The Homelander actor called out a recent series finale where no main characters died, sparking a major debate about satisfying endings.
Antony Starr is not happy with how some TV shows choose to wrap things up. The The Boys star, who plays the terrifying Homelander, recently shared his honest thoughts about series finales that play it too safe. And while he did not name any specific show, fans quickly connected the dots to Netflix’s Stranger Things, which ended its run on New Year’s Day 2026.
The comments have created a wave of discussion across social media. Many viewers agreed with Starr, saying the Stranger Things finale felt too soft. Others argued that not every show needs to kill off beloved characters to have a meaningful ending.
Starr’s Blunt Message About Finale Deaths
During a recent interview with Wired, Starr answered questions about whether The Boys would have a satisfying ending. He admitted that pleasing everyone is nearly impossible. But then he brought up a show he had just finished watching.
“Something just finished – I won’t say what – and nobody died,” Starr said. “I was just scratching my head going ‘there’s nowhere else to go, this is the end of the run, kill some people!’”
The actor made it clear that without real stakes, endings can feel empty. He pointed out that The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke has already warned fans not to get too attached to any character. Everyone’s head is on the chopping block, whether hero or villain.
Why Fans Think He Meant Stranger Things
The timing of Starr’s comment made the target obvious. Stranger Things season 5 dropped on December 31, 2025, ending nearly a decade of the Hawkins story. The finale saw the group finally defeat Vecna and close the gate to the Upside Down for good. But here is what bothered many viewers including Starr: every single main character walked away alive.
Eleven appeared to sacrifice herself to save everyone. But the epilogue showed her alive and starting a new life in rural Iceland. The other characters all got happy endings. Lucas and Max stayed together. Dustin was thriving. Will moved to New York with a boyfriend.
“I was scratching my head at the end going, ‘There’s nowhere else to go. This is the end of the run. Kill some people.’” – Antony Starr to Wired
The lack of major deaths bothered a large section of the fanbase. The disappointment got so intense that viewers created a conspiracy theory called Conformity Gate. They convinced themselves that the creators were hiding a secret ninth episode with a different, darker ending. That episode never came.
The Duffer Brothers Defend Their Choice
Before the final season aired, Matt Duffer addressed expectations directly. He said Stranger Things was never going to have a Game of Thrones-style bloodbath.
“It’s not Game of Thrones. We’re not in Westeros,” Duffer told IGN before the finale came out. “There’s not going to be a Red Wedding situation. I think some things happen in the finale that are very surprising, but we’re not trying to shock or upset anyone.”
The creators wanted the ending to feel inevitable and satisfying rather than painful. Kali, also known as Eight, was the most notable death in the final confrontation. A military officer shot her.
But for Starr and many viewers, that was not enough for a show that ran for nearly ten years and built up so much emotional investment.
What This Means for ‘The Boys’ Finale
Starr’s comments come as The Boys season 5 is currently airing on Prime Video. The final episode is scheduled for May 20, 2026. The show has already killed off two major characters this season. And from what Starr and Kripke have teased, more deaths are coming.
When asked what fans should expect, Starr gave a short and clear answer, “Nothing is going to be left to the imagination.”
The Boys Season 5 Release Info (Global)
- USA: Prime Video, finale on May 20, 2026
- UK: Prime Video, finale on May 20, 2026
- Canada: Prime Video, finale on May 20, 2026
- Australia: Prime Video, finale on May 21, 2026 (AEDT)
- India: Prime Video, finale on May 21, 2026 (IST)
Some fans have pointed out the irony in Starr’s criticism. A few viewers have complained that The Boys final season has also felt somewhat low-stakes so far. But with three episodes left, the show still has time to deliver on its promise of major character losses.
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Fan Reactions Split Down the Middle
Social media lit up after Starr’s interview made the rounds. Some fans fully agreed with his take. They felt the Stranger Things finale was a letdown because it pulled back from taking real risks. Others defended the Duffer Brothers’ choice, saying a happy ending was the right way to send off characters fans had loved for a decade.
One side argues that deaths do not automatically make a finale better. Emotional closure and character arcs matter more than a high body count. The other side says that without real consequences, the final battle loses its meaning. If everyone survives, where were the stakes?
Regardless of which side viewers take, Starr has started a larger conversation about how TV shows should end. And with The Boys finale just weeks away, all eyes are on whether the show will follow its own advice.
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