Editor’s Word: The next incorporates spoilers for Season 3 of the Prime Video sequence, The Boys.
Because the third season of The Boys got here to a detailed, one factor turned evident. Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott) was going to have her glad ending, or a minimum of as shut as she would ever get. As she set off within the sundown with Elena (Nicola Correia-Damude) after a confrontation with Homelander (Anthony Starr) that left her with one eye lacking and the world considering she died taking down Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), she misplaced her powers. However Maeve lastly had what she had all the time needed: a life away from Homelander. As Starlight (Erin Moriarty) mentioned goodbye to her, the viewers did the identical, as The Boys noticed one of many authentic members of The Seven go away the present for some time.
However, Maeve’s exit was not unpredictable. Over three seasons, Maeve’s arc was one in every of discovering her independence and gutting ties to the corporate that not solely had created her but additionally gave her so lots of the traumas that had outlined her. An uneven arc typically noticed her sidelined and by no means get the due that she deserved. For what may need been her final look on the present, Maeve spent most of her time in a jail cell, incapable of escaping till Starlight got here in and saved the day.
Queen Maeve was advanced. A girl raised by an abusive father who used her powers for his acquire, she noticed herself put right into a staff the place she grabbed the eye of a psychopath who noticed her as nothing however his property. From its pilot episode, The Boys supplied temporary glimpses of who Maeve had been earlier than being introduced all the way down to the cynical and alcoholic particular person we met. Starlight was who she had been that day, and Maeve was who Starlight might have change into if she had by no means met Hughie (Jack Quaid) and the opposite members of The Boys. Used as a mirror, Maeve was speculated to showcase who Starlight might have change into.
The Boys made factors to point out how each have been comparable, but Maeve’s tenure with Vought and Homelander had damaged her. The airplane scene in Season 1 is without doubt one of the finest examples. How Maeve tries so laborious to avoid wasting individuals reveals that she nonetheless has good in her however finally, she follows Homelander and drowns herself in liquor to overlook. This was all the time the important thing distinction between Starlight and Queen Maeve. Starlight by no means gave in, all the time looking for a option to keep on with her beliefs, whereas Maeve had been so worn down that she simply relegated herself to consuming all her issues away.
Besides, the present had one main flaw. Even when she was thought of a sequence common, Maeve by no means obtained as a lot consideration or as many storylines because the others. She felt extra like a facet character than one of many predominant ones, and her tales principally revolved round Homelander and Starlight. Whereas Season 2 tried to treatment that, it was rapidly put apart within the third season, and she or he was once more relegated to the sidelines.
Within the comics, Queen Maeve was identical to her tv counterpart — a jaded alcoholic who needed nothing greater than to see Homelander die. However, not like within the tv present, Maeve doesn’t survive her confrontation with Homelander within the comics. As a substitute, she sacrifices herself in order that Starlight can survive. It’s a key distinction and lets the present get Maeve again sooner or later, however it’s a distinction that reveals how the present merely mishandled her story.
Within the second season, the present lastly tapped into Maeve’s potential. Whereas her storyline was nonetheless very rooted in her hatred of Homelander, it was additionally her personal. Her character development had began, and it appeared just like the present would proceed with the next season. For many of the second season, Maeve lastly had a semblance of happiness with Elena. Whereas it obtained derailed rapidly along with her sexuality uncovered and the manipulation that occurred not solely from Homelander however with Vought typically, Maeve lastly began to get her personal story.
By giving her this story, The Boys have been in a position to faucet into one thing that they couldn’t earlier than. Maeve’s sexuality wasn’t one thing the present had explored throughout the first season. It had been proven that she was bisexual and that her solely actual relationship had been with Elena. However apart from that, Maeve’s story revolved round attempting to interrupt off Homelander’s grasp. Whereas the second season nonetheless used that concept, by making her be outed, the present was in a position to do a commentary on how company makes use of sexuality to achieve favor from the general public. It was nuanced and layered and supplied numerous improvement, besides as soon as Season 2 ended, the present forgot about Maeve.
Whereas she was current in most Season 3 episodes, Queen Maeve had virtually no impression, coming in for one or two scenes earlier than disappearing. Most of her character development had been performed between seasons, with a one-off remark about how she had stopped consuming and coaching continuous to take down Homelander. It’s a perplexing selection as a result of it takes away any storylines from her. As a substitute, she is there solely to help or to be a part of the ultimate combat of the season. The missed alternatives along with her throughout the third season are limitless.
And that’s the place essentially the most vital drawback lies. Queen Maeve’s story was full of potential and thrilling concepts, besides the present by no means knew what to do along with her — relegating her to a easy facet character who appeared solely to advance different tales and by no means her personal. When given the highlight, she proved to be a nuanced and fascinating character, however these moments have been so few and much between that Maeve by no means obtained to shine by the point of her exit. Her improvement was typically performed off-screen, and she or he barely obtained the display screen time she deserved.
It’s a disgrace, as The Boys has confirmed that they will do character improvement higher than most reveals. Besides, in fact, they by no means knew the right way to deal with Queen Maeve and her story.
