10 Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men

The Boys Season 2, Episode 3

• IMDB rating: 9.0/10

In The Boys season 2, episode 3 “Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men,” viewers get to glimpse Stormfront’s true origin and goals in The Boys. The episode delves into the past, unveiling shocking revelations about Vought’s history and the origin of Supes. Hughie and Starlight navigate their complicated relationship amid the chaos. Homelander’s authoritarian tendencies escalate, creating tension within The Seven. Meanwhile, Butcher seeks answers about his wife’s disappearance, leading to unexpected alliances. For many, this is one of the best episodes of The Boys – not only for hinting at Stormfront’s dark past, but also for showcasing the hilariously horrible implications of The Deep’s powers.

9 What I Know

The Boys Season 2, Episode 8

• IMDB rating: 9.4/10

During the explosive finale of The Boys season 2, the battle between The Seven and Butcher’s team reaches its climax. Starlight and Maeve face moral dilemmas within The Seven. The revelation of Stormfront’s true nature shakes the foundations of Vought, while her fate addresses themes of accountability and consequence. After Butcher, Becca, and Ryan fail to escape Homelander, Ryan inadvertently kills Becca while trying to protect her from Stormfront, whom Ryan obliterates. In an episode with several massive revelations, the standout developments are Ryan potentially being stronger than his father Homelander, and Butcher arguably surpassing the original comic book character he’s based on.

8 The Name of the Game

The Boys Season 1, Episode 1

• IMDB rating: 8.7/10

A-Train’s high-speed collision with Hughie sets the stage for exploring the moral complexities of a world where superheroes are anything but saviors. Fueled by vengeance, Hughie joins forces with Butcher, an enigmatic vigilante leading a group determined to expose and take down corrupt Supes. As they delve into the shady dealings of Vought International, the corporate powerhouse behind the superheroes, shocking secrets emerge. Meanwhile, The Seven navigate their own challenges, with the power struggles between the world’s most powerful Supes bubbling beneath the surface. With its bold premise, The Boys’ pilot episode – “The Name of the Game” – hooks viewers and establishes the show’s gritty and darkly comedic tone.

7 Barbary Coast

The Boys Season 3, Episode 3

• IMDB rating: 8.2/10

Homelander’s selfish televised rant unexpectedly results in much higher approval ratings from the public, empowering the power-hungry leader of The Seven to further impose his will on Starlight and Vought. Apart from Homelander proving himself to be smarter and more dangerous than he lets on, “Barbary Coast” also delves into the origin of Black Noir and what happened to Soldier Boy before he disappeared during a Vought operation against communists in Nicaragua. From the crucial developments on the internal power struggles of Vought’s premiere Supe team, to its deep-dive into Vought history and the Cold War, “Barbary Coast” is an underappreciated The Boys episode.

6 You Found Me

The Boys Season 1, Episode 8

• IMDB rating: 9/10

5 The Female of the Species

The Boys Season 1, Episode 4

• IMDB rating: 8.7/10

4 We Gotta Go Now

The Boys Season 2, Episode 5

• IMDB rating: 8.3/10

3 The Instant White-Hot Wild

The Boys Season 3, Episode 8

• IMDB rating: 8.2/10

After The Boys season 3 ending explained the rest of Soldier Boy’s backstory, Soldier Boy proves himself to be the biggest villain in the show by attacking both Ryan and Homelander, who unexpectedly teams up with Butcher to take down Soldier Boy. Amid the chaos, Starlight takes down Homelander, and Maeve sacrifices herself to save everyone from Soldier Boy. However, Maeve actually gets her happy ending with Elena, while Soldier Boy is in the CIA’s custody. However, Billy is dying from Temp V, and Ryan – who appears to be the most powerful Supe ever – seems to have embraced his father’s twisted views.

2 Herogasm

The Boys Season 3, Episode 6

• IMDB rating: 9.6/10

Largely regarded to be the best-ever episode of The Boys, “Herogasm” sees the comic book’s infamous superhero orgy coming to life onscreen. From the gory Ant-Man meme-inspired demonstration of Termite’s powers, to Hughie and Starlight hashing out their relationship amid a Supe 𝑠e𝑥 party, it’s clear why “Herogasm” is an infamous chapter. However, the real kicker is Butcher – all amped up on Temp V – finally getting to fight Homelander toe-to-toe and on somewhat equal terms. With Soldier Boy, Butcher, and even Hughie teaming up against Homelander, who narrowly escapes the trap, this episode pays off several setups in The Boys‘ overarching plot.

1 Glorious Five Year Plan

The Boys Season 3, Episode 4

• IMDB rating: 8.9/10

True to the episode’s title, “Glorious Five Year Plan” outlines the strategies and repercussions that shape the main characters’ trajectories. With Butcher and Hughie high on Temp V, the team releases Soldier Boy into the world. Meanwhile, Stan Edgar is betrayed by Victoria Neuman, who injects her own daughter with Compound V, which Neuman acquires through Homelander. As Edgar is forced to resign from Vought, he is confronted with the consequences of raising Neuman to be more cunning than he is. Hilariously, Homelander takes this opportunity to gloat, but instead gets the brunt of Edgar’s frustrations – in a verbal lashing that explains why Homelander is afraid of Stan Edgar.