‘The Boys’ has had enough time to build characters with its long run, and unsurprisingly, viewers have come to expect The Deep to be pathetic, selfish, and insecure.
Now, the latest episode in season 5 revealed another uncomfortable truth about him through something as simple as clothing.
The Deep’s “Normal” Appearance Is Also A Facade
The Deep is seen in normal attire for the first time in season 5, episode 5. On the surface, it’s a fairly inconsequential thing. The characters constantly switch clothes. In ‘The Boys’, however, clothing has been a symbol of identity, power, and emotional isolation. Hence, this little moment is telling us quite a bit about what The Deep is all about, beyond the superhero facade.
Related: The Real Reason The Deep Turns On Black Noir In ‘The Boys’ Season 5
And honestly? It only makes him look even worse. The moment occurs when The Deep is on the verge of losing his place in Homelander’s inner circle after becoming paranoid that his teammate is trying to replace him. The Deep wears a pair of shades, a denim jacket, and tries to fit in.
But it does not make him feel more human; it emphasizes how artificial he is. Many of the more emotionally damaged Supes, particularly Homelander and Soldier Boy, only seem to come out of costume for a handful of episodes. Their superhero names are the only things they have to live by.
If you don’t have the power, fame, or the suits, there’s little below. The Deep is in the same category. Every opportunity he has had to be a better person has failed him because he needs approval. The Deep has always been willing to sacrifice anyone he deemed to be a threat to his status.
‘The Boys’ Uses His Outfit To Show He’s Beyond Redemption
The cleverness of the scene is that even The Deep’s “human” clothes are performative. The oversized shades, the showy jacket, and the out-of-sync swagger all seem to be a poor impersonation of himself.
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It’s not like characters like Starlight or Queen Maeve, who grew more grounded as they got away from Vought and The Seven.
Their casual clothes symbolized freedom from the superhero machine. The Deep’s outfit is just the opposite.
Rather than showing off the man underneath the costume, it’s showing that maybe there’s not much man left at all. He is barely stripped of his superhero persona, still playing a part, and that’s the sad part about him!
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