Eric Kripke’s groundbreaking Amazon Prime series The Boys has captivated audiences with its darkly satirical take on the superhero genre. And perhaps, a major part of its global success is attributed to the showrunner’s thoughtful vision and adamant decision to create a finite, five-season narrative arc.
Beyond the shocking plot twists surrounding the Seven, and razor-sharp commentary, when it came to The Boys, Eric Kripke seemingly stood his ground and saved the show from plummeting into the same black hole as Supernatural. Given how Jensen Ackles’ series ended up being a fifteen-season behemoth, Kripke didn’t want The Boys to get milked and exploited in the same way.
Eric Kripke’s Approach to The Boys Starkly Contrasts with Supernatural
When a movie or a show usually witnesses massive success, producers often tend to milk it and capitalize on its accomplishment. This often leads to sequels and reboots for films, whereas shows witness an extended run or spinoffs. Something similar happened to Eric Kripke’s 2005 drama Supernatural. Initially envisioned as a five-season series, Jensen Ackles’ show ended up running for 15 seasons.
Despite the Season 5 finale of Supernatural following the whole swan song format and ending, as the show witnessed unnecessary extension, it quite obviously affected the quality and reception of the show. Soon, reviews started falling and viewership decreased, leading season 8 to witness a massive drop from 100% to 67% RT rating (via ScreenRant). Therefore, using Supernatural as a cautionary tale, Kripke went ahead with The Boys.
Using a completely different approach to The Boys in contrast to his previous venture, Eric Kripke strictly avoided extending the show beyond its intended conclusion. Therefore, crafting a story with a definitive beginning, middle, and end, Kripke adhered to the five-season blueprint. While Supernatural’s success led to extended seasons and a sprawling storyline that went far beyond Kripke’s original vision, the showrunner stood his ground when it came to The Boys.
Eric Kripke Stood His Ground and Saved The Boys from a Potential Debacle
In a recent interview with The Wrap, Vernon Sanders, the television head at Amazon MGM Studios, shed light on Eric Kripke’s philosophy for The Boys. Revealing how Kripke adhered to the five-season plan, with a desire to avoid the fate of Supernatural that faltered upon outliving its narrative purpose, Sanders mentioned that this time the showrunner chose commitment to quality over quantity.
This is all about Eric Kripke. We’ve had this incredible success because of his vision and execution and he’s told us for a while that he believes this really should be a five-season series. Of course, we asked him, “Are you really sure it can’t go on for more?” And he gave it some thought, but came back to his original vision for this, so we want to honor that.
And similarly, if there’s more to this universe, which would we love, that’s ultimately going to be about him leading the path there. We love “Gen V.” Season 2 is turning out to be really strong. They’ve had their hardships obviously with the loss of Chance [Perdomo] but ultimately I think all fans of “The Boys” are really going to love that second season and stay tuned on whether there’s more.
Amazon Prime’s The Boys has been marked by its sharp critique of the superhero genre, presenting a world where heroes are flawed, corrupt, and driven by personal agendas rather than ideals of justice. Therefore, considering the unique take on the show, as the show approaches its final chapter, the anticipation comes to an all-time high, with fans repeatedly appreciating the careful craftsmanship of Kripke’s vision.
Meanwhile, according to reports from Elle, Eric Kripke has suggested that The Boys season 5 will take about two years to be ready. Therefore, considering that the official announcement for the show’s production came right after the release of season 4 in June 2024, the final installment will potentially take until 2026 to release.
The Boys is available on Prime Video.
