The Boys Season 1, Episode 3 recap: Introducing Mother’s Milk

The Boys introduces Mother’s Milk in Season 1, Episode 3. Meanwhile, we learn more about A-Train’s addiction and Starlight faces more pressure.

We’re still being introduced to each member of “The Boys” in The Boys Season 1, Episode 3. Mother’s Milk makes his appearance in this episode, immediately giving us a backstory between him and Frenchie. Meanwhile, Starlight faces more pressure from Vought and we get more detail on what A-Train was doing the day he literally ran through Robin.

I like that we’re slowly being introduced to members of the vigilante group. This gives us time to get to know each member. With a cast of this size, it would have been easy to introduce everyone at once and lose them all in the shuffle. I feel that’s what happened with the graphic novel at first. A TV show doesn’t have the liberty of 100+ pages and six volumes to help you understand each of the characters fully. Eric Kripke and his team have done the right thing taking the time for those who haven’t read the graphic novels.

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And here we are, in Episode 3, meeting Mother’s Milk, who runs a center for troubled youth. He’s a badass and isn’t afraid to use his authority in a fair way. However, it’s clear there are some ill-feelings between him and Butcher. There are certainly some ill-feelings between him and Frenchie.

It doesn’t take long to get to know why. The last case “The Boys” were on, Frenchie did something to mess things up and it got the grandkids of someone called Mallory killed. Yeah, that would lead to ill-feelings.

However, Mother’s Milk is needed and he eventually agrees to join in with the vigilante group. This leads to the next stage of the mission, which means taking down A-Train. They need to figure out what he’s up to and what this Compound-V is. This is where there’s a major change to the graphic novels because Butcher already knows all about Compound-V. For a TV show, this change definitely makes sense.

The A-Train isn’t in the station

It turns out that Compound-V is a drug and something that A-Train is using to improve his speed. He needs it for an upcoming race because he’s sure that he’ll lose against a speedster competitor. How can A-Train remain in The Seven if he’s not the fastest Supe around? It’s a connection to the current state of athletics and the heavy anti-doping campaigns around the world.

Meanwhile, this is a publicity opportunity for Homelander and Queen Maeve. We get to learn more about their backstory, and it turns out they were involved at some point. Homelander isn’t over Queen Maeve, although it gives us more of a look at his sociopathic tendencies. I get the feeling that he’s just not happy that she could be with someone else and not him.

After all, he gives Stillwelll’s baby a very dangerous look. That weird relationship between Homelander and Stillwell continues in this episode. He has mommy issues by the boatload.

At the race, Homelander and Butcher have the chance to lock eyes. There’s a backstory here, clearly. We know that Butcher has something against Homelander, but does Homelander know who Butcher is? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see in the next episode.

Popclaw is forced into working for The Boys

Meanwhile, “The Boys” get a Supe on their side. Popclaw, A-Train’s girlfriend, accidentally kills her landlord during a sex act. It’s disgusting and cringe-worthy to watch, for us and for The Boys, who have managed to turn on Popclaw’s webcam and install security cameras so they can spy on her to see what she and A-Train are up to.

Because they see the accidental death, the vigilante group offer to help her clean up the mess. She’s just got to work with them and that means giving up all she knows about Compound-V. Popclaw is in no position to fight against it, so she talks.

Starlight gets a new costume

One of the things you’ve likely seen in The Boys promo posters is the costume Erin Moriarty’s Starlight is wearing. It’s certainly not the Supergirl-like costume we’re introduced to her in. Well, that costume comes up during this episode.

Naturally, Starlight is against it. It’s a sexy costume and certainly more adult than the one that she wants, but it’s nothing that she wants to wear. She’s happy with the more innocent-looking one. However, Vought makes it clear. She either wears the new, sexy costume or she’s out of The Seven.

Once again, her image is being controlled. It’s a story of power and authority, that celebrities don’t have full autonomy of their image, especially women. After all, we find out that Homelander was the one to suggest the Stars and Stripes cape for his. This gives us yet another reason to hate Vought but to want to support Starlight.

When Starlight is signing autographs, she’s surrounded by young girls in the old costume. One girl even says that she’s going to save up for the new costume. Well, that’s not something Starlight wants and even says that the old costume is better. As she walks away from the crowd, Hughie sees her and immediately recognizes her as Annie. This is “The Boys’” way into the Supes.

In the end, it’s back to HQ. Finally, The Seven find out what happened to Translucent, getting back his exploded remains with a note saying “Coming for You.” The Boys Episode 3 makes it clear that the game is on.

What did you think of The Boys Season 1, Episode 3? What do you think about the twists on the graphic novel? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Boys Season 1 is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.