Now that the dust has settled on The Boys’ Season 5 finale, many fans of the not-so-satirical satire are left divided. Whilst many enjoyed the newfound hope for the new age of superheroes, the penultimate season sparked controversy over an alleged decline in writing quality, uneven pacing, and an unsatisfying conclusion.

Throughout the season, the pacing felt quite sluggish, which brought about an increasing concern for the last episode; with new plot points being consistently introduced, there were now several loose ends that needed to be tied up in just an hour.

Despite my agreement with many fans’ grievances over the new season, one thing that I cannot side with is the condemnation of certain characters’ backstories. Whilst many people believe that the show is advocating for sympathy towards these morally depraved characters, I believe that providing a motive for these characters only fleshes them out. To see A-Train, the catalyst for this entire show, end up dead at the hands of Homelander after joining forces with the opposing side, was a beautiful example of the complexities of the show’s characters that were highlighted in this season. In an age where television has become saturated with flat characters, I find it refreshing to engage with multi-dimensional and complex villains.

The most notable example of this is probably Homelander. Although many criticise the empathetic tone of the flashback to this character’s youth, I think that that uncomfortable sense of hate and pity is one of the aspects that makes this show incredible. Do I feel like Homelander’s actions are justified? Certainly not. However, do I gain a level of understanding for his pain and motives through these flashbacks? Of course, because that is the point. Without a ‘tragic backstory’, the majority of notable villains in our lifetime would cease to exist, because a character without reason or purpose is simply just not as believable.

Similarly, I find that the audience feels divided over The Deep; whilst many joke and praise the ridiculousness of this character and the hilarity of his lines and actions, many are disgusted with his plethora of indefensible actions. I personally found myself in the middle ground.

I believe he may be one of the very few whose existence as a primary comedic relief punching-bag actually serves the plot well due to his desperate and denied need for Homelander’s praise. Though his actions rendered him irredeemable, he had many chances to prove a level of morality time and time again across five seasons, yet failed to do so. To watch him perish at the hands of the only creatures who consistently stuck by his side was perfect.

However, I cannot say I felt such similar joy watching the deaths of Frenchie and Butcher I believe that Frenchie delivered one of the best lines in the entire series “I bet you've never danced a day in your life” was not only a gut-punch (no pun intended) delivered by Frenchie, but it might be one of my favourite lines in the series.

Throughout the series, Butcher’s death became less of an “if” than a “when”, which was made clear in the finale, where he had ultimately lost everyone and everything dear to him. His finale scene, albeit heartbreaking, was a cinematically excellent bow to wrap up the series. Him changing his mind and his refusal to share that knowledge with Hughie so as to not bestow the guilt upon him was a satisfying character ending.

Despite its uneven pacing and divisive finale, The Boys’ fifth season still succeeds in delivering some of the most compelling character work on television. While I understand many of the criticisms directed towards the season, I found its willingness to explore the complexities of its characters far more engaging than a cast of one-dimensional heroes and villains. For that reason, I believe Season 5 deserves more credit than it has received from many fans.