By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Accept
Nerds and BeyondNerds and Beyond
  • Television
    • ABC
      • 9-1-1
      • ABBOTT ELEMENTARY
      • THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
      • THE ROOKIE
      • THE ROOKIE: FEDS
    • AMC+
      • ANNE RICE’S MAYFAIR WITCHES
    • APPLE TV+
      • TED LASSO
    • CBS
      • FBI: INTERNATIONAL
      • GHOSTS
    • DISNEY+
      • PERCY JACKSON
      • STAR WARS SERIES
    • FOX
      • 9-1-1: LONE STAR
    • HULU
    • NBC
      • NIGHT COURT
    • NETFLIX
      • BRIDGERTON
      • MANIFEST
    • MAX
    • PEACOCK
      • YELLOWSTONE
    • PARAMOUNT+
      • STAR TREK SERIES
    • PRIME VIDEO
      • THE BOYS
      • THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY
    • SHOWTIME
    • SHUDDER
    • SYFY
    • THE CW
      • ALL AMERICAN
      • ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING
      • GOTHAM KNIGHTS
      • NANCY DREW
      • RIVERDALE
      • SUPERMAN & LOIS
      • THE FLASH
      • THE WINCHESTERS
      • WALKER
      • WALKER: INDEPENDENCE
  • Movies
    • MARVEL MOVIES
    • NETFLIX MOVIES
    • PARAMOUNT+ MOVIES
    • PIXAR
    • SONY
    • SONY MARVEL
    • STAR WARS MOVIES
  • Books
    • STAR WARS BOOKS
  • Recaps
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
Search
Reading: Pride Spotlight: Queen Maeve From ‘The Boys’
Share
Sign In
Aa
Nerds and BeyondNerds and Beyond
Aa
Search
  • Television
    • ABC
    • AMC+
    • APPLE TV+
    • CBS
    • DISNEY+
    • FOX
    • HULU
    • NBC
    • NETFLIX
    • MAX
    • PEACOCK
    • PARAMOUNT+
    • PRIME VIDEO
    • SHOWTIME
    • SHUDDER
    • SYFY
    • THE CW
  • Movies
    • MARVEL MOVIES
    • NETFLIX MOVIES
    • PARAMOUNT+ MOVIES
    • PIXAR
    • SONY
    • SONY MARVEL
    • STAR WARS MOVIES
  • Books
    • STAR WARS BOOKS
  • Recaps
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Nerds and Beyond. All Rights Reserved.
Nerds and Beyond > TELEVISION > PRIME VIDEO > THE BOYS > Pride Spotlight: Queen Maeve From ‘The Boys’
FANDOMPRIME VIDEOSPOTLIGHT / SERIESTELEVISIONTHE BOYS

Pride Spotlight: Queen Maeve From ‘The Boys’

Jules
Last updated: 2022/05/30 at 4:47 PM
Jules
Share
8 Min Read
Prime Video
SHARE

Welcome to the first installment of our 2022 Pride Month Series! For the entire month of June, we will be highlighting different members of the LGBTQIA+ community who we think are great examples of representation and dynamic characterization. We will focus on fictional characters, celebrities, and activists alike — the positive voices within the LGBTQIA+ community and in mainstream media. Today’s article focuses on Queen Maeve from The Boys, a conflicted and flawed superhero whose bisexual identity is a central part of her arc. 

Since its premiere in 2019, The Boys has focused on examining all the ugly aspects of celebrity culture and society as a whole. Superheroes created by the corporation Vought International appear to be battling the forces of evil. But in reality, they often cause the very problems they are brought in to solve. Their marquee group is the Seven, led by the charismatic and psychopathic Homelander. But the Boys, a vigilante group led by Billy Butcher, are determined to expose their crimes to the world and bring down a corrupt Vought in the process. With deliberate nods to real-world politics and nerd culture alike, The Boys is able to subvert expectations and dive into topics often ignored or considered taboo on other series. 

One such topic is the commodification of sexuality, which is explored through Queen Maeve. The Boys’ answer to Wonder Woman, Maeve is seen as a strong and capable warrior who stands up for what’s right. But in reality, she is burnt out from years of hiding her bisexuality and dealing with Homelander’s abuse. Originally joining the Seven out of a genuine desire to do good, Maeve is cynical and no longer believes that she can make a meaningful difference with Vought pulling the strings. Dealing with PTSD and forced to work with her abuser, she turns to drinking to numb herself and gives up on fighting the system. But after a plane crash where she and Homelander are unable — and in Homelander’s case, unwilling — to save hundreds of civilians, Maeve begins to question her own apathy as she deals with her guilt. Starlight’s idealism also begins to make an impact on Maeve as she reevaluates the kind of hero she wants to be. 

But it’s Maeve’s season 2 arc that shines a spotlight on queer representation and the kind of empty corporate pride gestures that are commonplace today. Homelander incorrectly outs her as a lesbian (and by extension, her secret girlfriend Elena) in a television interview as another way of controlling her psychologically. Vought spins the event into a marketing opportunity to fight back at a #HeroesSoWhite hashtag aimed at the lack of diversity on the Seven. Maeve is forced into promoting herself as Vought’s first LGBTQ hero, losing control of the one thing about herself that Vought didn’t own. Maeve’s scenes in Vought’s Dawn of the Seven film (parodying The Avengers and Justice League) become a coming-out saga featuring Maeve rescuing a woman as her romantic interest, but of course, stopping before a kiss that may offend conservative viewers. 

