Amazon Prime Video’s Original Series The Boys, starts off with a look at the torture Jensen Ackles’s Solider Boy went through while in Russian captivity. From the acid injections, burnings, being shot repeatedly in the mouth, and having an electric saw placed on him, Homelander’s predecessor has developed a substantial case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The thing is it looks as if he got an extra superpower from all of that pain. Which creates a question in the viewer’s mind can other superheroes get extra powers too? Also, Solider Boy can be seen as an example of how war veterans can come back with mental health issues. From what the viewer has seen in earlier episodes Solider Boy was a laid-back party guy. However, after going through his ordeal he is now a serious guy with a taste for revenge. In a marvelous way the show has given him character development. Leaving it open to discussion on whether it is a positive character development or a negative one.
Further into the episode, the viewer catches up with Jack Quaid’s Hughie and Erin Moriarty’s Annie where they discuss Hughie’s use of his powers. Throughout the series the viewer sees Hughie struggle with being powerless. This struggle only gets worse as he sees that everyone must constantly save him from harm. He too wants to help play a part in stopping the superheroes once and for all. Although, the show has moved on from Jess Salgueiro’s Robin’s death it still haunts him. Perhaps, that is why he still feels the need to save the people he cares about. In his mind he wants redemption for not being able to save her. This will lead to a more explosive confrontation between Annie and Hughie. Given as how, Annie does not want Hughie to use the temporary Compound V. Unfortunately, having a taste of power could lead Hughie down a dark path.
Twenty-eight minutes into the episode, the viewer sees Jessie Usher’s A-Train with Nick Wechsler’s Blue hawk at a Black Lives Matter gathering. Unfortunately, things do not go well for anybody. However, the viewer can see that something in A-Train changes when he sees people get hurt. It is as if he finally has finally opened his eye to the injustices that the black community faces. This could be the moment where he chooses to become a true hero for everyone. At first glance his character seems to have no remorse for the things he has done. As is evident by how he laughed after killing Robin in season one. His mentality consisted of if it’s not a person I know who cares if they get hurt. Now he truly sees how the other side feels with his own brother getting hurt.
Towards the end of the episode, the viewer sees Tomer Capone’s Frenchie and Karen Fukuhara’s Kimiko break into a dance number. Throughout the season there have been horrific moments for every episode. The dance sequence was a nice change of pace that will put a smile on the viewers face. From the over-the-top signing by Kimiko to the loving and goofy expression on Frenchie’s face when she kisses him. Kimiko by this point has come a long way from the serious person she was. The show demonstrates how much her time with everyone has changed who she is. Before, she wouldn’t let anyone near her at any point in time and would be hostile as well. It was if she was a zombie when everyone met her at the beginning. Now she openly talks to them in her own way to voice her opinion. She even kisses Frenchie as a way to show him she has feelings for him. She by far has one of the best character developments in the series.
At the end of the episode, Hughie makes a decision that costs him his relationship with Annie. At the end of the day, it’s their beliefs that sets them on different paths. Hughie goes down the dark path of violence. He has tried to do things without violence only for the bad people to win in the end. Now he sees that the only way to put end to the madness is with more violence. While Annie believes that things could be solve in a way that doesn’t involve extreme violence. Each believes the other is wrong and in the world of The Boys there isn’t room for compromise. Instead, there is just more pain and suffering with mountains of bodies in between.
Rating: 8/10