter what, I can JUST JUST WHY DID YOU MHM, IMPALE THAT [ __ ] YEAH, YEAH. How's it feel, [ __ ] Yeah, yeah.
>> [groaning] >> Stab and [ __ ] rip.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Surprise, [ __ ] [ __ ] you. [ __ ] this. She's not coming back. Huey, we have to >> Stay down. Stay down. Stay down. Stay down.
>> She's coming back. Get the [ __ ] down.
Really?
>> [screaming] >> Oh, nice. Oh, he was a Quicksilver [ __ ] >> Yes.
>> [laughter] >> Speed force.
>> [snorts] >> Oh, yeah. Quicksilver, BABY. DO YOUR THING.
OH, YEAH. HE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT.
>> [laughter] >> OH, [ __ ] HE'S LIKE, "WHAT THE FUCK?" NASTY [ __ ] WOO.
OH, [ __ ] OH.
OH, NO. YOU HURT? Where the hell were you?
I'm in [ __ ] She had to get them out of there.
>> [sighs] >> Oh, god.
>> Oh, [ __ ] Yo, that's some scary [ __ ] That is some bright burn [ __ ] And that's what I said. Oh, no. Oh, [ __ ] Damn, shorty.
>> Jesus Christ. [ __ ] Not again.
>> going to make sure he doesn't hit her.
Oh, no.
>> Hold on. He hit her. All right. Yeah, that's going That's going to throw him off. Oh, [ __ ] Yeah, because of that, he wasn't able to keep up speed.
Now, if this was season one him [ __ ] Jesus.
>> [laughter] >> Damn, E-Train. What the [ __ ] I was not expecting this.
You are [ __ ] nothing.
>> [snorts] >> Really? Talk your [ __ ] Take away these powers.
And what are you, huh? [sighs] Pathetic.
Weak.
Sniveling [ __ ] loser.
>> Talk your [ __ ] Yeah, that's going to get to him.
>> [sighs] >> He knew what it was. Might as well hurt him the best you can before you go out. [ __ ] You trained me?
The [ __ ] [sighs] The [ __ ] Damn, man.
[ __ ] Like you said, if it was season 1 A-Train, he would have ran right through it and kept it moving. But the fact that he didn't shows that he's a completely different person. Now, he wanted to do everything he could to avoid her, and that's what killed him. And then when he when he knew like there was no way out of this, he's like, "All right, [ __ ] Like he died with a smile on his face.
Like you know how [ __ ] ballsy you got to be to be in front of Homelander and say, "You're nothing. You're a piece of [ __ ] You ain't got [ __ ] but your powers. That's the only thing that makes you relevant. [ __ ] you." Do you know how exhausted you have to be to just to just accept death for what it is, you know?
Like he's saying, "It is what it is.
It's over now." Yeah, I mean cuz you know you're not you're not outrunning him. You're already damaged. You [ __ ] your [ __ ] up. So, he knew there was no way out of this [ __ ] So, he's like, "Fuck it. I'm I might as well piss him the [ __ ] off cuz I'm going to say some [ __ ] that hurt."
Not much can hurt him, but he he you know he has feelings. You hurt that [ __ ] And I mean, he ain't going to forget it either. You you might have killed him, but that [ __ ] going to stay with you. So, if you really look at it, A-Train won that that that exchange.
>> Yeah, he did cuz now Homelander is all frustrated and his head is all discombobulated and [ __ ] Because people are supposed to be scared of like like the people he's he's after are supposed to be scared of him and fear him. And and for someone to not show any fear, be like, "I don't give a [ __ ] >> Yeah. Dude, you're going to do it anyway, so [ __ ] you. You you're nothing.
That's going to get him.
That's That's all we got.
Rest in peace to A-Train, though.
If you would have told me in season 1 that this dude would have been one of my favorite characters in this show, I wouldn't I would have said you you're [ __ ] lying. He he [ __ ] killed it, yo.
And you actually gave a [ __ ] about him.
And he came to help. Because if he didn't, yo, if you [clears throat] didn't have his Quicksilver moment, we would have been done, yo.
Hughie would have been dead.
And God knows what else would have happened. So, he showed up, he put the put the visor on, you know what I mean?
They hit the music, and he, you know, made sure that he did what he had to do.
What a way to go out. What a way What a way to to help. And all cuz I was scared as soon as Homelander showed up and [ __ ] the whole plan up. Jesus. There was no way out of there without A-Train.
So, he he, you know, he's the only reason we were able to get out.
Jeez, man. This this show.
It's going to be a crazy season, man.
Y'all going to throw me for a loop in this one.
And this is episode 1.
Y'all already got my money. I don't care if y'all got a $500 deluxe edition. I'm going to do what I got to do to get that. You know what I mean? Whether I got to sell blood or or or plasma and all that. Yeah, yeah, you know, do do the usual stuff, you know what I mean?
Maybe do some karaoke and, you know what I mean? You know, I got I got the voice of an angel on the mic. So, you know what I mean? Whatever I Whatever I got to do to get this bread, I'm I'm going to get this bread, you know what I mean?
I'm not going to go down to the casino cuz I always lose there. I don't I don't learn the hard way from you.
Cuz you you I'm I'm on a hot streak. We lose everything. I'd rather gamble than hear you sing. That's a gamble within itself. We could kick the [ __ ] out because everybody's irritated and annoyed. Even though karaoke's not for professionals, you just go there. You rip [ __ ] apart in the ball way.
>> you want. I get a couple drinks in me, I'm good, yo.
>> Yeah, but you choose the wrong song. You choose James Arthur "Say You But then I sing I sing I sing, you know what I mean? I switch up to Kelly Clarkson, and and, you know what I mean?
All that. Then like, okay, all right, all right, he brought it back. I'm good.
I'm nice.
I'm nice. No, no, no, no, no, nobody said you bought it back. You were buying people drinks. That's the only reason somebody stood there. That's the only reason somebody stood around you. You always got a different narrative. Now all of a sudden it's not it's not what I had in my head. Now you you imagine a whole different thing.
>> It's because I was sitting in front of the stage while you were singing and they were only there because you were >> sitting ON THE YOU WERE SINGING WITH ME.
>> buying bourbon shots for everybody. I wouldn't leave either.
Bourbon was your idea cuz you you you you like brown liquor. It's what it did that night. People had People basically had on Beats headphones while you were performing. Nobody was listening to that [ __ ] >> so but so so when you when when when you you were you were you were singing songs from Titanic and all that. They was listening They was tuned in. They was locked in. When you sing Celine Dion, they they was locked in?
>> I'm pretty sure they were. They was spinning chairs around.
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