The Deep's Actions in The Boys Season 4 Show He's Beyond Redemption
The Boys season 4 makes it quite evident—for good reason—that The Deep will not be redeemed. Terrible deeds abound in the history of the aquatic supe, so reinforcing his reputation as among the most horrible characters in the series. The creators of the show have doubled down on the repugnant nature of The Deep, stressing his lack of change and the results of his actions.
The Deep's Complicating Relationship with Ambrosius
The Deep's intimate relationship with Ambrosius, his pet octopus, became a strange plot point in the third Boys season. Season 4 explored this unusual bond more closely, stressing the emotional link between the two. With the plot of episode 7, the show's writers turned darker, though. Tilda Swinton's character Ambrosius found out The Deep was having a romantic relationship with Sister Sage, which set off a furious dispute. Driven by his own sense of superiority, The Deep smashed Ambrosius' tank, so triggering a terrible climax that finally brought her death.
Why is the redemption for The Deep impossible?
The actions of The Deep toward Ambrosius expose the depth of his flawed character. His incapacity to change is shown by his ability to harm and finally kill the only person who really loved him. This episode solidifies his villainy and shows that he is just getting more and more unacceptable.
The Deep's past of horrible deeds—including the sexual assault of Starlight in season 1—makes his atonement almost impossible. Redeeming such a character would be a dishonesty of the main ideas of the show and the experiences of its characters. The writers of the show have created a gripping story around the hardships of people who have been victims of supes' actions. Redeeming The Deep would minimize the relevance of these stories and devaluate the experiences of people like Starlight.
The Pattern of Redemption by The Boys
The Boys usually shows one redeemed supe every season. In the first two seasons, Queen Maeve experiences a moral awakening and questions The Seven's doctrine. In season 4 Black Noir also gets some atonement. The pattern of the show implies that season five will probably bring The Deep's chances for atonement. But given his behavior in season 4, his path at atonement seems ever more improbable.
The Deep's Less Likely Made By A-Train's Redemption
The character arc of A-Train in season 4 highlights even more The Deep's unlikely chance of atonement. Originally an enemy who killed Hughie's girlfriend, A-Train changes his heart and finally sides with The Boys to fight Homelander. This evolution supports the trend of the show whereby one supe gets atonement every season. The chances of The Deep's atonement drop dramatically as A-Train takes front stage in season 4.
The Boys: An Earth of Superpowered Villains
The way the Boys presents a world in which superses are sometimes shown as corrupt and villainous is really outstanding. The Deep captures this idea and is evidence of how well the show can produce morally dubious and sophisticated characters. His ongoing plunge into depravity reminds us that not all supes can be atoned for and that the world of The Boys is rife with evil people beyond redemption.
