‘the Boys’ Showrunner on Why Black Noir Was Killed in Season 3 Finale

“The Boys” showrunner Eric Kripke is explaining why a beloved character had to be killed off in the action-packed season three finale.

“Actions have consequences,” Kripke told Insider of The Seven member Black Noir’s (Nathan Mitchell) death. “We needed something really shocking and momentous, and I know he’s a fan favorite, but it just came really naturally.”

In the finale, released on Prime Video on Thursday night, Homelander (Antony Starr) ruthlessly killed Black Noir by shoving his hand through his chest and ripping out his organs. 

“I don’t think we walked into the finale knowing we were gonna do it,” Kripke said. “I think it was just as we were tracking Homelander and watching him unravel, I couldn’t understand a version where he wasn’t gonna have some sort of huge reaction to Noir, who’s been lying to him his entire life about the thing Homelander needed most in the world.”

Black Noir, who doesn’t speak and conceals his face with a helmet at all times, was largely considered an enigma until his backstory was explored in season three. 

Before joining The Seven, Black Noir was part of the supe team known as Payback and led by Soldier Boy. Black Noir was physically and verbally abused by Soldier Boy. So, when the opportunity arose to make a deal with Stan Edgar and take down his abuser, Black Noir took it.

He also knew that Soldier Boy was expendable because Vought scientist Dr. Jonah Vogelbaum had a replacement, a supe child who was likely to be stronger than him (Homelander). 

Black Noir willingly handed Soldier Boy over to the Russians in Nicaragua in 1984, knowing that he may come back someday to get revenge. When Black Noir realized he was the last remaining Payback member alive, he made a deal with Homelander to team up and Soldier Boy.

But that all changed when Homelander learned of his biological relation to Soldier Boy. 

Homelander isn’t actually Soldier Boy’s son, but he was created by Vogelbaum using the supe’s DNA in spring 1981.

Homelander killed Noir after finding out that The Seven member that he trusted the most was aware that he had a father out there who was alive. 

Kripke, who serves as the showrunner, executive producer, and head writer, said that while mapping out the story for the finale, the decision was made to “give everybody who Noir is” and “where he comes from” earlier in the season.

“We’re definitely implying that he sees animated characters everywhere he goes and that there have been animated characters all around him for three seasons now, which I sort of love,” Kripke said. “So we got to know what we needed to know about him and then it was time for him to head off with Buster Beaver, to the Buster Beaver Pizza in the sky.”