The Deep, Ashley, and the Cost of Getting What You Think You Want
The penultimate episode of the final season of ‘The Boys’ is called ‘The Frenchman, the Female and the Man Called Mother’s Milk’, which makes sense considering some of the pivotal things that happen. It kicks off, though, with a musical! All the kudos to Chris Lennertz and Daveed Diggs for the opening number with Oh Father and his scantily clad dancers reminding everyone that Homelander is now bigger than Jesus, totally American, and ready to get rid of anyone who doesn’t conform (all served up with some blatant sexuality while no doubt preaching something puritanical).
As they’re working on that propaganda piece, we finally see the scene that was teased long ago, Homelander sitting in the Oval office, feet up on the desk.
He gives the president his marching orders — DCA will be the official sanctioned church, every boundary between church and state will be dissolved, and troops will be sent into every sanctuary city that took in Starlighters…
(Yes, I had to stop and scream about how RIGHT this show got its predictions for like the hundredth time because wow)
Because he’s Homelander he also wants to outlaw any milk that’s not actual milk and make breastfeeding mandatory lol. (Hey, I’m a big breastfeeding enthusiast but come on, Homie… I guess that’s the point though, he doesn’t give a damn whether or not it’s even possible for everyone). It’s good for me to have scenes like these to remember just how unhinged and uncaring and narcissistic this crazy dictator parody is, no matter how good Antony Starr is at sometimes making him so sad. He also wants to disband Congress, which the President says he doesn’t have the authority to do. Uh oh. One tiny bit of doubt and you are in danger of being taken out; that’s how dangerous Homelander is, and how easily his ego is bruised. Homelander asks Ashley to read the President’s mind to see if he’s a true believer. He yanks off Ashley’s wig and exposes Back Ashley, who says the president is terrified of him and thinks he’s “a tiny bit psychotic”.
That’s that – the president’s head is smashed in and Homie is covered in blood, which he wipes all over the gold embroidered furniture. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd now Ashley is President! Back Ashley tries to be the voice of reason, but Ashley marvels that she lost every single student council election, if only all those people could see her now. She’s trying hard to just enjoy it, but Back Ashley keeps pointing out the cost – that she can’t sleep, that she’s yanking out her hair, that she hates herself.
Back Ashley finally gives up and leaves, which is what Ashley thought she wanted – but now she is well and truly alone.
She’s not the only one whose relentless loyalty to a corrupt regime and dictator has left her anything but happy. The Deep apologizes to Homelander for killing Noir, who he insists was saying some really mean shit about Homelander. Homelander says it’s fine – then announces he’s abolishing The Seven, who haven’t had seven members in a long time (a recurring joke in the fandom). Deep tries to get Homelander to give him The Seven, citing his loyalty, ending with “please, the Seven is all I have”.
Homelander coldly says don’t make this about yourself and wishes him the best. The Seven is now The One.
Cut to a giant mural of The Seven on the side of a building being repainted – to just Homelander.
The Deep sits on a dock drowning his sorrows and throws the can carelessly into the water.
Zander the shark swims up and says he should come in and grab it – Zander (played by none other than Samuel L Jackson!) tells him to get in the water, that they know he’s responsible for the March 15 genocide. He finally sets out a threat: If he steps one foot in the water anywhere, all aquatic life will make sure he’s killed. It’s kinda a fate worse than death for the Deep. But damn, he really ended up deserving it. The ultimate sell-out.
As he’s pondering what to do, people on the beach start clamoring for him to save an old man who is drowning, his PR person reminding him this is his whole brand. He looks on in horror knowing he can’t as the old man sinks, people recording it all on their phones.
