The Boys reached its fourth season with an ever-growing fan base. According to Forbes, the show’s viewership is up 21% at the moment. This makes it the second-biggest returning season on Amazon Prime after Reacher Season 2. Although very promising characters like Sage and Firecracker were introduced in Season 4, other female protagonists have been being developed since Season 1 and are consequently better written so far.

The Boys Season 3 brought some interesting developments from Seasons 1 and 2, including a mind-blowing flashback focused on one of the best female characters in the show. Grace Mallory’s encounter with Soldier Boy’s Payback Team in Nicaragua added depth to her heroic persona. Ranking the best-written female characters in the show from the least to the most compelling, even characters that don’t have a lot of screen time stand out for often stealing the scene and impacting the narrative as a whole. For example, Cherie has a strong and admirable personality and is directly connected to Frenchie and the death of Mallory’s grandchildren.

10Cherie Is Frenchie’s Family

Cherie is a resourceful and intelligent chemist and informant affiliated with Frenchie, who she calls Serge. While her role in the TV series is less prominent than in the comics, she still stands out as a compelling character. Cherie is a strong, independent woman who is capable of taking care of herself but also knows when to ask for help. Jordan Lajoie’s portrayal adds a layer of charisma and authenticity to the TV version of Cherie.

Frenchie’s personal life outside work with the boys is fascinating, with Cherie and Frenchie’s relationship being one of the most genuine and heartfelt in the series. Cherie is practically Frenchie’s family and someone whose backstory entices curiosity because of her connection to him and her compelling personality. In comparison to Popclaw, Cherie brings a refreshing human element that contrasts with the over-the-top supe experience.

9Stormfront Exposes the Fascist Agenda Behind Vought

Portrayed By

First Seen In
Season 2, Episode 1: “The Big Ride”

Stormfront is an unlikable character, but she does serve as a powerful antagonist and a source of intense conflict within the series. Originally a male character in the comics, the TV version of the villain portrayed by Aya Cash stands out for the charisma the actor brings. When she’s first introduced in Season 2, her defiance catches the attention of Starlight and the viewers.

The mystery behind Stan Edgar’s sudden decision to make Stormfront part of The Seven hints at something more to her character right away. Her development and the revelation of her Nazi ties is a vehicle for social commentary, addressing sociopolitical topics such as racism, fascism and white supremacy. Stormfront’s brief but memorable relationship with Homelander brings him closer to Ryan and fuels his worst tendencies. After almost dying and becoming bedridden, Stormfront’s fate in The Boys is unclear.

8Ashley Barrett Does Her Best at Vought

Portrayed By
Colby Minifie

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 1: “The Name of the Game”

Ashley starts off as a publicist for Vought, responsible for managing the superheroes’ PR. She’s promoted to Senior VP of Hero Management after Madelyn Stillwell dies, which is essentially the company’s CEO position. Her character provides a mix of dark comic relief and insight into the high-stakes daily lives of non-supes working in Vought’s abusive environment.

Ashley’s constant anxiety dealing with superheroes like Homelander makes her a relatable character. Some fans see their own workplace struggles reflected in her frantic attempts to maintain control over uncontrollable situations. Despite her initial portrayal as a minor character, Ashley’s arc shows significant development and is marked by memorable, hilarious moments, including her sexual encounters with some of the worst people in The Boys.

7Madelyn Stillwell Dies Leaving a Mark

Portrayed By
Elisabeth Shue

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 1: “The Name of the Game”

Madelyn Stillwell is introduced as a high-ranking executive at Vought International, overseeing the management and public relations of The Seven. The most complex aspect of her character is her relationship with Homelander, which includes his rivalry with her baby. This dynamic is central to the series, and highlights both her influence and vulnerability.

Madelyn’s manipulations and control are ultimately her undoing. Her relationship with Homelander initially gives her an upper hand in Vought’s treacherous landscape, but it spirals out of control as Homelander becomes increasingly unstable and obsessed with her. This culminates in the dramatic and violent confrontation between Butcher and Homelander at Madelyn’s house, leading to her death at Homelander’s hands. Despite exiting the show way back in the Season 1 finale, her character’s impact lives on in Homelander’s passion for milk.

6Victoria Neuman Is the Mysterious Head Popper

Portrayed By
Claudia Doumit

First Seen In
Season 2, Episode 1: “The Big Ride”

Even if they had good intentions or miscalculated a situation, there are some mistakes many of The Boys characters can’t come back from.

Victoria Neuman is a congresswoman and head of the Federal Bureau of Superhuman Affairs (FBSA). She’s introduced as a young, progressive politician who is outspoken against Vought International and corrupt superheroes. In the The Boys Season 2 finale, the plot twist that Neuman is the head popper completely changes the direction of the show.

She goes from being a seemingly well-meaning politician to Stan Edgar’s mysterious adoptive daughter to a major antagonist in the show, including Edgar. This complex character arc is already appreciated by fans, but there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding her. Neuman’s appearance in the spinoff Gen V does add some information about her, but not much. Viewers can’t wait to see where the writers take the character in the future.

