After a good couple of seasons of The Boys, the fans would have been left wondering what could make this series about power-obsessed superheroes even more diabolical? If The Boys presents Diabolical was anything to go by, it was definitely going to get crazier and more ruthless with season 3 of The Boys. The REDBAND teaser trailer just raised the stakes higher.
If by chance, you missed any of the details, sit back and keep reading because we will “swoop out of the sky and save the day so you don’t gotta do it yourself.” *Take You Down by Daniel Pemberton playing in the background.*
Black Noir Returns
In the comics, Black Noir is a clone of Homelander created by Vought to keep an eye on the leader of The Seven. In the series, there is very little known about the black ninja assassin. He usually carries out the hits for Vought. Season 2 opened up with him beheading the Super terrorist, Naqib.
Although, he’s not completely ruthless like his comic counterpart. On hearing the news of Vought injecting babies with Compound V, we saw a distressed Black Noir crying. Also, seeing the dead whale ripped apart by the boys also made him put his hand to his heart. Put two and two together, it’s safe to assume apart from the times he’s not cutting and slashing his targets into two, he’s a nice guy.
The trailer shows that after being choked on Almond Joy in the season 2 finale by Queen Maeve, he’s finally back on his foot. He’s shown at a couple of instances without giving away much. Episode 8 of The Boys Presents: Diabolical provides a better picture behind the background of Black Noir and his relationship with Homelander. Madelyn Stillwell confirms in the episode that Black Noir is kept by Edgar to keep an eye over Homelander. Homelander’s induction into The Seven created tensions between him and Black Noir as he immediately dethroned Black Noir as the most popular supe of The Seven. Homelander tries to kill Black Noir after Black Noir discovered Homelander killing the hostages during a mission. However, Black Noir helps Homelander manage the situation. It helps clear Homelander’s suspicion of Black Noir. But Black Noir clearly has some other things in mind. This brief background adds to the secrecy maintained around Black Noir. The trailer has given him more spotlight than he has enjoyed in the previous seasons. It could be assumed that Black Noir will have a more significant role to play in this season and there’s much to uncover about Vought’s favourite assassin. We will know when the season releases but until then he can enjoy his doodling along with some baked beans.
Soldier Boy
Soldier Boy is first mentioned by Vought CEO Stand Edgar when Homelander went to confront him regarding Stormfront’s appointment in The Seven. He reveals to Homelander that Soldier Boy fought for the Americans and killed Nazis in WWII, eventually helping Vought founder Frederick Vought in being pardoned by President Roosevelt.
In the comics, Soldier Boy is a title previously given to two individuals at different points in time. A parody of Captain America, the present-day Soldier Boy is the leader of the superhero group Payback and aspires to join The Seven.
In the teaser trailer, we got a couple of glimpses of Soldier Boy being played by Jensen Ackles. The first glimpse is through an old footage of him singing. In the next appearance, he’s being punched on his face by possibly a Nazi soldier, taking us back to some of his early days. The post-title scene reveals a disheveled Soldier Boy gaining consciousness. Vought has probably been keeping Soldier Boy in cryogenic sleep all this time and the situation has come finally for him to return. If this is true, it can also confirm that, unlike the comics, there is only one Soldier Boy in the series. A traumatized childhood is also hinted at just before it cuts to a smiling Soldier Boy’s face.
The Big Reveal of Butcher
In terms of absolute madness, Homelander is just rivaled by his arch-nemesis, Bill Butcher. Undoubtedly the biggest reveal of the trailer was Butcher looking into the mirror with absolute rage and glowing eyes. After the events of season 2, Compound V is no more a secret closely guarded inside Vought’s vaults. It’s easy to find if one tries. In the previous season, Lamplighter had already revealed that Vought is experimenting with a formulation that works on adults. Looks like the leader of the boys has finally decided to join the dark side and has taken, in Kimiko’s words, the “blue venom”. However, one must ask Bill Butcher how he finally feels after becoming what he hates the most- a supe.
He has definitely taken Compound V and possibly has gained enough powers to stand on equal footing with Homelander. He is shown using his heat vision and super-strength in the teaser trailer. He is also shown puking on poor Hughie’s face but that could just be an early side-effect of becoming a cool supe. Without a doubt, things are going to get heated more than ever in The Boys universe. Bill Butcher no longer needs to hide from powerful supes and he never gets tired of hunting them down.
