Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the series finale of The Boys.The Boys aired its Season 5 finale, “Blood and Bone,” which also marks the series finale of Prime Video‘s superhero satire. While most fans either stayed up until midnight or hit theaters to see the showdown between Homelander (Antony Starr) and Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), “Blood and Bone” also revealed the fate of the rest of the titular band of vigilantes. Chief among them is Kimiko Miyashiro (Karen Fukuhara), formerly known as “The Female.” Though Kimiko does have a bittersweet ending, it’s a far better fate than what happened to her in the comics.
While speaking to Collider’s Perri Nemiroff for her series, Ladies Night, Fukuhara opened up about the finale, which sees Kimiko play a major part due to gaining the same radioactive abilities that Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) had; she uses said abilities to strip Homelander and Butcher of their powers, allowing Butcher to finally kill his hated archenemy. To harness her new powers, Kimiko envisions Frenchie (Tomer Capone) speaking to her, which Fukuhara said brought her character’s arc full circle.
“She’s always sort of questioned her own strength and identity and all of that, and losing him teaches her a huge, huge lesson. It’s also such a big moment for Kimiko because she realizes, finally, that the strength has been inside of her this whole time. With the help of Frenchie, she’s realized that and recognized that…If both of the characters passed away, it would have negated the messaging behind that, and it’s an important one that I’ve loved telling throughout the years.”
Kimiko Suffered a Dark Fate in ‘The Boys’ Comic
Tomer Capone as Frenchie with his hand under the chin of Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko in The Boys Season 5Image via Prime Video
In the original comics by Garth Ennis and Darrick Robertson, things take a truly dark turn for the Boys when Butcher plans to launch a virus that will kill all superhumans. He also ends up killing Kimiko, Frenchie, and Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) in the process, until Hughie (Jack Quaid) fatally wounds him. While “Blood and Bone” does adapt Hughie and Butcher’s final confrontation, the rest of the Boys actually live. Hughie and Annie (Erin Moriarty) are still together, with Annie expecting a baby and Hughie running his own electronics shop. M.M. reunites with his family and adopts Ryan Butcher (Cameron Crovetti). Kimiko travels to France while also adopting a puppy; she’d discussed the idea with Frenchie before his death.
By giving Kimiko this ending, The Boys hasn’t just completed her character arc; it’s also made her a more well-rounded character than she was in the comics. In the comics, Kimiko never spoke and was treated as little more than just a weapon. The show gives her a fuller backstory, revealing the reason behind her mutism and how she slowly regained her humanity while working with the Boys. Kimiko’s character journey is just one of many, many ways The Boys improved on its source material, and according to series creator Eric Kripke, that was the point.
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‘The Boys’ Creator Wasn’t Planning To Follow The Comics’ Ending
In a post-finale interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Kripke expanded on the ending and why he chose to end on such a hopeful note. “Hope isn’t perfect, and it isn’t easy, and it requires incredible amounts of failure and sacrifice, but it’s possible,” he said. It’s a statement that perfectly fits with how Kimiko and the rest of the Boys chose to live out their lives. Even though they sacrificed so much to gain their victory, they now have a chance to actually live their lives; in Kimiko’s case, she doesn’t have to worry about anybody using her as a weapon or, hopefully, will never kill anyone ever again.
“Blood and Bone” isn’t the end of The Boys, as next year will see the debut of the prequel series Vought Rising, while Kripke has teased other potential spin-offs in the works. But it gave Kimiko the ending she so rightfully deserved.
All episodes of The Boys are available to stream on Prime Video.
Release Date
2019 – 2026-00-00
Showrunner
Eric Kripke
