Recent leaks from The Boys season 5 set have ignited unsettling comparisons between the fictional events in the series and real-world developments in U.S. politics, particularly regarding private prisons and mass detention. Set photos have shown the creation of “Freedom Camps” across the U.S., with one marked “Freedom Camp 47” bearing the slogan “Freedom Sets You Free.” This eerily mirrors the notorious “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”) signs that were seen at Nazi concentration camps, creating a chilling parallel to the story’s unfolding political dystopia.
In the show, these camps are part of Homelander’s (Antony Starr) vision for America, where dissidents and those opposing his superhero regime are imprisoned. This follows season 4’s events, where Homelander took control of the U.S. government, and Tek Knight (Derek Wilson) reveals that he dedicated his prison system to Homelander’s use for internment. These “Freedom Camps” seem to be the ultimate tool in Homelander’s authoritarian rule, imprisoning those who dare oppose him.
The unsettling nature of these plot points becomes even more disturbing when compared to real-world developments. The Boys season 5 storyline coincides with changes in the U.S. prison system that came into focus following Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory. Private prison companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic are experiencing a significant boom, with their stock prices soaring after Trump’s campaign promises to increase mass deportation and detain large numbers of people at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The leaked earnings calls from these private prison executives highlighted plans for mass expansions of detention facilities, with GEO Group aiming to more than double its ICE detention capacity from 13,500 to over 31,000 beds. The broader push includes systems for mass detention, including air transportation services, contributing to significant financial growth for these companies.
Trump’s policies, including the reinstatement of family detention and a focus on mandatory detention without the possibility of release, are framed as a “historic opportunity” for private prison companies to expand their operations. This aligns disturbingly with the fictional “Freedom Camps” depicted in The Boys, where mass detention is used as a tool to silence opposition.
The convergence of these two realities—fictional and political—serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked authoritarianism and privatized incarceration. While The Boys exaggerates and fictionalizes these events for dramatic effect, the real-world parallels suggest an unsettling trend that critics argue could lead to the consolidation of power and the further entrenchment of racial and political injustices. The storylines in The Boys are serving as a disturbing, if fictional, reflection of the direction some believe the U.S. is headed.