Rest of the Boys
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot shown about the rest of the team. Hughie is miserable and sad like always. Maybe, it’s just the pressure at the job working with Victoria Neuman. Although, he and Starlight seem to be having a good time. It’s not confirmed whether Hughie, Frenchie, or Mother’s Milk have also taken Compound V. But surely, they have not stopped with their pursuit of the supes. Kimiko is still busy killing people in gory ways. In one scene, she breaks the hand of Hughie with his broken bone protruding without tearing his skin as Butcher calmly sips his drink. Maybe, they are testing Hughie’s superpowers. But for that, Hughie needs to have taken Compound V. There is no confirmation of it so far. Frenchie and Kimiko are seen dancing in a hospital. They talk about dancing in the season 2 finale while setting up the VoughtSonic speakers for Homelander.
Homelander
In the first look, Homelander is seen standing looking at a wall full of paintings of the Civil War with an expression that doesn’t give much about how he’s feeling. Stormfront in season 2 has already trained him in the basics of white supremacism and this could be a possible hint at the direction Homelander will take. In another sequence, he is seen poking strongly and grabbing A-Train by his head. A-Train being a black man could be Homelander’s reason for irritation with him. But, it’s Homelander, so it’s difficult to judge what makes him furious. In another instance, he’s having a photo-op session along with Starlight and she clenches her first. Maybe, Homelander says something to her.
The next time we see him, he’s with Maeve. He’s blanked out and suddenly realizes he needs to smile for the cameras. Remember that Maeve still possesses evidence of the flight accident. In one scene, he’s seen flying down in front of some supporters with banners asking him to save them. After the great PR exercise, thanks to Stormfront, looks like Homelander is finally finding his audience again. And yes, he meets Butcher again. Also, Homelander’s love for milk, human or animal, continues.
Rest of the Seven
Queen Maeve is seen swinging her sword. A-Train, who’s back into The Seven, has received a stylish makeover. Apart from being man-handled by Homelander, he’s seen appearing in an event for the reality show, American Hero. He also saves the day stopping a protest by handing a can of Turbo Rush to one of the police offers just like the controversial Pepsi ad featuring Kendall Jenner. He also seems to have gotten back his stamina and fights another supe, Blue Hawk, at a train station.
New Characters in Season 3 of The Boys
Apart from Soldier Boy, more characters are going to be added to the main series. Crimson Countess tries to kill Frenchie and Kimiko, instead, she ends up killing a Homelander mascot in Brave Maeve’s Inclusive Kingdom, the newest Vought theme park capitalizing on Queen Maeve’s increased popularity. Along with it, a supe boyband makes the cut. Starlight’s former boyfriend, as hinted in one of the Seven on 7 shorts, Supersonic will also appear in season 3. Cameron Coleman, who hosts Seven on 7 on Vought News Network, is set to have a significant role.
Miscellaneous Deets
In what looks like a flashback sequence, a blonde-haired gun-wielding woman is seen running before being thrown off by the impact of a missile. It could be a younger Colonel Mallory from around the time when Soldier Boy was originally active. Deep, although no longer part of The Seven, looks like he has finally accepted his body and learned some self-love on the way. Starlight frustratingly clenches her fist, kisses Hughie, and cries, all in one trailer.
Working at Vought in the position earlier held by Madelyn Stillwell is not looking too good for Ashley’s remaining hair. Homelander’s son Ryan appears only briefly. He looks pretty angry and pulls at the St. Christopher chain given to him by Butcher in the season 2 finale. Does he hold Butcher responsible for his mother’s death? Also, knowing Homelander, it’s not possible that he has entirely given up on his son.
The Movie Culture Synopsis
It’s tough to say how much control Stan Edgar will have over The Seven as the boys continue to try to take down Vought. Victoria Neuman is still busy exploding bodies. Her attacks have been saving Vought from complete exposure but her true intentions remain unclear.
A lot of questions are waiting to be answered. The trailer suggests that a lot of secrets still remain to be uncovered around Vought and the boys are not going to find it easy.
Homelander and Butcher will possibly meet for a final face-off but this time it will be different. It’d be interesting to see the role played by Soldier Boy amidst the chaos. In any case, it’s going to be diabolical and we know it.
