History Recap / TheBoysS01E06TheInnocents

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Deep finds himself in this position with the Oceanland disaster and rape allegations hanging over his head. Even Madelyn's support is only restricted to damage control for Vought.

* AngerIsHealthyAesop: Butcher takes Hughie to a support group where they meet people who were crippled and maimed by supes as part of collateral damage. After seeing a victim call Ice Princess, a supe who broke his penis after freezing it during sex, a god, Billy calls them all out for letting the supes get away with their abuse and says that they have no self-respect when they forgive the supes so easily for what they've done.

* BadLiar: Deep basically immediately confirms that Starlight was talking about him and that she was telling the truth.

** In his OrderedApology, Deep claims that he mistakenly assumed their sex with consensual, rather than him threatening to accuse Starlight of attacking him if she didn't have sex with him.

-->'''Hughie:''' You know, you're always calling people "cunts" or "twats," but I just... I never really got how that's an insult? They're flexible, take a pounding, and they're the reason behind, like, 98% of my life decisions.
-->'''Butcher:''' ''(smirks)'' You're a good cunt.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
** Mother's Milk arranges visitation rights for Mesmer, but he reads in his child's mind that she's not really interested, so tries to bargain his way back to a position at Vought by tipping off Homelander about the Boys, including pictures of their faces.
** Butcher throws away a chance for the Boys to get official backing from the CIA. This is when they've still got the murder of Translucent hanging over their heads. Also by refusing to hand over the evidence, he's preventing the authorities from finding out about an impending super-terrorist attack on the United States.

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Deep finds himself in this position with the Cloudland disaster and rape allegations hanging over his head. Even Madelyn's support is only restricted to damage control for Vought.

* AngerIsHealthyAesop: Billy Butcher takes Hughie to a support group where they meet people who were crippled and maimed by supes as part of collateral damage. After seeing a victim call Ice Princess, a supe who broke his penis after freezing it during sex, a god, Billy calls them all out for letting the supes get away with their abuse and says that they have no self-respect when they forgive the supes so easily for what they've done.

* DirtyMindReading: It's implied one of his female fans encourages Mesmer to do this; he writes his phone number on the DVD she's given him to sign.

* TropaholicsAnonymous: The group Butcher takes Hugie to see, the [=A.C.D.S.=] (the Association of Collateral Damage Survivors) is comprised of people who were maimed when they were "rescued" by a superhero, and who Butcher ultimately chews out for bowing down to Supes, despite them ruining their lives.

* WhatTheHellHero: Hughie's friend calls him out for vanishing after Robin died and his store got trashed, but he understands and urges Hughie to move on with his life.

* ForcedOutOfTheCloset: Maeve's ex-girlfriend turns up while she's being filmed by a reality show, who [[IsThisThingStillOn secretly film them talking]].

--> '''Billy Butcher''': You, back off, or I'll shove this stick where your dick used to be. You're a bunch of pathetic Supe-worshipping cunts. I bet you'd thank a Supe if they shit on your mum's best china. Did it ever occur to you that they split your spine or broke your dick just for a laugh? Where's your fucking rage?! Your self-respect?! Sitting here in your little share circle. Having a little whinge and a moan. Fuck 'letting go.' You should be out there with a fucking chainsaw, going after 'em! Just a bunch of scared fucking rabbits

* AngerIsHealthyAesop: Deconstructed. Billy Butcher takes Hughie to a support group where they meet people who were crippled and maimed by supes as part of collateral damage. After seeing a victim call Ice Princess, a supe who broke his penis after freezing it during sex, a god. Billy calls them all out for letting the Supes get away with their abuse and that they have no self-respect when they forgive the supes so easily for what they've done. Unfortunately, Butcher is motivated by his own prejudice toward supes as he believes they are all evil and need to be killed off after Homelander raped his wife and killed her.

Now that they've seen it for themselves and have their hands on the substance, the Boys know Vought has been using "charities" to smuggle Compound V disguised as vaccines to make superheroes since 1971. Butcher is excited, as this can be used as evidence Susan Raynor's CIA unit can use to expose Vought.

With Ashley fired for Annie's stunt at the Believe Expo, Stillwell demands Annie comply with her designed image. Annie refuses to obey Stillwell, demanding that she be allowed to save people and follow her own rules, noting that Stillwell firing her will only reflect badly on Vought considering that she just proclaimed to be the victim of a sexual assault, which has outraged much of the public and gotten her sympathy. She also threatens to reveal that it was The Deep who was the perpetrator. Annie later runs into Queen Maeve, telling her she used to idolize Maeve but is now disillusioned with her.

Frenchie questions what Mother's Milk really thinks about The Female. Frenchie suggests they use the help of a Supe, Mesmer, to get information from The Female. Milk initially refuses, but Frenchie is able to convince him to agree to the idea.

