After breaking the hearts of fans with the announcement that the upcoming fifth season of the hit Prime Video show “The Boys” will be its last, series creator and showrunner Eric Kripke has left viewers in a state of shock. In a move that can only be described as diabolical, Kripke revealed the news just days ahead of the Season 4 premiere.In a tweet that sent ripples through the internet, Kripke declared, “Season 5 will be the Final Season! Always the plan. Just had to be cagey till I got the final OK from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax. Watch Season 4 in 2 DAYS, cause the end has begun!” The inclusion of the final (heavily redacted) page of the script from Season 4’s final episode, ominously titled “Assassination Run,” added fuel to the fire. The only visible line, “SEE YOU FOR OUR FINAL SEASON, MOTHER F—ERS!” was enough to leave fans reeling.

A dark satire of superheroes, politics, and popular culture, “The Boys” burst onto the scene in 2019, quickly becoming one of Amazon’s biggest streaming series. With two spinoffs already in the works on Prime Video – the college-set “Gen V” and the animated series “Diabolical” – fans have been riding a wave of excitement. However, the impending doom of Season 5 casts a shadow over the future of the franchise.

If there’s any solace to be found, it’s in the fact that assuming the final season has the same number of episodes as the previous four seasons, “The Boys” will conclude after 40 total installments. Compare that to the original comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which ran for 72 issues, and the end of the TV series feels like a mercy killing.

Season 4 of “The Boys” kicks off on June 13, with a three-episode premiere. The remaining five episodes will be dropping weekly on Prime Video through July 18, giving fans a chance to savor every last drop of gore, wit, and satirical brilliance that has made the show a fan favorite.

So break out your superhero capes and tights, folks. It’s time to buckle up for the rollercoaster ride of a lifetime as “The Boys” prepares to take its final bow. And remember, in the immortal words of Eric Kripke, “SEE YOU FOR OUR FINAL SEASON, MOTHER F—ERS!”