Vought uses #BraveMaeve to push Pride initiatives and twists everything about her sexuality to fit their own interests, even deciding that she should publicly identify as a lesbian because it is a “better sell” than bisexuality. In one brilliant scene, the marketing team at Vought pitches Maeve and Elena on their plans and manages to hit on just about every queer stereotype. The moment hits home for any queer person, but the biphobic rhetoric especially will be familiar to any bisexual person who has been told they are not queer in the “right” or socially acceptable way. Elena is naturally not thrilled about her personal life being used for their narrative and doesn’t fully understand that Maeve is playing along to keep her safe from Homelander. 

In case it's not fucking clear, this is not how you should treat LGBTQ people, or market to them… pic.twitter.com/ZiFmDJ2EoK

- Advertisement -
— THE BOYS (@TheBoysTV) September 21, 2020

Determined to find a way to keep Elena safe and continue their relationship without compromising her sense of self in the process, Maeve gets fellow Seven member Deep to dive to the wreckage of the plane she and Homelander failed to save. He finds a GoPro with footage proving Maeve and Homelander left the passengers to die, which will ruin Homelander’s image if it sees the light of day. Knowing that Homelander will do anything to remain beloved by his fans, Maeve plans to use it to blackmail Homelander into leaving her and Elena alone (even if it implicates her in the process). But Elena sees the disturbing footage, and despite her understanding that Maeve is also a victim of Homelander’s, she can’t get past it and leaves to have some space from Maeve and from Vought. 

With nothing to lose and a lot of pent-up anger, Maeve finally does the right thing and teams up with Starlight to stop Stormfront. She uses the crash video to force Homelander to let Butcher and Ryan go as well as leave herself, Elena, and Starlight alone. While Homelander remains dangerous and increasingly unhinged heading into season 3, it appears Maeve has regained her will to fight. In the recently released trailer for the third season, she is actively working against Homelander with the Boys. It remains to be seen what consequences this will have for her, but it’s a satisfying new twist in her arc from bitter and scared victim of abuse to formidable adversary. 

Through Maeve, The Boys skewers the empty gestures by corporations and the wider media towards the LGBTQ community. The only storyline for Maeve that Vought is comfortable with is one where she is out and proud, yet not so queer that she alienates their wider customer base. They want her relationship to mimic a traditional heterosexual one, down to asking Elena to dress in menswear since Maeve’s style is more feminine. Maeve’s sexuality, which is supposed to be hers and hers alone, is commodified and used to score social justice points while selling merchandise covered in sparkly rainbows. Vought is despicable and not a meaningful ally to the LGBTQ community, but with one “lesbian” hero, they can wave off any critique. 

Maeve is one of the most layered bisexual characters on television today, played brilliantly by Dominique McElligott. Her storyline can be uncomfortable to watch at times for its unflinching exploration of biphobia, PTSD, and abuse. But it is necessary and well-executed, calling out the hypocrisy and homophobia in entertainment and in politics while remaining compelling.

The Boys season 3 premieres June 3 on Prime Video, with the first two seasons available to stream now. Be sure to check out our other Pride Spotlights this month!

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

You Might Also Like

‘Citadel’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 6 “Secrets In Night Need Early Rains”

‘The Flash’ Stars Join FAN EXPO Chicago Lineup

Season 2 of ‘The Wheel of Time’ Gets Premiere Date and First-Look Photos

‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 3 Coming to Netflix This Summer

Odette and Dave Annable to Appear at ATX TV Festival

TAGGED: Dominique McElligott, pride spotlight 2022, queen maeve, The Boys
Jules June 1, 2022
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Reddit Copy Link Print
Share
By Jules
I am a nurse and dedicated nerd from Boston, MA. When I'm not at work, I'm rewatching old favorites like Supernatural or discovering my new obsessions (too many to count!). When not fangirling, I can be found reading, writing, or listening to a true crime podcast. You can find me on Twitter @juleswritesblog for more nerdy nonsense.
Previous Article
‘Tom Swift’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 1 “…And the Liftoff to Saturn”
Next Article
‘Clue®: Dexter’ Review: A Fun Twist to Kill at Game Night
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Stay Connected

2.6k Followers Like
35.3k Followers Follow
2.2k Followers Follow
3.8k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

‘Gotham Knights’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 9 “Dark Knight of the Soul”
RECAPS May 29, 2023
‘Citadel’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 6 “Secrets In Night Need Early Rains”
PRIME VIDEO RECAPS TELEVISION May 27, 2023
‘The Flash’ Stars Join FAN EXPO Chicago Lineup
CONVENTIONS DC FAN EXPO FANDOM TELEVISION THE CW THE FLASH May 26, 2023
Jack Quaid to Star in ‘Companion’ From ‘Barbarian’ Team
MOVIES May 26, 2023
Nerds and BeyondNerds and Beyond
Follow US

© 2022 Nerds and Beyond. All Rights Reserved.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?