The first episode of the new season really came out swinging. One of my favorite parts of the episode was all of the call backs and self-referential stuff they sprinkled in. Annie dressed up like a Firecracker dancer was pretty hilarious because of the Homelander Birthday Special where he tried to subvert her authority as co-leader of the Seven by having a bunch of dancers in Starlight costumes. Homelander also called out EBITA Margins in his speech which he was embarrassed not to know about when he first took control of Vought's board. And so on.

One of the more interesting parts of the episode was the end of Reggie/A-Train's story. He came full circle by avoiding splattering another woman in the street at the cost of his own life. I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't re-watched the show and gen V prior to the 5th season coming out, but the woman he dodges even somewhat looks like Hughie's Robin; both have big curly hair, both were wearing different colors of the same jacket, and both performers even resemble each other a bit. Like if you hadn't watched the first season since it aired it would be perfectly reasonable to mistake "College-Aged Girl" for Robin.

It'll be interesting to watch how the story plays out. I'm really curious to see how the Gen V characters are used. I heard an interview with Kripke where he said the Gen V supes have a very minor role in season 5, but I am really hoping Marie Moreau gets at least a scene or two to really shine, she deserves it. I want her at the final battle, but I doubt it. She'll probably use her powers to heal/restore/resurrect a character if she even gets any screen time at all. I really really really want to know if her powers work on Homelander and to what extent. It would never happen, because someone from The Boys will absolutely deal the killing blow to Homelander (if he dies), but it seems like that hold power she used on Jordan a few times where she paralyzed them and lifted them off the ground would shut Homelander down entirely. Tilt his head back so he can't laser anyone and then stop his heart or something. If she ever does square up against The Seven that's what she'll do (minus the heart attack). She'll hold Homelander or Black Noir or Soldier Boy to set up one of the Boys or their allies.

Sage is the character I'm really rooting for though. From her first scene I had a hunch she would be in the finale. The way things are going though I'm not sure anymore. I think it's 50/50 that she gets murdered by Homelander over the V1 situation or pulls a double cross and uses the power Homelander gave her to take over the world herself.