Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 5, episode 5, “One Shots.”
Powerful supes have been commonplace in The Boys, and while Homelander has long set the bar on how menacing these so-called heroes can be, a few others have come close to catching him. The likes of Soldier Boy, Marie Moreau, and even Homelander’s own son, Ryan, have shown signs that they may not be too far off matching the central villain.
With the revelation that V-One exists in The Boys season 5, it could make some of these supes stronger and potentially even immortal, hence why the supe virus and its various moral dilemmas have become so important throughout the story. Interestingly though, Vought doesn’t just look for strength when making up the Seven, nor does Homelander himself.
Instead, the group has often been about branding, merchandise, and, most recently, under Homelander’s reign, loyalty. Someone like Firecracker is almost useless in terms of power, yet her propaganda is a powerful tool; however, this still leaves questions about what The Deep has even brought to the table.
The answer likely stems from his unique abilities being great for business, with his unwavering loyalty to Homelander helping him stick around, despite being perceived as a complete joke. However, the supe’s powers are actually much scarier than they seem at first glance, and the way he killed Adam Bourke proves it.
With Black Noir trying to upstage him, The Deep decided to sabotage his friend’s upcoming play by sending an eel through a toilet to kill director Adam Bourke in one of the show’s most gruesome deaths. It may have been comedic in presentation, but Bourke suffered a horrifying fate, and The Deep barely had to lift a finger.
Absolutely no one would have thought this member of the Seven was one of The Boys‘ strongest supes in season 5, and while one scene doesn’t change everything, it’s clear he could be so much deadlier if he used his full potential.
The Deep Could’ve Been Much More Menacing Had He Used His Powers More Often
Having been a member of the Seven since season 1, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve seen everything The Deep has to offer in terms of abilities, but that’s far from the case. Throughout The Boys, the supe has barely used his ability to talk with animals for anything other than small missions or his own personal pleasure.
We’ve seen him have a romantic relationship with an octopus, yet this eel scene is one of the only times he’s ever used sea creatures to attack someone. Sure, this likely comes down to the fact he actually values these creatures’ lives — or at least did at one stage — but this would be an extremely effective way of taking down his enemies.
Sabotaging one of Black Noir’s biggest hobbies and killing someone who made Vought billions out of sheer pettiness shows why The Deep will never be redeemed in The Boys, but he’s hardly the most menacing villain either. Even those without powers don’t fear him, yet he could’ve easily changed his reputation.
On paper, The Deep could kill several key characters with one punch. Add in the fact that he can breathe underwater and summon an army of aquatic creatures to do his bidding, and he should be terrifying. Instead, his cowardly nature, various insecurities, and overall lack of IQ make him arguably the Seven’s weakest member.
Had The Boys opted to ditch his comedic scenes and made him go all-out on hunting down the main heroes, there is a chance that The Deep would actually be one of the show’s scariest supes. Sadly for him, he’s been relegated to little more than comic relief, and while this may seem like wasted potential, it’s actually been a stroke of genius.
The Boys Is Right To Keep The Deep As A Joke Villain
As interesting as it would be to see The Deep as a much more ruthless villain, he is by far and away one of The Boys‘ best characters thanks to his sillier portrayal. Chace Crawford has absolutely mastered the character, presenting him as an arrogant goof that fans can’t help but want to see more of.
With Antony Starr doing such a great job as Homelander, it has been hard for anyone else to stand out, especially those frequently sharing the screen with him, yet Crawford’s version of The Deep is constantly providing laughs, be it through his weird antics or how confidently wrong he is.
It would’ve been so easy to kill him off by now to give the protagonists a win over the Seven, but what he brings to the series is irreplaceable. Although it’s hard to see him surviving The Boys‘ ending in May, The Deep’s phenomenal comedy is the reason he’s been kept around for so long.
Assuming he is killed off, even his death has the potential to be a hilarious kind of ironic, making every one of his scenes must-see. We’ve had our fair share of powerful villains throughout The Boys, and sacrificing all The Deep’s unforgettable moments for one more menacing foe isn’t worth the trade-off, hence why he’s better as a joke villain.
- Release Date
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2019 – 2026-00-00
- Showrunner
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Eric Kripke
- Writers
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Eric Kripke
- Franchise(s)
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The Boys
