Prime Video’s smash-hit superhero drama The Boys returned with its fifth and final season on Wednesday, and it’s safe to say that the opening two episodes did not disappoint.

After almost seven years, a spin-off series, an animated miniseries and two upcoming projects, the epic flagship show is drawing to a close.

Based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the series is an irreverent take on what happens when superheroes – who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians and as revered as Gods – abuse their powers for personal gain.

© Jasper Savage/Prime Video
Chace Crawford (The Deep), Antony Starr (Homelander), Nathan Mitchell (Black Noir) star in The Boys Season 5

Created by Eric Kripke (Supernatural), the series follows the titular group on their quest to expose the truth about The Seven, a corrupt group of superheroes owned by Vought, a multi-billion dollar conglomerate that manages them and covers up their dirty secrets.

Antony Starr leads the cast as superhero and leader of The Seven, Homelander, while Karl Urban plays former C.I.A. operative turned vigilante Billy Butcher, who’ll stop at nothing to bring down the Supes.

With a 93 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, four Emmy Awards and consistently positive reviews from TV critics, it’s no wonder viewers are loving the show. Find out more below…

What is The Boys season 5 about?

The synopsis for season five reads: “In the fifth and final season, it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims. Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a ‘Freedom Camp’.  Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force.

© Jasper Savage/Prime Video
The Boys is coming to a close with its fifth and final season

“Kimiko is nowhere to be found. But when Butcher reappears, ready and willing to use a virus that will wipe all Supes off the map, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change the world and everyone in it.  It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.”

What have viewers and critics said about The Boys?

Viewers have hailed the opening two episodes as “mind-blowing”, with some staying up late to watch the new season.

One person penned on social media: “#TheBoys S5 starts with banger episodes, waiting for next. Mind-blowing start to the finale season,” while another added: “First two episodes of #TheBoys were awesome!”

© Jasper Savage/Prime Video
New episodes will be released weekly

A third viewer wrote: “THOSE FIRST 2 EPISODES OF #TheBoys WERE INCREDIBLE!” while another added: “Stayed up to watch #TheBoys.”

Meanwhile, Empire handed out three stars, describing the series as “less than flawless but pretty super,” while The Guardian hailed the series as a “gory splatterfest” in its four-star review.

How to watch The Boys

Season five premiered on Prime Video with its first two episodes on Wednesday 8 April. New episodes will be released weekly until 20 May.