The Boys Season 5, Episode 7 Recap: Samuel L. Jackson’s Xander Confronts The Deep in a Shocking Showdown

Samuel L. Jackson has joined the cast of Prime Video’s The Boys in a voice-acting role for the fifth season. Jackson appears in episode 7, titled The Frenchman, the Female and the Man Called Mother's Milk, providing the voice for a character named Xander, a foul-mouthed shark.

The appearance comes as the series approaches its conclusion, with the series finale scheduled to release on May 20, 2026. The episode focuses on several character arcs reaching their resolution, specifically that of The Deep, played by Chace Crawford.

The narrative leading to the encounter involves a sequence of environmental and professional disasters for The Deep. The plot reveals that Black Noir, played by Nathan Mitchell, caused a massive environmental catastrophe at sea by destroying a Vought oil pipeline. This event resulted in the deaths of over a billion fish.

In the aftermath of the disaster, The Deep killed Black Noir, whom he had previously claimed was his friend, as an act of retaliation. Following these events, Homelander, played by Antony Starr, disbanded the supe group known as The Seven and informed The Deep that his services were no longer required.

The episode depicts The Deep in a state of self-pity, drinking a six-pack on a dock. It’s during this moment that Xander the shark swims up to him and attempts to lure him into the water. When The Deep fails to realize the shark’s intentions, Xander confronts him regarding the pipeline disaster.

During the confrontation, Xander tells The Deep: "We know you were responsible for the pipeline genocide. Remember March 15th, motherfucker!"

Showrunner Eric Kripke discussed the casting process for the role, noting that the production sought a specific vocal presence for the character. Kripke stated that the team reached out to Jackson’s agent because he was their first choice for the role.

"We wanted a really distinct voice and who has a more distinct voice in Hollywood than Sam Jackson? So we just went to his agent... He was our first choice, and we were like, Does he want to do this? It was really just taking a flyer. But then it came back, Oh yeah, he likes the show and totally, he'll do it. Boy, that's a bucket list moment, man, of Sam Jackson reading your dialogue."

Eric Kripke

The appearance of Jackson, who is well-known for his role as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, adds a meta-commentary element to the superhero satire of The Boys. The interaction serves to highlight The Deep’s isolation, as he is now viewed as a coward by the human world and an enemy by the creatures of the sea.

Whether The Deep will return for the series finale on May 20, 2026, remains unconfirmed, though the episode suggests his story may have reached its conclusion.