Over the course of four seasons, Amazon Studios’ superhero satire The Boys has stacked up some of the most shocking instances of death and displays of violence imaginable, and admittedly, it is easier to sit through them when humans or supes are at the receiving end. However, to increase the shock value, the showrunners have occasionally opted to subject non-human characters to brutal final moments as well, and in the latest episode of the ongoing fourth season, Ambrosius, the Deep’s octopus mistress, is their latest victim. However, unlike the deaths of other non-human characters, which aim to add a twisted, wickedly cheap humor, this particular death has greater significance in the context of the narrative and character growth of the Deep as well.
Spoilers Ahead
The Deep’s connection with Ambrosius
The Boys took a jab at Aquaman’s powers of communicating with the marine biosphere through the character of the Deep, whose affinity for aquatic creatures has become a running joke in the series. The Deep is guided by altruistic motivations to save aquatic creatures, whom he considers his friends and equals, from the clutches of humans, and most of the time they suffer gruesome, horrible deaths (Lucy the Whale, a dolphin in the first season)—much to the anguish of the marine superhero. While the Deep is as despicable as any of the members of the Seven and also is the butt of jokes to basically everyone, his genuine goodwill towards the marine creatures added a dimension to his character. Especially in the third season, when, in his usual sadistic way, Homelander forces the Deep to devour his friend Octopus Timothy, knowing full well the connection they share with each other, the audience can’t help but feel a bit of pity for the marine supe’s predicament. The significance of the bond the Deep shares with the creatures of the ocean lies in the fact that he is most honest while interacting with them, as they don’t judge, humiliate, or belittle him like the dwellers of the surface world.Â
Voiced by actor Tilda Swinton, Ambrosius the octopus became the Deep’s latest romantic partner in the third season, and even though it might otherwise seem disgusting, the feelings the duo had for each other were genuine. In the ongoing fourth season, it is revealed that the Deep has secretly sheltered Ambrosius in his apartment to keep her from harm’s way and out of the reach of the likes of Homelander. However, as Sister Sage is recruited into the Seven, the Deep forms a connection with her, as she is able to manipulate him into thinking that she acknowledges his worth as a decorated hero. The Deep’s newfound confidence translates into him adopting a more violent, ill-tempered attitude, because that is the only expression of confidence he has known during his time in the Seven. Ambrosius learns about their affair and confronts the Deep with the truth, which leads to the duo having a heated argument, and in the heat of the moment, the Deep kills her by breaking the aquarium and trapping her inside her chamber. This act has much significance in the context of the Deep’s character, as he willingly killed someone close to him, highlighting how his recent violent, aggressive mindset has taken a complete hold over him. Even though the Deep remains remorseful after Ambrosius death, viewers later observe that he has become much more unhinged as he approaches Homelander willingly to carry out dirty deeds for him.
In the same episode in which the Deep’s violent streak caused the death of his beloved cephalopod partner, Ashley and A-Train were planning to leave all the Seven and Vought-created mess behind them and escape to their freedom. The funniest part is that the Deep could have easily done the same and could have disappeared into the submarine depths to live a happy life among the beings who appreciate him for what he is. Unfortunately, his recently boosted ego came as a hindrance, which became the reason for his undoing at the end. Whatever minor redeeming factor the character might have had is now gone with the traumatic death of Ambrosius, and the Deep has no choice but to come face to face with the repercussions of his actions.
What Does the Future Hold for the Deep?
The Deep has proven his loyalty to Homelander by taking part in his heinous schemes after being threatened by him time and again. However, this time he is willingly taking part in his diabolical plans in a vain attempt to prove himself, which might not bode well for the aquatic superhero. The death of Ambrosius made the Deep more unpredictable than ever, as he has nothing left to hide or lose anymore, and bolstered by his ego, the Deep is in way over his head. Sage, whom he mistakenly considered to be his well-wisher, has been thrown out of the Seven, and none of the members of the team (except perhaps the new Noir) are going to back him when things go south. Expecting his allegiance to Homelander to be a free security pass will be a big mistake on the Deep’s part, and from the way things are shaping up, he is going to end up in peril in short order.
