History Recap / TheBoysS0208WhatIKnow

** Ryan being Vought's [[BetrayalInsurance living contingency plan]] against Homelander is similar to the comicbook's Vought-American's plan of using a [[EvilKnockoff stronger clone of Homelander]] as theirs.

** Edgar is willing to note how Butcher's plan involves a BatmanGambit with Becca caring deeply for Ryan just so he can separate them.

* ShooTheDog: When Butcher realizes that he can't give up Ryan to Vought, he sincerely helps her rescue the kid, and then orders them both in the car to get to Mallory. She asks why isn't he going with them; he confesses the deal and says that he can't trust himself around Ryan, despite Becca loving him. Becca tells him what's important is that he didn't surrender Ryan to Vought and that he'll die fending off Homelander if he stays. Butcher replies they don't have a choice; he can at least buy them time so that Becca and Ryan can have their freedom. She reluctantly agrees as he promises not to try and get killed. Unfortunately, their arguing was all the time that Stormfront needed to turn around and stop them by sending the car flying.

* PowerIncontinence: Thanks to his super senses, Ryan has a meltdown on being surrounded by a huge crowd freaking out over Homelander and Stormfront showing up at Vought DisneyLand.

** Edgar is willing to note how Butcher's plan involves a BatmanGambit with Becca caring deeply for Ryan.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The L.A.W. video to the Duck & Cover drill taught to children during the Cold War.

-->'''Mallory:''' Here's what we do have, Bob-

-->'''Maeve''': Great. As long as everyone sees what a fucking monster you are. As long as [[PunctuatedForEmphasis no one. Ever. Loves]] you again.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Homelander resorts to this in frustration of his current predicament.

** Homelander standing on a parapet set against the full moon as he [[ADateWithRosiePalms tends to his needs]] is a spoof of Batman's signature image, particularly the ending to [[Film/Batman1989 the Tim Burton film]].

* TheHeart: Hughie. With all their plans having failed, all The Boys can think of to do is KillEmAll. Hughie asks for a day to come up with a solution, but even Starlight thinks they have no chance, only going along with Hughie because she admires his attitude.

* OminousHairLoss: Ashley is shown to be literally pulling her hair out--to the extent of creating a bald spot--over the stress Ashley's terror over what Homelander might do if she messes up.

* AlmostDeadGuy: Becca survives Ryan's PowerIncontinence EyeBeams long enough to tell Butcher it was an accident and that he's a good boy, and beg him to keep the boy safe. Likewise, Stormfront lasts long enough to ramble some stuff in German.

* AlmostDeadGuy: Becca survives Ryan's PowerIncontinence EyeBeams long enough to tell Butcher it was an accident and that he's a good boy, and beg him to keep the boy safe. Likewise, Stormfrong lasts long enough to say some stuff in German.

* HeyYouHeymaker: As Stormfront has beaten the heroes at large, she starts towards them and then hears, "Hey, kraut!" She turns around and is met by Maeve with a brutal hook to the face. [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Which is the first of many from her, Starlight, and Kimiko.]]

* AmbiguousDisorder: Ryan's PowerIncontinence is played like an autistic kid having a meltdown because of overstimulation. Homelander relates a similar story from his childhood.

%%plot summary

* ContinuityNod: Upon seeing Kimiko, Starlight, and Maeve all team up to beat down Stormfront, Frenchie quips, "Girls ''do'' get it done." referring to [[Recap/TheBoysS0202ProperPreparationAndPlanning the press campaign from episode 2]].

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Homelander shows that he genuinely cares about Ryan once he notices the boy suffering a panic attack from being in a crowded place that his super senses haven't adapted to.

* GratuitousGerman: After being lasered by Ryan and reduced to a charred husk, Stormfront stops speaking English and reverts to her native German, thinking she's talking to her husband Frederick about a cherished memory they shared with their daughter Chloe.

** Butcher reveals to Becca and The Boys later in the episode that he had cut a deal with Edgar.

* OminousHairLoss: Ashley is shown to be literally pulling her hair out--to the extent of creating a bald spot--over the stress of babysitting Ryan. Ryan isn't even being difficult; it's just from Ashley's terror over what Homelander might do if she messes up.

** When Stormfront is telling Ryan about "white genocide", [[AxeCrazy Homelander]] can be seen rolling his eyes behind her.

* PragmaticVillainy: Edgar has no EvilPlan to take over the country; this is simply about making money. He'd prefer Compound V not be released at all so Vought can maintain its monopoly, and so uses the Stormfront scandal to his advantage by stopping the program to issue it en masse.