Spoiler Warning: The Boys Season 3
After last week’s episode of The Boys, “Herogasm,” you could forgive the writers and actors if this week was a bit of a letdown. Thankfully, this show is all in and always full speed ahead, and “Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed” has no shortage of big moments and huge decisions, not to mention the big reveal at the end of the episode.
As Hughie and Butcher search for Mindstorm, the next ex-team member on Soldier Boy’s hit list, Hughie finds out some disturbing information about Soldier Boy’s past accomplishments. Truthfully, this should not be surprising, and at this point, nor should the requests for more lube and refer to keep Soldier Boy going.
It was nice to see Queen Maeve was still alive, although being held prisoner by Homelander is really not something to be happy about. Worse, Homelander reveals why he is keeping her alive, and the disgust and horror on Maeve’s face sum it up perfectly. As Homelander leaves, she gets an excellent cutting insult in, but it’s a small victory in terms of what the future holds for her.
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Nothing explains The Boys better, in how it can switch gears from serious to satirical to gross, than watching the moments with A-Train and The Deep. The two characters are at different crossroads in their lives and headed down different paths. A-Train has the ironic twist of circumstances after what happened at Herogasm and The Deep…well, he’s just a mess.
There is a great sequence in The Boys’ “Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed” episode involving Black Noir, who is hiding away from Soldier Boy. Using classic cartoon imagery, we get a peek at what Soldier Boy did to Black Noir in the past, a mix of disturbing and telling images that tell a story of abuse, both mental and physical.
There are some big moments this week as characters make some huge decisions. The hunt for Mindstorm brings Butcher face to face with old demons, but he ignores the memories. Starlight informs Butcher that the Compound V he and Hughie are taking is lethal after so many doses, but he doesn’t tell Hughie, knowing he can’t stop Homelander alone.
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Also, Kimiko asks Starlight to get her the permanent Compound V. This is where she learns of the potentially deadly effects of the temporary doses, and Frenchie gives her the injection, healing Kimiko and making her strong again. Nothing comes close, though, to the shocking conversation/phone call between Homelander and Soldier Boy at the end of the episode. It’s hard to say at this point if what Soldier Boy says is actually the truth, but if it is, it changes everything.
Beyond the violence, jokes, and major character moments, we once again see characters revert to their true nature this week. Sometimes for good, most times not. The Boys’ “Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed” sets the stage for a wild season finale next week that could see almost anything happen.
