‘The Boys’ Recap: ‘The Instant White-Hot Wild’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three finale of ‘The Boys’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Something that is often forgotten about the superhero genre of storytelling, is the sheer fact that it can be one of the most intelligent genres out there. Because time and time again, superhero stories have addressed important issues plaguing our society through compelling stories that are filled to the brim with social commentary, and even some of its characters and overall story designs, do just that, since those elements can provide us with powerful allegories and parallels to burning topics in our world. But alas, this is something that goes the wayside from time to time, because of the nature of the genre and its desire to also provide its viewers and readers with big, epic moments that drop jaws and create a buzz. Often courtesy of a big fight between hero and villain. 
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But slowly but surely, those more intelligent themes and concepts are beginning to worm their back into the forefront of the genre and one particular series that is leading the charge regarding that is The Boys on Prime Video. For the third season of this series has done a phenomenal job of exploring the nature of heroism in our modern world and how our perceptions of it are woefully wrong. To the point where the season three finale of this saga… opted to ponder upon quite the pertinent question. In that, if the concept of the traditional hero is flawed and those, we’ve held to it are corrupt and/or equally as flawed… because of the trappings of the human condition… is it even possible to have genuine heroes in this day and age? Which is a question that the series also answered in said finale… in a positive manner.

A feat that ‘The Instant White-Hot Wild’ accomplished… by plunging this series into its darkest hour. For both Homelander and Butcher knew that a bloodbath confrontation awaited them, one that would likely cost Butcher his life regardless of the outcome, because of V-24 and would potentially accomplish nothing. Since it would be more violence begetting violence in this world, but neither man felt they had any other recourse. This had to happen in their eyes and placing themselves on that supremely non-heroic and destructive path hurt others in their wake. Since Hughie was left to fend for himself in a half-assed attempt on Butcher’s part to apologize to him for putting him near the V, and Homelander of course took revenge on Black Noir for not disclosing the fact he knew that Soldier Boy is Homelander’s daddy. 

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Which meant that the fiery fight between angry vs. evil was going to continue unfettered, and it would absolutely cost innocents their lives. Since a Supe battle in the middle of downtown would boast plenty of collateral damage and of course, Soldier Boy’s blast could potentially level Vought HQ and kill so many in the process. A reality that brought forth that all-important question and its answer. For Hughie realized that there had to be a better way and that they had to do something in this dark hour of need. Because people needed to be saved, including Butcher, and only real heroes, the kind that were selfless and worried about something more than ego and standing and ratings and likes, could accomplish such a feat. And the Boys were comprised of those kinds of potential heroes and that motivated them to make their way to Vought tower… for one hell of a showdown. 
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One that saw Soldier Boy tear into his son and call him a disappointment, despite Homelander presenting his grandson to his grandpa with pride, and it was a fight that saw great cost come about in an effort to subvert Soldier Boy and defeat Homelander and bring peace to this madness at last. Since Frenchie went down hard with a rough injury and MM and Butcher took some serious lumps along the way and even Maeve, who was freed in this tale and joined the right side, lost an eye in the midst of this battle, which eventually saw the good guys beginning to lose. In fact, they all came within moments of losing their lives when Soldier Boy finally decided the time had come to just unleash his special brand of power and had in not been for Maeve… and her decision to truly become a hero in that moment and do the right thing through the sacrifice of her powers, these intrepid… heroes… would have died horribly. 

But instead, they can now show the world a better way and remind others that we need not put our faith in heroes that could disappoint us or are manufactured via corporation and influence. Instead, we can put our faith in each other to rise up and do the right thing and make the world a better place and that’s some wonderful and intelligent commentary that we need right now. Since it is indeed our heroes and institutions failing us as Homelander and the Seven have in this universe, and the show deserves a round of applause for offering up that kind of commentary and for also reminding us that the fight to fix a broken world… won’t be easy and will be costly. As evidenced by the fact that Homelander now has his own MAGA-esque cult where he can do no wrong in their eyes, and that will fuel him and whatever his next steps are and of course… Butcher is on borrowed time now thanks to his use of V and well… the stage is now set for the biggest battle yet between the real heroes of this story and the fake ones, and it will be fascinating to see how this game-changing finale shapes the narrative for the upcoming fourth season of this brilliant show. Until next year.

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