Why Homelander Killed Black Noir On The Boys Season 3

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Viewers of “The Boys” have mastered the art of handling character departures. The Prime Video show, much like the Garth Ennis graphic novel that spawned it, doesn’t shy away from portraying character deaths. Some characters live through several seasons, while others meet a sudden and dramatic end in their initial scenes. In “The Boys”, no character is invulnerable to peril.

In the realm of “The Boys,” I wasn’t prepared for the punch that Season 3’s finale delivered – and believe me, that’s no figurative language! The moment Homelander, my long-time admired character, ended the life of his friend-turned-foe, Black Noir, was a shocking blow. As the season unfolded, we discovered that an ancient superhero named Soldier Boy is actually Homelander’s father. In the 70s, Black Noir had betrayed Soldier Boy to Vought’s enemies. Given Homelander’s propensity for violence, it was no surprise when he reacted with swift retaliation upon learning this truth, plunging his hand straight through Black Noir’s chest. The tension between these two characters has been building for so long, and the payoff in that moment was truly electrifying!

In private discussions, it was a tough call for the writers to decide to eliminate Black Noir, a decision that wasn’t made until the final moments. Few realize in “The Boys” universe that Black Noir is actually deceased, as someone else now dons his distinctive ninja attire. Here’s an in-depth account of how Black Noir met his end and who Homelander hired to take over his role.

The real reason Homelander killed Black Noir, according to the show’s creator

Eric Kripke, the creator of “The Boys”, has explained why his team chose Black Noir’s character to have a significant ending in the series. Kripke stated to Business Insider that they aimed for something surprising and impactful. However, before writing the episode, Black Noir’s demise was not initially planned. As they began drafting the final episode, it became clear to them that Black Noir wouldn’t survive until the end credits.

As a gamer, let me rephrase that for you: In our storyline, Kripke made it clear that Noir’s death wasn’t just a plot twist to ramp up tension between Homelander and his crew before the final showdown. Instead, he emphasized that “Actions have consequences,” which was the crux of the decision we writers reached. As we delved deeper into Homelander’s character and watched him crumble, I couldn’t imagine a scenario where he wouldn’t react strongly to Noir, who had been deceiving him about something he yearned for in the world more than anything else.

Homelander clearly considered Black Noir’s actions to be a severe act of treachery, and it’s important to mention that, despite regarding Noir as a friend, Homelander never showed him any special favoritism compared to the other members of The Seven. In fact, once Noir left the team, Homelander swiftly started searching for an ideal, more obedient, replacement.

How Black Noir is alive in The Boys Season 4

If you found it surprising that Black Noir reappeared following his apparent assassination by Homelander, you weren’t the only one. In our critique of “The Boys” Season 4, we highlighted the impressive addition of new superheroes, but the portrayal of Black Noir in this season deserved particular recognition. At first, Black Noir appears as usual, silent and ready to kill at Homelander’s command. However, it doesn’t take long before we discover that the Black Noir in “The Boys” Season 4 isn’t the same character we have grown accustomed to.

It appears that Homelander struggles to envision The Seven without Noir, possibly due to personal issues or his unwillingness to face inquiries about Vought’s premier team causing discomfort. During off-seasons, Homelander engages a superhero actor approved by Vought to portray Noir, but this replacement often strays from character by talking out of turn. As a result of encounters with The Boys, we have learned two key facts about the new Noir: He possesses superpowers, although they might not be identical to those of the original Noir; and his battle effectiveness is somewhat diminished due to narcolepsy, which causes him to fall unconscious during conflicts.

The Black Noir comic book twist, explained

It appears that Black Noir’s narrative twist in the series has left many, including fans who’ve read the original “The Boys” comics, taken aback. The television adaptation has diverged significantly from the source material in several aspects, and at present, the show and the comics share only a loose connection. Among all the modifications made to the “The Boys” series, Black Noir’s character development could be the most significant.

In the comics, Black Noir is not just a secondary character in The Seven that the Boys were tasked with eliminating to reach Homelander. By the finale of the original series, it’s revealed that Black Noir is actually the main antagonist, worse than any other villain. Originally designed as a failsafe to eliminate Homelander if necessary, Black Noir turned against Vought and framed Homelander for various crimes, such as attacking Butcher’s wife. This led Homelander down a path of evil and orchestrated many of the disasters that affected The Boys throughout the series. In essence, Black Noir becomes the central adversary that Butcher and his team must confront.

Who plays Black Noir?

In “The Boys,” although many characters are recognizable, the actor portraying Black Noir, Nathan Mitchell, may not be readily identified by fans. This enigmatic character from Vought is one of the few superheroes in the series who consistently wears a mask. Despite the revelation in Season 4 that the initial Noir lacked martial arts skills, he remains dedicated to his mysterious ninja persona.

In essence, Black Noir, a character from “The Boys,” never reveals his face on screen until Season 4. Instead, the actor, Anton Mitchell, skillfully portrays him without removing his mask during the first three seasons. Despite being silent and always wearing a mask, Mitchell effectively conveys Black Noir’s personality. His performance as New Noir, who seems out of his depth as a member of the Seven, is even more impressive. If fans want to see more of Mitchell’s acting without the mask, they can catch him in Netflix’s “Ginny and Georgia” between seasons of “The Boys.

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2025-02-15 20:30