Review, The Boys Episode 203: “Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men”

In the third episode of its second season, The Boys continues pushing its “power corrupts” theme by fronting a frightening new villain. Also whale chase.

The Boys head out to sea with their newly captured “super-terrorist” to hand him over to the CIA, Starlight tries to connect with the newest member of The Seven, and Homelander’s makeshift family collapses.

Hughie and Starlight’s plot to blow the whistle on the Seven actually pays off as they successfully steal some Compound V and get it into the hands of a news station. The public demands a response from Vought, and it’s not until the Seven get their hands on the super-terrorist that the company finally gives one: of course, it’s a denial. Also, if you were frustrated by the lack of action in the previous couple of episodes, this time you get a boat chase featuring the Deep commanding a pod of whales. Butcher rams a speedboat threw one of them. It’s the kind of ridiculous violence and gore you’d expect from this show. There’s a great moment where Hughie decides he can’t continue anymore and has a heart-to-heart with Mother’s Milk inside the carcass of the whale. So it’s a heart-to-heart next to a heart. This show is fun like that.

Homelander and his forced family come to the crossroads when he throws his son Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) off the roof in an attempt to activate his powers. Even though it’s obvious the kid won’t fly, it’s still funny when he just plops onto the ground, because at least he still has his invulnerability.

But when Ryan wakes up, his anger at his father triggers his laser vision and super strength. Though his anger is directed at Homelander, Homelander himself is happy to finally see someone with capabilities like his. But his happiness is short-lived, as the news about Compound V pulls him back to the angry place.

Given that even most people with powers don’t know about Compound V, I expected their reactions to be bigger. The exception is Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell), who we see weeping openly in an empty hallway after learning that his powers weren’t bestowed on him by a higher power but injected into him by his closest loved one as a child. It’s a huge reality check for the ruthless superhero.

The climax, which begins with Starlight, Hughie and Homelander in the sewers, is handled beautifully. Hughie barely has enough will to go on and Starlight is trying to prove she isn’t the whistleblower so Homelander, in perfect character, orders her to kill Hughie. Hughie indicates that it’s okay for her to do it, but they’re interrupted by Butcher releasing the super-terrorist, who buries Homelander in rubble.

But it doesn’t last. Kimiko and her terrorist brother are attacked by Stormfront (Aya Cash), who brutally murders him as well as nearly every civilian in her way. She is as destructive as Homelander, if not moreso, and even says that she enjoys seeing the light die in people’s eyes. It’s a shock, since up to this point Stormfront seemed like a decent person.

The final shot is of her in the spotlight, gloating to Homelander. The Boys continues to push its “power corrupts” theme, with no one apparently safe from its malignant influence.

Grade: A

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