Chace Crawford Discusses Disturbing Scene Added to ‘The Boys’ Pilot

Chace Crawford has previously shared insights about a troubling scene from the pilot episode of ‘The Boys’ that features his character, The Deep, and Starlight. He revealed that this moment was not part of the original script and was introduced later during production.

This revelation came during an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, where Crawford explained that the decision to incorporate this storyline was influenced by elements from the original comic books.

The scene occurs shortly after Starlight joins the team, portraying her as a new and idealistic character who believes she is becoming part of a genuine heroic group. However, The Deep isolates her and exploits his power, coercing her into a sexual act against her will. This unsettling scene is intended to depict sexual assault and is crafted to evoke discomfort among viewers.

The purpose of this moment is not to entertain but to convey a crucial message early in the series: the superheroes are not true heroes. They can misuse their power, and the surrounding system enables their behavior. This also establishes Starlight’s character arc, transitioning from naivety to a painful awareness of the system’s corruption and danger.

For The Deep, this scene is pivotal in defining his character as someone who feels entitled and disregards consent and consequences. As the series progresses, this behavior contributes to his portrayal as morally bankrupt within the narrative.

Crawford mentioned that the production team approached him after the fact to inform him that this scene would be added and that he would be the one to perform it.

“It wasn’t in the script initially,” Crawford stated. He elaborated that the team wanted to adapt a storyline from the comics and develop it for the show.

He also noted, “They kind of came to me and they were like, ‘We want to do this, and have this moment more for her character that’s in the comic books’.”

Crawford discussed the challenges of portraying The Deep, emphasizing that the character does not perceive his actions as wrong. He believes he is entitled and that his behavior is normal within his environment.

“For The Deep, this is a guy who’s extremely entitled and it feels like it’s just a rite of passage or just like a normal hazing technique. In his mind … like there’s no big deal with it,” he said.

He added that the timing of the filming was particularly uncomfortable for him, especially in light of the cultural moment surrounding the Me Too movement.

Crawford also reflected on another challenging moment for his character later in the series, where The Deep becomes a victim of sexual assault involving his gills. He described filming that scene as uncomfortable and unpleasant.

The series continues to delve into extreme and controversial themes throughout its seasons, often highlighting issues of violence, power, and corruption within the superhero realm.

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