It might not have been quite as substantial as many fans hoped for, but The Boys season 5, Episode 6, "One-Shots," finally brought about the Supernatural reunion that has been so prolifically talked about in recent weeks. What's particularly impressive is just how well the show balanced what Supernatural fans wanted with what The Boys needed. It was one of the biggest parts of the installment, but not so much that it felt meta and distracting. For those who don't know, The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke was also the mind behind the Supernatural TV show.
Signs of this have been very apparent in the Prime Video series even before "One-Shots," and even before season 5 premiered. Kripke has already recalled several members of the Supernatural cast to appear in The Boys in roles of varying importance. The most notable instance has been Jensen Ackles' role as Soldier Boy, likely stemming from the actor's time as Dean Winchester in Supernatural. "One-Shots" reunites Ackles with his two biggest Supernatural co-stars, contributing to an awesome installment of The Boys.
FULL SPOILERS ahead for The Boys season 5, Episode 6, "One-Shots."
Jensen Ackles wasn't overshadowed by the Supernatural reunion in "One-Shots"
Let's get this out of the way: it was great seeing Supernatural's biggest three stars all in the same scene again. Regardless, I was concerned that the temptation to break the fourth wall with a not-so-subtle wink to the reunion would be far too great. And yet, "One-Shots" made sure not to let the presence of Jared Padalecki's Mister Marathon and/or Misha Collins' Malchemical negatively affect the episode. They didn't do or say any more than was needed to make the scene work. Plus, they were surrounded by so many other celebrities that it was almost impossible to focus all that much on the reunion at hand. In short, it was a cool sequence for Supernatural fans, but it wasn't alienating for those who've never seen Kripke's other hit show.
Furthermore, The Boys used its signature brutality to make one thing especially clear: this reunion was a one-time deal, at least in The Boys. Although that's not what the episode's title is in reference to, it may as well be. Mister Marathon and Malchemical were both given deaths gory enough to enter The Boys' hall of all-time of gruesome exits. Sure, it seems a shame at first glance, but The Boys' final season still has a lot to wrap up before the show ends. Let's just smile because we saw the trio together again, and take it as a potential clue that Supernatural might be back someday.
The various POV segments is something I wish The Boys had done more
Although the blueprint sort of limply falls apart toward the end of the episode (which is probably my only real criticism of "One-Shots"), the installment blew me away with its cool change of pace. While I initially dreaded the possibility of witnessing the same meeting from different characters' perspectives, I was relieved and thrilled when I realized that this isn't what "One-Shots" was going for. The respective segments of various goings-on through the eyes of Firecracker (Valorie Curry), Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), Terror (Good Boy), Black Noir II (Nathan Mitchell), and Soldier Boy all offer something unique and show things that can't be accessed by staying with the others.
I would be very surprised if Kripke didn't regret doing this kind of thing more before now. Then again, maybe it's because "One-Shots" stands out in this way that it's so great. Either way, at least it got to happen at least once. I doubt the remaining three episodes will do anything other than return to the standard format, but I guess that's okay, too. My particular favorite segment was Terror's, especially for those hilarious dreams about Antony Starr's Homelander.
"One-Shots" creatively gave The Boys season 5 room to breathe
I'm sure I'm not the only one who is devastated that The Boys is almost over. With Gen V canceled and no clear sign of what Vought Rising or The Boys: Mexico are going to look like, it's tough to say goodbye to a show that's been demonstratably brilliant and refreshing in a sea of bland superhero media. That being said, I would lose respect for the show if it started to drag its feet just for the sake of hanging around. "One-Shots" doesn't do that, but it does something similar.
The next two biggest events looming in The Boys season 5's future are locating the V-1 and releasing the Supe virus. Neither of those two inevitabilities is made to feel much closer in "One-Shots," despite their importance to the plot. They do factor in, but they're pushed to the background so the characters can get more of a chance to shine. For all its bells and whistles, The Boys has always been a character-driven show, and it's great to see "One-Shots" hit the brakes just a little so the drama doesn't overtake all that ahead of the upcoming finale.
Episode Rating: A
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