Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Boys season 3, episodes 6 & 7
The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke has explained Starlight’s conflicting responses to Hughie and Kimiko’s use of Compound V. Prime Video’s subversive and brutally violent superhero TV show focuses on the eponymous team of vigilantes as they seek to protect the world from a group of highly corrupt superpowered individuals, The Seven, and their founding conglomerate, Vought International. From its humble beginnings in 2019, The Boys has come a long way, garnering tremendous acclaim from critics and fans alike. The Boys season 3 finale will be available to stream on July 8, with season 4 already confirmed.
The penultimate episode of The Boys season 3, “Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed,” has set the show up to deliver an explosive finale. In the episode, Starlight (Erin Moriarty) learns that Compound V is lethal after 3 to 5 doses. She passes on this information to Billy (Karl Urban), but he decides to keep the truth from Hughie (Jack Quaid). Realizing Billy’s choice, Starlight decides to save Hughie herself, although her approach with Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) is different. She gives Kimiko an extra dose of Compound V, allowing her to heal her wounds and regain her powers, but also potentially endangering her life.
Now, Kripke has explained Starlight’s decision while responding to a question about her different reactions to Hughie and Kimiko’s use of Compound V. As the EP explains, Starlight is hesitant to give Hughie the super serum as she realizes that he is “selfiesh” and wants to save her, although she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Kimiko, contrarily, is being selfless. She can have her freedom without the serum, but needs it to protect Frenchie (Tomer Capone), who is vulnerable. Read Kripke’s comments below.
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As the showrunner points out, Starlight has realized that, for Kimiko, Compound V is essential for Frenchie’s survival, which she detailed in a note calling for help. The irresponsible use of Compound V has been a developing theme throughout The Boys season 3, as specific instances have underlined both the pros and cons of the serum. In The Boys season 3’s explicit “Herogasm” episode, viewers witness that while Kimiko and Hughie were happy without Compound V, Kimiko’s powerlessness put them in a fix after they were captured by the assassin Nina. To avoid such situations, it’s necessary that Kimiko continues to have her strengths. Otherwise, she and Frenchie wouldn’t stand a chance against their enemies or the supes’ barbarity.
As for Hughie, his entire season 3 arc has been about making the wrong choices. Despite MM (Laz Alonso) and Starlight’s warnings, he sided with Billy and Soldier Boy. The consequences of that partnership came to the forefront during the Herogasm massacre. Hughie and Starlight’s confrontation further cast doubt on Hughie’s intentions and motives in The Boys season 3, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that he is no longer fighting for the greater good. With his heart in the wrong place and selfish ambitions, Hughie has put himself in a risky situation, which Starlight is very aware of. Audiences will have to wait until this Friday to see if Starlight will succeed in redeeming Hughie and getting him out of The Boys season 3 finale alive.
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