The series finale of The Boys, season five episode eight titled 'Blood and Bone,' delivers a long-awaited but unsettling end for Homelander. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) brutally kills the super-powered villain by ramming a crowbar into his face and prying open his skull in the Oval Office. The death is depicted without fanfare, focusing on the gruesome sounds and the horrified reactions of other characters, including M.M., Hughie, Starlight, Kimiko, and Ryan.
Despite Homelander's history of atrocities, the victory feels hollow. The show has long positioned Butcher and Homelander as mirrors, sharing similar philosophies and a mutual need for each other. The finale forces their conflict to a conclusion, with Butcher ultimately delivering a Mortal Kombat-style fatality. However, the lack of jubilation among the survivors suggests that a monster still remains in the room—Butcher himself.
The plan to defeat Homelander relies on Kimiko using her powers to depower him, similar to Soldier Boy's attempt in season three. She succeeds where Soldier Boy failed, thanks to a vision of Frenchie that gives her confidence. Other members of The Seven meet their ends as well: The Deep is killed by marine animals after being banished from the ocean by Xander (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson), and Father (Daveed Diggs) also dies. The finale leaves viewers with a sense of dissatisfaction, as the line between hero and villain blurs further.
