From explosive rectums to newfound familial ties, characters and audiences alike have been witness to some memorable moments on The Boys. The writers behind the hit series have created a foundation upon the unexpected, often going further than anyone can imagine. Throughout the series, the twists and turns have not only kept viewers engaged but they've also added depth to each character.

Whether it's insight into their backstories or a visual representation of the characters, each action has been methodically placed in an effort to move the story forward. While there are quite a few moments that have left fans with questions or in utter disbelief, it's safe to say that audiences can never be too sure of what's to come, aside from more shocking moments.

Updated by Ajay Aravind on March 19, 2024: With the fourth season of The Boys set to release on June 13, 2024, fans simply can't wait to see how (or if) Gen V storylines are going to be mixed in. Whatever happens, it's safe to assume that the titular heroes have no plans of stopping their anti-supe crusade anytime soon. As such, we've updated this article with some more relevant information.

Much like The Boys itself, this list contains content that is NSFW and can be considered graphic to some readers. Oh, and also some spoilers.

15 The Deep Eats His Octopus Friend Timothy

Season 3, Episode 3 "Barbary Coast"

The Deep is an intensely dislikable character from the outset, starting with his sexual abuse of Starlight. Although Annie eventually comes clean, forcing the Deep into a semi-permanent setback, he eventually returns to his old-ish ways. That said, fans really like the emotional bond between the Deep and his marine friends, even if the resulting relationship counts as bestiality.

However, watching Homelander force the Deep to eat his octopus friend Timothy was uncomfortable, especially since the Deep keeps narrating Timothy's reaction to this horrible betrayal. The scene itself is framed comedically, which is why it ranks lowest on this list, but nobody would actually want to eat someone while hearing their prayers and pleas for help. The Deep would go on to found the Timothy Foundation in his friend's honor.

14 Hughie Holds On To Robin For Dear Life

Season 1, Episode 1 "The Name of the Game"

Serving as the catalyst for Hughie's decision to join the Boys, Robin's death quickly introduced viewers to the vicious world the series would create. Not only was Robin's sudden obliteration a moment of utter surprise, but the fact that Hughie still had a hold of her hands afterward was a lasting image. There was literally nothing else left of her body, having been completely pulverized by a drug-addled A-Train.

Before this traumatic event, Hughie was completely oblivious to the crimes committed by the Supes. Additionally, the fact that no actions were taken against A-Train clearly defined the reality of the situation and society's treatment of its ordinary citizens. What's more, Robin's death has been Hughie's motivation throughout much of his journey, and one that's brought up again in Season 3.

13 Homelander Forces A Woman To Leap To Her Death

Season 3, Episode 2 "The Only Man in the Sky"

After receiving the ultimate ultimatum from Queen Maeve, Homelander has no choice but to accept the heroes' various conditions. To compound his humiliation, Stormfront fails to recover from Ryan's attack, leaving Homelander feeling even more alone. When his birthday rolls around, Vought tries to get Homelander to perform a publicity stunt by preventing someone from leaping off a building.

Homelander seems willing at first, but hearing the news of Stormfront's unexpected death sends him into a spiral. Homelander briefly tells Chelsea about his not actually having a birthday and then asks her to jump anyway. At this point, Chelsea doesn't feel like killing herself anymore and refuses. Homelander activates his laser vision and threatens her to jump — the next scene is Chelsea's injured body smashing into the pavement below.

12 Popclaw's Pleasure Leads To A Lot Of Pain

Season 1, Episode 3 "Get Some"

In Season 1, Popclaw plays a pivotal role in helping the Boys uncover the truth about Vought's superheroes. As A-Train's paramour, she doesn't have a major role in the series but her actions are nonetheless terrifying. Popclaw possesses super strength as a result of her Compound V use and, like A-Train, begins to abuse it. This takes a negative turn when Popclaw kills her landlord by crushing his head between her thighs as he performs oral sex.

The creators of The Boys have used sex scenes in a way that captures the animosity within the characters. While there are times that display characters' intimacy with one another, the use of sex in The Boys often defies conventional wisdom and leaves viewers to wrap their minds around what they just witnessed. Popclaw was later killed by A-Train, mostly to protect himself from Homelander.

11 Homelander Drinks Some Milk To Take The Edge Off

Season 2, Episode 1 "The Big Ride"

Homelander's painfully isolated childhood can be held responsible for his inability to connect with other people on an emotional level. While Homelander didn't have a traditional upbringing (or birth, for that matter), he aims to recapture those lost moments through his relationship with Madelyn Stillwell. Homelander even grows jealous of Stillwell's newborn son, feeling as though he's been replaced as her number one priority.

