The spoilers for season 3 of The Boys follow
The arcs of Maeve’s story have always been a bit problematic. The boys seem to have perfected the art of hanging a substantial Maeve-centered story like a carrot, so much in sight, never achieved.
This season, however, has been the biggest joke of all, especially considering that the end of the second season seemed like he was preparing for his return.
Dominique McElligott’s character spent much of the second series in a mess. Homelander (Antony Starr) had domesticated and castrated Queen Maeve, emptying her with threats and harassment tactics until she was beaten for obedience.
The pressure of Vought and Homelander’s involvement in his relationship with his girlfriend Elena (Nicola Correia-Damude), combined with guilt on his part in the horrific atrocities of Homelander’s past, caused them to break up.
Remorse for the death of the plane’s passengers overcame the pile of regrets until Maeve was walking and talking to Supe with all the excitement she received.
Amazon Prime Video
Thank God for explorer Annie (Erin Moriarty). His persuasion was the quick kick in the back that Maeve needed to turn things around.
The queen was a critical player in the fight against the Nazi supremacist Stormfront (Aya Cash). Maeve also found the courage to force Homelander to submit by threatening to expose her involvement in the plane crash in which people were killed.
This well-played win became the strap around Homelander’s neck, forcing him to follow the line.
His triumph should have put him in a favorable position (even if only temporarily) and should have prepared him for a pivotal role in any Homelander elimination.
Unfortunately, the story unfolds, and we find the Maeve once again pushed to the sidelines.
Initially it starts strong, although it was groomed in front of the cameras at the millionth premiere of the movie Vought.
An encounter with Butcher (Karl Urban) involves her providing him with information about a possible weapon strong enough to kill Homelander, as his predecessor Soldier Boy allegedly did.
His involvement in the crusade against Homelander deepens when he provides Butcher with the temporary compound V.
Prime Video
This act, though small, is crucial. She shows Maeve increasing her personal spending bets, something she has been reluctant to do in the past, which shows what this fight means to her.
One would expect it to be incorporated more into the story, but unfortunately it climbs to the margins of the page and becomes little more than a footnote.
Surely she re-emerges for another of her heart-to-heart with Starlight and initially this scene is encouraging. We see Maeve not “deep tits in random shit,” drinking her sorrows while making the wider team believe, but sober and really training.
He seems to be preparing for the inevitable confrontation with Homelander and wants to settle old accounts with him. Maeve alludes to the fact that she is ready to defeat him even at the expense of her own life, her selflessness guided by the weight of guilt on her part in her wrongdoing.
Despite this brief but significant screen time, Maeve is once again pushed to the sides of the larger story, only resurfacing as Butcher’s personal impetus for Temp V.
Amazon Prime
He reunites with Butcher after discovering that the Soldier Boy is still alive. This devastating news has made a hole in his plans to kill Homelander once and for all.
Butcher is also at a low level, consuming large amounts of alcohol and Maeve relinquishes her sobriety to join him after feeling deflated by the news of the Soldier Boy. The cocktail of alcohol and depression results in The Boys’ most vanilla sex.
His union with Billy Butcher pretty much sums up his involvement with the season so far – a lot of push and gasp with the promise of something exciting but ultimately a disappointment.
Maeve has all the ingredients to be a powerful and intriguing character: her story and dynamics with Homelander, the toxicity of her past has stripped her naked. Instead, the show wastes its potential by not allowing us to really engage with its story for more than five minutes.
Instead, it acts as a means to solve a problem (intervening to save Karen Fukuhara’s Kimiko from Stormfront) or to lead the story (a plausible excuse for how Butcher would get his hands on temp V). His lustless mess with Butcher was another way to expand his story in an otherwise fine way.
Our queen of seven deserves more.
Season 3 of The Boys is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video with new episodes airing weekly every Friday.
The Boys – Season 1
Amazon Prime Video amazon.co.uk
The Boys – Season 2
Amazon Prime Video amazon.co.uk
The Boys season 1 [DVD]
Sony Pictures amazon.co.uk
£ 9.99
The Boys season 02 [DVD]
Sony Pictures amazon.co.uk
£ 9.99
The Boys Omnibus Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson
Dynamite Entertainment amazon.co.uk
£ 18.99
The Boys – Starlight Funko Pop! figurine
Funko Pop! popinabox.co.uk
£ 9.99
The Boys – Homelander levitating Funko Pop! figurine
Funko Pop! popinabox.co.uk
£ 9.99
The Boys – Billy Butcher Funko Pop! figurine
Pop! Vinyl popinabox.co.uk
£ 9.99
Guys – A Fun Train Pop! figurine
Funko Pop! popinabox.co.uk
£ 9.99
The Boys – Queen Maeve Funko Pop! figurine
Pop! Vinyl popinabox.co.uk
£ 9.99
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