The Boys: Every Episode Ranked Worst To Best

In hopes of allowing the Seven a place in the military, Vought Industries sets up a promotional video to boost public support, showing the heroes participating in acts of kindness and telling touching stories about their lives. The Innocents gives deeper insight into just how fake the Seven's public personas are, and paints Vought as a company revelling in their control of the superheroes.

The themes of commercialisation, image and power are expertly crafted in the episode, though its strongest aspect comes courtesy of Billy Butcher, who is finally given the opportunity to share his tragic past with both Hughie and the audience.

Throughout The Innocents, there is a palpable sense that everyone is dealing with inner turmoil but not yet able to move on. Homelander is distraught about the promotional video; Hughie is falling in love with Annie but feels guilty because of Robin; and Butcher doesn't want to move on until he cleans up the Seven. It's cruel, slow-burning, moving, harsh and brilliant, but once more is let down in the rankings for being almost all set-up, saving the major shocks for the next two episodes.