Things take a weird turn when Homelander decides to drink Stillwell's breastmilk that she's saved in her fridge. The scene serves well to capture Homelander's inner child and his desperate need for comfort and validation — a theme that will continue throughout the series in similarly unnerving ways. It's even worse when considering that Homelander had recently killed Stillwell before he drinks her fridge milk.

10 The Boys Drive A Boat Through A Whale

Season 2, Episode 3 "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men"

As mentioned earlier, the Deep maintains a consistent emotional connection with every single marine organism capable of communicating. In Season 2's "Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men," the Deep is tasked by Homelander to stop the Boys, who are on a boat at the time. Although he sends sharks after them, the heroes manage to evade the attack and direct the boat toward the shore. Meanwhile, the Deep brings out a gigantic sperm whale, hoping to stop the Boys in their tracks.

Rather than retreat or even slow down, Butcher decides to go full-throttle, smashing the boat's bow through the poor whale. The death of an innocent creature is horrifying enough, but the next few scenes show the Boys covered in whale organs and blood, making it far nastier to watch. That said, a whale's entrails pale in comparison to most other things that happen in the show, explaining this entry's ranking on this list.

9 Termite's Fulfillment Of A Sexual Fantasy Turns Explosive

Season 3, Episode 1 "Payback"

The creators of The Boys continue to raise the bar when it comes to creative deaths, with Season 3 taking yet another step at highlighting all the weird stuff the Supes get into at a party. A minor Supe named Termite shrinks himself to have sex with a doll for the crowd's entertainment. The stakes are raised when, after drug-fueled foreplay, Termite shrinks down once again and jumps inside his partner's penis.

The audience gains a very personal view as Termite journeys through the man's phallus, increasing the pleasure as he ventures deeper. Things take a turn when Termite becomes irritated by the cocaine he has just snorted. This eventually leads to a sneeze, forcing Termite to regrow and explode his partner's body. This scene is particularly graphic and will likely shock even hardened audiences.

8 Homelander Kills "Himself" During Their Foreplay

Season 2, Episode 4 "Nothing Like It in the World"

In Season 2, Homelander exploits Doppelgänger's shapeshifting abilities in order to relive his intimate moments with Madelyn Stillwell. The plan works for some time, but Homelander soon finds that the situation isn't as exciting as it once was. Doppelgänger assumes Homelander's form and attempts to continue their foreplay but is met with a furious chokehold and a broken neck.

The visual of two Homelanders in the same room is surprising enough, but the fact that he kills "himself" seems to speak to a larger idea. Homelander has been in a constant war with his identity, which goes even deeper during the series' third season as he begins to reveal his true nature. Interestingly, however, this scene proves that Homelander doesn't like the idea of seeing himself in a submissive role.

7 Homelander Fantasises About Massacring A Crowd

Season 2, Episode 5 "We Gotta Go Now"

Homelander has probably killed countless individuals during his offshore endeavors, but one of his mistakes is filmed during Season 2. He is deeply upset to learn that many people have turned against him, and have begun referring to him as a war criminal. When Victoria Neuman throws an anti-Homelander rally, he appears at the scene and attempts to assuage the situation. Rather than accept his mistake and apologize, he asserts that these things happen all the time.

The crowd is obviously angered by Homelander's callous statements and starts chanting "You don't speak for us." Homelander consequently emits his lasers into the crowd, apparently slaughtering hundreds of innocent civilians. If this scene had taken place in real life, it would probably be the most horrific moment in The Boys. As it happens, however, the massacre only takes place in Homelander's imagination.

6 Billy Butcher Lets The Power Course Through His Veins

Season 3, Episode 8 "The Instant White-Hot Wild"

Despite his criticism and anger toward supes, Butcher becomes one himself in order to give the Boys a fighting chance. The Temp V proves successful, as Butcher kills Gunpowder and even goes toe-to-toe with Homelander. However, Butcher quickly abuses the drug and its benefits despite Starlight's warning of imminent death.

In a way, Butcher's abuse of Temp V speaks to his need to gain control of the situation. Where Butcher's father was a bully to him and his brother, so too are the supes toward normal civilians. Butcher's actions may not always be the right approach, but more often than not, they are rooted in his desire to protect those he cares about. At the very least, he decides to prevent Hughie from making the same mistake.

5 Ryan Chooses Homelander As His Father Figure

Season 3, Episode 8 "The Instant White-Hot Wild"