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Warning: This article contains spoilers for “The Boys” Season 5, Episode 1, titled “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite.”
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The highly anticipated fifth season of “The Boys” has kicked off with a bang, leaving critics both impressed and taken aback by the show’s signature blend of humor and shock value. The premiere episode, “Fifteen Inches of Sheer Dynamite,” showcases the creative and unconventional approach the series is known for, particularly in a daring prison break mission. As part of their plan to rescue Hughie (Jack Quaid) from execution, Frenchie (Tomer Capone), and M.M. (Laz Alonso) join forces with Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), and Starlight (Erin Moriarty). Their unlikely ally in this operation is a screenwriter with a surprising secret: he is actually a supe called The Worm.
Portrayed by Ely Henry, who is recognized for his work as forensic chemist Philip Elertson in “NCIS: Origins,” The Worm is unlike any character fans have seen before. His unique ability involves consuming soil rapidly, enabling him to burrow underground. However, the twist comes with a revolting side effect—The Worm expels the excess soil in a manner reminiscent of human waste elimination, albeit with much greater force and volume. This peculiar talent is humorously discovered by Kimiko and Starlight, adding an unexpected layer to the show’s characteristic gross-out moments.
“The Boys” is renowned for kicking off each season with jaw-dropping, often grotesque surprises. From the unfortunate incident involving the shrinking supe Termite (Brett Geddes) and his partner Peter (Jarrett Siddall) in Season 3 to the scandalous text message Billy Butcher sends to Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) in Season 4, audiences have come to anticipate these outrageous scenes. The Worm’s debut is no exception, delivering a bold and entertaining spectacle.
While viewers might anticipate The Worm’s abilities, the execution of the tunneling scene is both shocking and amusing. The buildup to this moment is cleverly crafted, revealing his ability to dig tunnels and consume soil. Yet, witnessing the full extent of his power, especially with Starlight and Kimiko caught in the line of fire, offers a blend of humor and horror that keeps the audience engaged. The audacious start to “The Boys” final season assures fans that the series remains committed to its unique brand of storytelling, combining shock with plot progression.
The Worm provides the latest in a long line of season premiere gross-out moments
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It’s practically traditional for a season premiere of “The Boys” to feature a magnificently unexpected gross-out moment. From the very unfortunate tender moment between the shrinking supe Termite (Brett Geddes) and his partner Peter (Jarrett Siddall) in the Season 3 premiere, to the extremely intimate picture Billy Butcher texts to Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) in the Season 4 opener, these brief blasts of obscenity are to be expected at this point.Â
The Worm’s grand moment is telegraphed more elaborately than most such scenes. We find out pretty early on that he’s able to dig tunnels and legitimately eats soil, so it’s technically possible to see the big moment coming. Still, the sheer audacity of the tunneling scene does the shock value trick, especially since the show devotes plenty of time to the fact that Starlight and Kimiko find themselves within the blast radius of the Worm’s, uh, expulsions. The end result is as gross as it is entertaining, and it still manages to advance the plot. In other words, the bold final season of “The Boys” very much delivers on the nastiness front.Â
“The Boys” Season 5 is streaming on Prime Video.