Despite threats of a potential push-back, the official full-length trailer for The Boys Season 3 has finally been released, and an ominous quote from Stan Edgar may hint at conflict between the ultra-violent show's most wholesome characters. In a teaser released in March, Hughie (Jack Quaid) and Annie (Erin Moriarty) appeared to be going strong but, the much-anticipated appearance of Starlight's ex-boyfriend could spell trouble for the happy couple.
While the tired love triangle trope seems far too off-brand for the dark and diabolical series, the various ways in which Vought controls its heroes could lead to a manufactured reunion between Starlight and Supersonic (Miles Gaston Villanueva), effectively putting The Boys' real couple in a tension-filled predicament. The idea of Vought manipulating the romantic lives of its assets isn’t unheard of, and the public relations allure of a teen love affair rekindled may be too good to pass up, especially as the company scrambles to control the damage following Homelander and Stormfront’s very public romance.
Episode 6 of the animated spin-off, The Boys: Diabolical lends further credence to this idea. Entitled “Nubian vs. Nubian,” what appeared to be a kismet romance between the Black Panther-inspired Nubian Prince and the Storm-esque Nubia was actually a thoroughly scripted encounter. And while the two ended up married with a child, Vought’s “match made in heaven” ultimately crumbled under the weight of reality. As confirmed by showrunner Eric Kripke, though not all of the animated anthology has canonical ties to The Boys’ live-action universe, “Nubian vs. Nubian,” is one of three that does.
When discussing the nature of “real power” with Starlight in the new trailer, Vought CEO Stan Edgar says that such a thing isn’t superhuman abilities. Rather, “it’s the ability to bend the world to your will.” Last year’s in-universe news broadcast, “Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman,” revealed many details about Supersonic – his former Drummer Boy moniker, his stint in a Vought-run rehab facility and his lingering feelings for Starlight, hinting at reconciliation. Coleman returns in the new trailer as well, this time discussing Homelander’s disastrous love life.
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While Supersonic himself did not appear in the recent trailer, he was a prominent fixture in the aforementioned teaser, confirming his pop star status. A small-time hero in the comics, still operating under the name Drummer Boy, the perceived “good Christian hero” was caught cheating on Starlight with a former teammate. As The Boys elevates its source material to deeper and darker extremes, one assumes that Supersonic’s fame will only further erode his character. And, that the character’s glowing public perception hides a much more sinister truth.
The love between Hughie and Starlight remains an adorable bright spot in an otherwise violent, cruel and cynical universe. As Season 3 approaches, one hopes that the actions of Vought, a cocky ex-boyfriend, new found power, a violent super soldier and whatever else comes between the pair won’t drive them apart permanently.