5Becca Butcher Has a Tragic Story of Sacrifice

Portrayed By
Shantel VanSanten

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 4: “The Female of the Species” (Flashback)

Becca is introduced as the missing wife of Billy Butcher, and her disappearance fuels his hate for Homelander. It’s soon revealed that she’s a former Vought employee who became pregnant after being raped by Homelander and lives in a secret location with her son. Becca’s primary concern is the safety and well-being of Ryan. Despite the traumatic circumstances of his conception, she loves him deeply and strives to protect him.

Becca’s maternal instincts and sacrifices make her a likable character and highlight her strength and resilience. Becca’s relationship with Billy humanizes him and provides insight into his motivations, while also adding depth to her own arc. Her death is one of the most tragic moments in The Boys, deeply impacting Butcher and Ryan.

4Grace Mallory Is an Experienced Leader

Portrayed By
Laila Robins, Sarah Swire (Younger)

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 7: “The Self-Preservation Society” (Flashback)

Grace Mallory is first introduced as someone the Boys constantly reference as a former leader. She’s an influential and complex character in the show, contributing significantly to the overarching narrative. She’s a former CIA deputy director with many connections who keeps getting involved in the fight against evil supes despite the trauma of losing her grandchildren because of the job.

Mallory is the original founder of the Boys who recruits Butcher and the others. Despite her initial departure from the group, Grace remains a mentor and guiding force. She also becomes Ryan’s temporary guardian before Homelander takes him to the Vought tower. In addition to her strong persona embodied by Laila Robins, the younger version of Mallory is extremely captivating. Played by Sarah Swire, young Mallory appears in Season 3, Episode 3, “Barbary Coast” — which is one of the coolest The Boys episodes. The throwback to her encounter with Soldier Boy and the Payback team in Nicaragua shows how great of a leader she is.

3Queen Maeve Is a Hero Fighting Inner Demons

Portrayed By
Dominique McElligott

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 1: “The Name of the Game”

Queen Maeve, also known as Maggie Shaw, is notable for her prominent role in The Seven, her personal struggles and her evolving moral compass. She is often seen as a counterpart to Wonder Woman, embodying similar powers and public admiration. But Maeve is much more nuanced and conflicted, as she struggles with the moral dilemmas of working for Vought alongside Homelander.

For the public, Maeve is a celebrated hero with a long-standing career. Privately, she is deeply disillusioned and an alcoholic. Once romantically involved with Homelander and traumatized by that, her past in The Seven is shredded in mystery and entices curiosity. Maeve’s bisexuality is a pillar aspect of her character that Vought exploits for PR purposes, which further underscores the company’s manipulation and control over its heroes. She also plays an important role in Butcher and Hughie’s access to temporary V, showing that she’s on their side in recent episodes.

2Starlight Is the Most Heroic Female Character

Portrayed By
Erin Moriarty

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 1: “The Name of the Game”

Starlight — also known as Annie January — is the only superhero in The Boys that resembles the traditional concept. Annie and Hughie are the main heroes in the show, contrasting with the anti-hero nature of Butcher. She begins as a hopeful and principled young woman who dreams of making a positive impact, but her excitement turns to horror as soon as her dream of joining The Seven becomes reality. From the traumatizing sexual assault by The Deep to the toxic dynamic with Homelander, Annie goes through hell inside the Vought tower.

Starlight serves as the moral compass of the series. She tries resisting Vought and Homelander’s control and eventually exposing their corruption, suffering extreme consequences for her stance when Season 4 introduces Sage and Firecracker. In fact, Firecracker’s hate for Annie for something mean she did as a teen is fascinating and makes her a lot more nuanced. It doesn’t make her any less heroic, only adds a very human aspect of self-reflection and imperfection.

1Kimiko Has the Best Storyline in The Boys

Portrayed By
Karen Fukuhara, Momona Tamada (Younger)

First Seen In
Season 1, Episode 4: “The Female of the Species”

Kimiko is first seen as a prisoner who Frenchie rescues, ignoring the Boys’ original plan as usual. She immediately stands out for her silent intensity, incredibly tragic backstory and unique abilities. The evolving friendship between Kimiko and Frenchie is also captivating, and shows a beautiful side to both characters.

Her powers make her a formidable asset to the Boys, helping to level the playing field in the fight against evil supes. Kimiko’s past as a forced member of the Shining Light Liberation Army terrorist group is unique in the show and develops into the storyline of her brother’s arrival and eventual death in the United States. Despite her initial stoic behavior, the viewers start learning more and more about her after she teaches Frenchie to speak the sign language she and her brother created. She also starts to interact more with other members of the Boys little by little, becoming good friends with Annie. In addition, she has an unpredictable but consistent personality — perfectly exemplified in how unexpected but fitting her “bossy” golden ring is.