Soldier Boy crashed The Boys in Season 3 like a freight train, instantly stealing the spotlight from Season 1-2 veterans. Jensen Ackles' take on the star-spangled supe, America's forgotten WWII hero turned radioactive relic, delivered grizzled charisma, dark laughs, and brutal brawls that overshadowed even Homelander's brutal reign. Fans ate up his twisted patriotism and baggage, turning a mid-season addition into the breakout force propelling Vought's chaos forward.

So much so that it has made even Homelander give props to Soldier Boy's game-changing presence on the show.

Dropping Soldier Boy's maks for an interview ahead of the fifth and final season's descent, Jensen Ackles is filled with humility for the role he plays, something that his co-star Antony Starr might not agree with. 

Antony Starr told TV Insider about Jensen Ackles expertise coming into the role of Soldier Boy, hyping his co-star ahead of The Boys' final season. The Homelander actor was not letting Ackles brush off his heavyweight status, spotlighting how showrunner Eric Kripke "put him on ice for a reason."

“You’re being humble and modest, and that’s great. But here’s the thing: this guy came in to play a character that was meant to be done and dusted in one season,” Starr said. He asserted that Ackles' inclusion in the series was not a whim, but a weighty decision that came with consideration of his 20 years spent as the main lead of a show, possibly hinting at the 2005-debuted Supernatural.

Despite Ackles' effusive praise for the ensemble, Starr insisted that stepping up is not just torch-carrying. It is "throwing petrol on it." Fans have seen this play out: Ackles infused Soldier Boy with patriotic grit, twisted trauma, and scene-stealing swagger, elevating the show's supe-slaying chaos while nodding to his horror roots. 

How Old Is Soldier Boy in 'The Boys' Season 5?

But while Ackles carries that torch into the final season, the show's creator has a specific plan to make sure it shines bright.

Eric Kripke is not stretching The Boys finale into epic runtime territory. In a candid Collider interview, the show's creator revealed Season 5's closer will run about 65 minutes tops, no bloated 90-minute marathon like some fan-favorites tend to assume as they near their end.

"They’re all jam-packed," Kripke assured despite the runtime, betting viewers might tune out if it dragged.

With Prime Video's satirical supe-smasher returning in under a week, this keeps the pace brutal for its 2019-launched run, now darker and less parody, more a mirror to real-world chaos. Since Season 4's gut-punch two years back, Amazon locked in Season 5 as the ender, leaving fans dissecting who survives the carnage.

Kripke's call bucks the trend of oversized goodbyes, opting instead for tight, relentless storytelling after four seasons of escalating stakes, new faces, and supe takedowns. Tying into Antony Starr's fire for Jensen Ackles' lead charge, Kripke's compact vision ensures Soldier Boy's petrol-soaked torch burns brightest in the rush to credits.

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What do you think about Antony Starr praising Jensen Ackles on The Boys? Let us know in the comments.