Butcher and Hughie attend an Association of Collateral Damage Survivors meeting for people who have experienced collateral damage incidents with Supes. Butcher calls them cowards for not trying to get justice. Butcher then reveals to Hughie that he has a personal score with Homelander, who he's certain raped his wife Rebecca eight years ago. She shortly disappeared and no one has seen her since, with many believing she's dead. Butcher uses the talk to reassure Hughie that they're in the same boat and to know who his friends and who his enemies are.

At Seven Tower, Stillwell tells The Deep that she knows he was the person who assaulted Starlight and she will make him make a public apology before the scandal really blows up and will also be sending him to the small town of Sandusky in Ohio for a "sabbatical". The Deep is dismayed, but films the apology video nevertheless, claiming to the public that he thought that the incident with Starlight was consensual.

Mother's Milk meets with Mesmer, a former child star Supe who is signing autographs at a comic book convention. He reveals that he is aware that Mesmer used his telepathic skills to profit from insider trading and allows Mesmer to look inside his head, showing his intentions. Milk takes Mesmer to see Cleo, his estranged teenage daughter, and Mesmer promises to be in her life more. He is saddened when she reveals she doesn't really know him. Mesmer agrees to the deal of being allowed to see Cleo every week in exchange for him reading The Female's mind.

Homelander meets with Stillwell to explain his dismay about the promotional video in which he pretended that he was visiting the house he grew up in. Stillwell uses Homelander's sexual attraction to her to convince him to finish the promotional video.

Mesmer attempts to read The Female's mind. However, it brings up such raw emotional memories that she inadvertently breaks his wrist. Mesmer insists that the session is off, however, M.M. is able to convince him to stay. Billy calls M.M., questioning his whereabouts. He initially lies, but Billy calls him on it, revealing that his phone being is tracked.

Elena shows up at the filming of Maeve's promotional video. Maeve tries to have a moment alone with Elena, but the film crew secretly keeps recording. Elena questions why she hasn't replied to her messages. Maeve insists that she was just looking for a hookup, but Elena can tell that she is lying.

Butcher arrives at Mesmer's house, declaring that they have to kill Mesmer now, but M.M. refuses. Trying again to read The Female, Mesmer reveals that her name is Kimiko Mayashiro and she was part of a terrorist group before being captured. This saddens Frenchie, who refuses to believe it. Hughie questions why Vought would give Compound V to terrorists, with Butcher deducing that Vought is crafting super-villains to justify getting The Seven into the military. After some pleading by Frenchie, Kimiko shows Mesmer other memories from her past: when she was young, her parents were killed and she and her brother were kidnapped, forced to be soldiers for the terrorists. He reveals that she wants to save her brother.

Butcher reveals what he has found to Raynor, teasing her with a sample of Compound V. Billy issues a list of demands, including that his team receive a salary, an office and her word that Homelander be prosecuted. Raynor admits that she can meet all of his demands, with the exception of prosecuting Homelander. Raynor fears that pushing Homelander too hard will result in thousands of deaths.

Frenchie tells Kimiko that he is there for her and is willing to take her to the airport immediately if she wants to continue her search for her brother, but that there are likely other victims like her that she could help by staying with them (and him). The Female holds Frenchie's hand, admitting that she wants to stay. Butcher arrives and tells the group that Raynor has refused to authorize his demands, but implies she refused all of their demands. He tells them that they don't need Raynor, but can take down Vought themselves.

Mesmer meets with Homelander, showing door security-cam photos of Hughie and The Boys. He says that all he wants is a good word at Vought. Homelander leaves without promising him anything.

Hughie and Annie sit at a bar, talking about the possibility of leaving New York together. The two kiss, but are interrupted by Butcher, who introduces himself to Starlight. Butcher asks Starlight what Translucent is up to, with the aim of making Hughie uncomfortable and wary of Starlight.

** Creator/KatyPerry's "Roar" plays over the rough cut of the advertisement for Vought's Stargirl show.

* ShoutOut: Seth Rogen plays himself, directing a Black Noir movie in [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse the Vought Cinematic Universe]].

* ShoutOut: Seth Rogen plays himself, directing a Black Noir movie in [[MarvelCinematicUniverse the Vought Cinematic Universe]].

* DestructiveSavior: Members of the [=A.C.D.S.=] (the Association of Collateral Damage Survivors) are people who were seriously injured while being rescued by a superhero, with one woman saying she was left paralyzed after being "saved" by Teknight.

** After [[WeCare promoting environmental causes]], Deep is shown driving a gas-guzzling Hummer.

* CallingParentsByTheirName: The Mesmer's estranged daughter Cleo calls him "Charles".

* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Mother's Milk suggests that treating Mesmer like a person will get his cooperation. Turns out having your wrist broken, your life threatened, and your daughter reject you are hardly incentives to resist the carrot of reliving your GloryDays by going back to Vought. Frenchie argues the same about the Female however, and turns out to be right. So far.

* EnemyMine: Cited when Mesmer is brought in because he has a grudge against Vought. RealityEnsues and Mesmer sells them out for a chance to get back into their good books.