Often feeling like the odd one out, Hughie's character depends on wit and sarcasm until season 3 lets him feel more powerful than ever before.

A month after The Boys season 3 finale and fans are still raving about the incredible season of television. The latest installment of the comic book adaptation managed to exceed all expectations and became even better than the first two seasons.

While many were fixated on the introduction of Supernatural star Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, Hughie Campbell, played by Jack Quaid, had an equally dramatic character arc this season regarding his relationship with Annie January/Starlight and his idea of masculinity. It created rifts between the couple but brought him closer to the likes of Butcher and Soldier Boy, who both suffered abuse from their chauvinistic fathers.

After learning from Annie that Temp-V will kill them, Butcher neglects to tell Hughie about it. Instead, Butcher decides to save him "in the sh*ttiest way possible" by knocking him out and leaving him on the floor of a gas station bathroom. While it would leave most people upset, Hughie recognizes that Butcher was actually trying to save him from his obsession with V.

RELATED: 12 Most Heartfelt Quotes In The Boys

While everyone is content to write Butcher off, Hughie knows that there's good left in their leader. It may be deep, deep down in Butcher but Hughie knows saving everyone, even if they're not worth saving, is the right thing to do. Spending most of the season angry, without purpose, and high on Temp-V, finally seeing Hughie remember what he stands for is a beautiful, cyclical moment of character development.

Temp-V in season 3 swiftly divided and destroyed the team dynamics of the boys. Hughie has seemingly always lacked confidence but makes up for it with his intelligence. However, the devastating reveal that Victoria Neuman is a supe and Vought CEO Stan Edgar's adopted daughter knocks Hughie down until he takes the V. In a brilliant reference to Vin Diesel's character in Fast & Furious, Hughie likens his instincts in battle to that of Dominic Torreto ("because he's quick and all about family".

Often choosing flight over fight, Hughie hasn't always been the ideal soldier, but when he takes Temp-V, he is given the fairly useful powers of teleportation, which save MM. This conversation with Annie symbolizes the calm before the storm as Hughie breaks his promise of taking more V and surprises viewers when he goes off the deep end by teaming up with the murderous Soldier Boy.

With one of the darkest but best character arcs in season 3, Hughie has provided less levity than usual. Before taking Temp-V, wit and sarcasm were all Hughie felt he had to offer, but now he feels strong and confident. Without hesitation, he jumps into the sex party of superheroes at TNT Twins' house to look for Soldier Boy's former teammates.

Once inside Herogasm, he seems a lot more like the old Hughie - nervous and awkward. When approached by a supe who whispers something unknown but likely sexual, Hughie gives an incredibly hilarious line that is true to the character and will be iconic for years to come.

In the shocking season 2 finale of The Boys, it is revealed that Victoria Neuman is the head-popping supe that's been terrorizing the boys and that Hughie has gone to work for her. However, by the end of the first episode in season 3, Hughie has caught up with the audience and learns that Neuman's a supe when he catches her exploding her old friend.

RELATED: 10 Best Performances In The Boys

The revelation that the past year of his "life has been a waste" hits Hughie hard and makes him realize that Butcher's bloody and disgusting way is the only way to secure victory against Vought and their corrupted supes. This is the beginning of Hughie's season 3 downfall as he begins to feel that they "have to do whatever it takes" to win.

With the Temp-V running through Hughie's veins, Hughie decides to go after A-Train at the Herogasm. While it feels like eons ago that A-Train ran right through Hughie's girlfriend Robin in the first episode of the series, it is the foundation of Hughie's battle against the almighty superheroes.

Hughie demands an apology for her death, but he doesn't expect A-Train to feel guilty or apologize sincerely. Enraged, Hughie goes as far as punching the supe. Inciting ill-timed violence is never Hughie's tactic which shows just how much he changed and not necessarily for the better.

After being 'saved' by Butcher and left unconscious in a gas station bathroom, Hughie begins to right his wrongs by calling Annie for help. During the car journey, he gives Starlight the opportunity to say "I told you so" and reveals his complicated relationship with his father, masculinity, and pizza rolls.

Hughie realizes that his father's mere presence during the "worst days of his life" was an indication of Hugh Campbell's strength of character. With toxic masculinity as a recurring theme in season 3, Hughie learns that power is not necessarily physical and finally gives his father the admiration he deserves for just being there.

In season 1, Hughie was impressed, not emasculated, by Annie's ability to "whip his a** at bowling" and just about anything else. After a few seasons of being saved by her, however, Hughie starts to feel like less of a man. In season 3, Hughie feels useless and powerless, which drives him to try the untested Temp-V and get powers of teleportation.

RELATED: 10 Quotes That Sum Up The Boy's Starlight As A Character

Hughie's feelings of power continue to be apparently undermined by Annie. As a man in a heterosexual relationship, Hughie's expected to be the protector by a patriarchal society and blames Annie for his feelings of weakness. Of course, by the end of the season, Hughie seems to be back to a much more healthy mental state and the two once again look like they have a chance to make it work.

After learning Neuman's secret identity, Hughie starts spiraling and losing his way. While he normally leans on Annie for support, he feels that her powers are making him feel even weaker. When Annie wants to leave, he insists she stays there, and cold-heartedly, Hughie betrays Starlight's trust by giving this quote as an excuse.

While the boys are still alive, they are far from winning the war against Vought. This quote gives reason to most of Hughie's actions during his dark season 3 arc as he just wants to feel useful and to help find victory against the supes for once. Tragically, Hughie is beginning to sound like a weary soldier that is losing the will to fight.

After burning bridges with Starlight and MM in 'Herogasm', Hughie tries to embrace the warrior lifestyle. After a terrifyingly hilarious encounter with a brainwashed nun, Hughie realizes it might not be for him - especially if it means killing innocent people or abandoning his loved ones.

When Soldier Boy wants to kill Mindstorm and leave Butcher to the awful fate of reliving his worst memories until he dies of dehydration, Hughie comes to a crossroads. He does not want to be "someone who leaves people behind." Instead, he foils Soldier Boy's plans and convinces Mindstorm to save Butcher even if he is "a piece of sh*t."

Seeing Hughie as the "spitting image" of his little brother Lenny, Butcher prevents Hughie from taking any more Temp-V. While the method was crude, Hughie knew his intentions were pure.

As he didn't let him die, Hughie believes Butcher wants him to stop him from killing innocent people at Vought Tower during the showdown between Soldier Boy and Homelander. It is a beautiful moment between them that might have even worked if Maeve hadn't decided to make the decision for him.

Next: 10 Best Shows On Amazon Prime Video This Month

Rebecca Budgen is a queer (biromantic asexual), neurodivergent writer and artist from England. With a BA in Creative Arts and a MA in Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University, Rebecca has had creative nonfiction, mixed media pieces, poetry and reviews published in various magazines and anthologies. Rebecca is a dedicated fan of every conceivable fandom, from Supernatural to Schitt's Creek.