Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban in The Boys, is arguably one of the most controversial characters to have ever made an appearance on screen. Driven by his sole agenda of decimating The Seven, Butcher does not hesitate while making ghastly decisions, which make him just as much of a villain as the corrupted superheroes on the show.
Described by Urban himself as a Machiavellian character with a demon inside of him, Butcher has done some deeds that will make most people’s blood boil. However, it cannot be denied that despite being his despicable actions, Butcher is hilarious at times and people cannot help but love this brash and obnoxious character.
10 Hated: Recruiting And Using Hughie
Hughie Campbell is by far the most innocent of all the members in Butcher’s group of ragtag misfits known as The Boys. However, it is he that suffers the most indignities from Butcher’s end, starting from his recruitment to the daily abuse that Butcher hurls at him.
Recruited by Butcher on the pretext of being able to take revenge on A-Train for the murder of his girlfriend, Hughie serves as a means to an end for the maniacal Butcher who cares about nothing but his own agenda. Apart from being belittled daily and thrown in the face of mortal danger by Butcher, Hughie gets used by him consistently; starting from him watching over Translucent to spying on The Seven by starting a relationship with Annie (Starlight).
9 Loved: Giving Becca’s Locket To Ryan
People might argue that most of Butcher’s actions and his undying hatred for supes are because he wanted revenge for Becca’s supposed death, or because he wanted to free her from Vought’s and Homelander’s clutches. Therefore, when Ryan accidentally kills his beloved Becca at end of Season 2, very few expected Butcher to behave considerately towards the young superhero.
However, Butcher stayed true to the promise he made to a dying Becca; of protecting her son and making him understand that it was not his fault. Giving Ryan the locket that Becca had given Butcher a long time ago, and telling Ryan that this will keep him safe is one of the most endearing actions done by Billy Butcher.
8 Hated: Destroying Becca's Tombstone
Although a likable character on many occasions, some actions committed by Billy Butcher seem completely bizarre. An act of pure malice aimed towards what fate had orchestrated in Butcher’s life, he shamelessly vandalized the tombstone of his wife Becca.
Although it can be viewed as Butcher refusing to accept the fact that Becca is actually dead, his actions seem thoughtless. Neither the audience nor Butcher knew that Becca was actually alive at that moment; therefore, making this act of vandalism seem disrespectful towards Becca’s memory.
7 Loved: Being Concerned About Hughie's Well-Being
Billy Butcher is a diabolical character, having given way to some of the best dialogue in the series. However, he is also a character who has created moments where the audience cannot help but feel love for him. One such moment arises when Hughie is injured at the Sage Grove Center, struck with a shrapnel piece in his stomach.
The concern that Butcher has for Hughie is palpable at that moment, as the former tends to the injured Hughie with great urgency and transports him to a hospital in haste. Butcher's concern for Hughie's well-being is made more apparent in the following scenes where he debates with Annie regarding the various idiosyncracies Hughie has and how he is too good for the both of them.
6 Hated: Killing Mesmer
Billy Butcher is extremely sadistic and violent at times, and this can be best understood through his killing of Mesmer. In a flat out gruesome and brutal scene, Billy kills Mesmer in a bloody fit of rage, after the Supe betrays Billy and the Boys to Homelander.
Despite his betrayal, Mesmer was a character who didn’t seem as bad as the rest of the superheroes. Moreover, he offered Butcher help in looking for his wife and also begged for his life by saying that he had a daughter. However, these circumstances didn’t cut a wide berth with Butcher, who bashed Mesmer’s head on a sink regardless.
5 Loved: Apologizing To Hughie
Butcher is someone who does not apologize to people easily. However, he makes an exception by apologizing to Hughie for punching him when Hughie had sabotaged Butcher’s attempt to kill Kenji.
He acknowledges the fact that he might have gone a bit overboard with his reaction, and even allows Hughie to punch him. Although it does not negate Butcher’s self-obsessed/violent behavior by any means, it does ascribe to him some qualities that make him seem more human and affable.
4 Hated: Remorselessly Shooting Starlight
There is an exorbitant hatred Billy Butcher harbors for superheroes in both the comics and the show. His hatred is so deep-rooted that Butcher ignores Hughie’s attempts to convince him that Starlight is not as bad as the rest of the Seven.
In fact, he goes to the extent of shooting her remorselessly while Hughie and Starlight are sitting in a public park, all on the pretext of him trying to save Hughie. Though his excuse for shooting Starlight might seem justified as far as Butcher’s warped sense of justice is concerned, the act in itself is quite repulsive and makes the audience wonder whether Billy is on the side of good or whether Billy himself is the evil.
3 Loved: Asking Ryan To Not Be A C**T
Billy’s is undoubtedly one of the best character arcs of the series. However, seeing him become a father-figure is something that is quite a disturbing thought. Regardless, after Becca’s death, Billy inadvertently becomes a sort of father to Ryan. He entrusts Ryan to the CIA and Grace Mallory and asks them to keep him safe and away from the prying eyes of Homelander and Vought.
He takes up the responsibility handsomely and even teaches the young Ryan his typical mantra for life, “Don’t be a c**t.” Given the fact that Becca wanted Ryan to grow up to be a different and better superhero than Homelander, this advice seems invaluable.
2 Hated: Abandoning The Boys
Billy has secured for himself a special position of hatred amongst some of the fan base within the first two seasons. One such moment that makes everybody hate Billy Butcher is when he abandons the Boys at the end of season 1, leaving them to deal with Kimiko’s kidnappers all alone.
This act of Billy’s makes it clear how little regard he holds for the rest of the members of his crew, and that his own personal agenda trumps everything else.
1 Loved: Coming Clean To Becca
Despite his initial attempts of getting rid of Ryan and even cutting a deal with Stan Edgar, Billy Butcher redeems himself the very moment that he changes the plan and asks M.M to safely escort Becca and Ryan away from the fight during Ryan’s rescue mission.
He reveals to Becca how he had sold them out and how he might attempt to do the same again, and even acknowledges that he would prove to be a bad influence on Ryan. Despite Becca’s continuous protests and pleadings, asking Butcher to come with them, Billy asks Becca that he needs to do this one thing and that she should raise Ryan the right way. In this one moment, fans cannot help but love Billy Butcher and admire the abundant love he holds for his wife Becca.
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