For 5 straight seasons of ‘The Boys,’ Vought‘s most indulgent of aquatic villains managed to flail his way through a seemingly endless string of scandals, far-out-there romances, and inexplicable alliances. But now that the curtain has finally fallen on the hit superhero spoof, Chace Crawford is opening up about his character’s ultimate fate, and it turns out he wasn’t exactly blindsided by the way things came crashing down.
While fans are still reeling from the series finale’s brutal payoff, Crawford views the outcome of his character’s journey as long overdue. The show’s co-creator Eric Kripke kept Chace pretty much on his toes behind the scenes—leaving him wondering if he’d even make it to the end credits. Ready to delve into the sick dark humor behind his character’s exit? Let’s explore why Crawford thinks the series delivered the perfect farewell to The Deep through this hilariously brutal twist of fate.
The Deep’s Death In ‘The Boys’ Didn’t Surprise Chace Crawford
Following the ‘The Boys‘ series finale, Chace Crawford admitted that he wasn’t as gobsmacked by The Deep’s death as he was by how long a leash the writers kept on the character.
After spending five seasons portraying one of the show’s most morally flexible superheroes—always ready to bend the rules and flip the script—Crawford could hardly act surprised when The Deep’s luck finally ran out.
In a chat about the series finale, the actor revealed that Eric Kripke had repeatedly warned him that The Deep might get the axe before they even reached the final few episodes. As a result, Crawford spent the bulk of the final season wondering if The Deep would even make it to the end credits in one piece.
Related: Karl Urban’s Response To ‘The Boys’ Season 5 Criticism Is Pure Billy Butcher Energy
“It’s very much deserved. I’m shocked I made it to the last episode, to be honest,” Crawford told Entertainment Tonight, adding, “I’m shocked The Deep made it … I mean, he’s irredeemable, right? Before the season started, [Eric] Kripke sat us down, or at least he sat me down and was like, ‘Hey, this is your arc.’ But he was like, ‘You might make it to the end of 7, top of 8.’ I’m like, ‘Please, just let me make it to the end.'”
Looking back on the character’s journey, Crawford admitted that The Deep rarely showed any real meaningful growth—even when he had multiple opportunities to make amends. Now and again, the supe would flash a bit of self-awareness—but more often, he’d just slip right back into his old destructive habits.
The Deep’s Ironic End Delighted Crawford
While some actors might have lamented their character’s death, Crawford embraced the way ‘The Boys‘ brought The Deep’s story to a close. This was especially good since it had a darkly comic twist at the center of the death scene.
In case you missed it: ‘The Boys’ Finally Makes Soldier Boy Feel Like More Than A Walking Punchline
Marine life rips The Deep apart in the finale after Starlight tosses him into the ocean during the climactic battle. Reflecting on his exit, Crawford noted the irony of The Deep meeting his end in the very ocean that had served as his refuge throughout the series.
In Crawford’s view, it seemed especially fitting that the very organisms he loved ended up taking his life.
“The idea that he gets banned from the ocean, the only place that he can go and have a social life with the marine life … and to be murdered by them was epic,” he said.
He enjoyed how the finale was consistent with the show’s shocking violence and sardonic humor that had characterized earlier episodes. The series could easily have given The Deep a noble sacrifice or emotional redemption, but instead embraced the absurdity that has defined much of his story arc. In the process, it provided an ending that was equal parts brutal, ironic, and distinctly suiting The Boys’ theme.
You might also like to read: ‘The Boys’ Season 5 Just Reminded Fans Who Billy Butcher Really Is
