Eric Kripke Discusses The Hardest Character to Kill in ‘The Boys’ Final Season

The final season of The Boys brought one of its most heart-wrenching moments with the death of Frenchie, portrayed by Tomer Capone. In the seventh episode of the fifth and final season on Prime Video, Frenchie makes the ultimate sacrifice while trying to protect Kimiko Miyashiro, played by Karen Fukuhara. This pivotal moment culminates in Frenchie confronting Homelander and choosing to open a hatch that exposes him to deadly radiation.

Before his demise, Frenchie delivers a poignant line to Homelander, stating, “I bet you never danced a day in your life.” This scene marks a significant turning point in the series as it builds emotional momentum leading into the final episode.

In an interview with Deadline, the show’s creator, Eric Kripke, shared insights about the decision to kill off Frenchie and why this character was selected. He explained that the writing team had known from the early stages of development that one of the core members of The Boys would not make it through the final season.

Kripke emphasized that this decision was not arbitrary but rather focused on emotional resonance. He remarked, “We knew we had to kill off one of The Boys. You can’t have a shot at victory unless it costs your heroes something that’s really hard.”

He likened this storytelling approach to other renowned fantasy and drama series that are famous for significant character deaths, noting that narratives feel more authentic when heroes lose something vital along their journey.

Kripke elaborated on why Frenchie was the hardest yet most meaningful choice. The team evaluated each character to determine which death would impact the audience the most while still advancing the story.

“So it was going through each character and deciding what was going to be the most heart wrenching,” he explained. “I think we knew early on it was going to be Frenchie. In so many ways, Frenchie and Kimiko are the heart of the show. Despite their violent tendencies, they both possess a profound emotional depth.”

He noted that Frenchie’s bond with Kimiko made the decision even more painful yet more impactful for the narrative. According to Kripke, the writers believed that his sacrifice would generate the greatest emotional response and propel the story toward its conclusion.

“We knew this would have real maximum destruction, and I think it had to happen,” he stated. “They would not have a chance of winning if Frenchie doesn’t sacrifice himself.”

Kripke also discussed the challenges of concluding the series, admitting that crafting a finale is tough because it influences how the entire show will be perceived. He expressed his anxiety about how fans will respond once the series wraps up.

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