In The Boys season 2 penultimate episode, over a dozen people, including two noteworthy characters, die during the Congressional attack. Season 2 has been full of twists and turns as the Boys try to expose Vought International's use of Compound V to manufacture superheroes and supervillains for financial gain. Episode 7's gory final scene saw the return of the mysterious and dangerous Supe who killed Raynor by exploding her head — and is challenging Stormfront and Homelander as season 2's biggest villain. The massacre raised even more questions about where the series is headed for season 3.
Hughie and Starlight succeeded in publicizing Vought's Compound V use, but Edgar Wright's plausible deniability overshadowed the victory. Vought adeptly shifted the narrative from corporate malfeasance to the threat posed by Supe terrorists. Suddenly nobody cared how superheroes are made as long as they are protecting America from outside threats. The Boys got another clue that led to the shocking revelation that led to the big reveal that Stormfront is a white supremacist. The group discovered Sage Grove, a psychiatric hospital filled with Compound V test subjects, and thanks to the reemergence of Lamplighter, the Boys were once again poised to put the squeeze on Vought.
With the help of "SJW" (social justice warrior) and "snowflake" congresswoman Victoria Neuman, the Boys had an ally in one of the highest levels of government. Neuman publically criticized Vought and used her platform to rally her supporters to hold the company and its most valuable commodities accountable for their actions. With Jonah Vogelbaum set to testify against his former employer, thanks to Butcher, it seemed justice would finally prevail. However, Colonel Mallory's warning of a never-ending cycle of brutality came to fruition when a mystery Supe turned the hearing into a bloodbath and C-Span into must-see TV (until they went off the air, that is).
Dr. Jonah Vogelbaum
Dr. Jonah Vogelbaum was the first notable character to be killed in the attack. The mystery Supe struck before Vogelbaum made his statement. Presumably, he was killed to prevent him from sharing Vought's secrets; did the killer know what company secrets he was about to reveal, or were they simply taking out any witnesses who appeared? Vogelbaum's testimony would be the obvious motive for the attack, and it's possible the excessive body count, as well as deaths on both sides, was to give Vought an excuse to point the finger elsewhere.
However, Vogelbaum's appearance at the hearing was a surprise to many, which makes his murder even more mysterious. Whoever killed Raynor was responsible for the attack — so how is this Supe always one step ahead? They were present when Raynor met with the Boys and killed her before elaborating on her suspicions about a Vought coup. They either knew what information she had or it was a preemptive strike. If this is about protecting Vought, why not take out the Boys too, when they had the chance, since every Vought insider knows their goal is to put Vought permanently out of business? While Vought is the obvious party to blame for the violence since the company had the most to gain, the evidence doesn't add up.
Shockwave
Shockwave was the only Supe killed during the attack. Whoever is responsible for this murderous rampage could have killed Shockwave, set to replace A-Train who was fired earlier in the season, to make it look like the attacker had a grievance against Vought and was attacking people associated with the company, rather than silencing a witness. Shockwave was the most vulnerable Supe in attendance and still second-tier, making him therefore, dispensable from Vought's perspective. On the other hand, it's possible that someone didn't want Shockwave around. The only character who benefits from Shockwave's death is A-Train, who wants to take back his place on the team. Whether or not the attacker — and whoever could be pulling their strings — intended for A-Train to benefit from Shockwave's death or has other plans for the washed-out speedster is unknown.
Innocent Bystanders Taken Out In The Attack
The carnage at the Congressional hearing included mostly unidentifiable victims, presumably politicians (given the dark conservative suits), an assortment of Capitol Hill movers and shakers, a few Vought employees, and members of the press. Most of the focus was on the key characters' reactions as they scrambled for safety or, in the case of Stormfront, Maeve, and Homelander, as they stood idly by as the sound of exploding skulls popped in the background and blood and brain matter splattered everywhere.
At least a dozen victims appeared to be collateral damage such as Ashley's assistant and Victoria Neuman's aid, both of whom exploded near their bosses. The Supe did murder the speaker moderating the proceedings, but fans know nothing about him other than he was the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Why The Seven, Neuman, & Mallory Survived
Both sides took losses, but Vought's losses were minimal. It's unclear if Stormfront, Homelander, and Maeve's powers make them impervious to the killer's telekinetic powers, but they were spared nonetheless. Other characters who managed to keep their heads intact include Valerie Neuman, Colonel Mallory, and Ashley. The Supe who killed Raynor and carried out this attack could be going rogue, but that's an unlikely scenario. So the survivors provide clues as to who might be in on an unholy alliance.
It's highly unlikely that the Seven have any involvement in the plot, especially since one of their own was a victim. While Maeve and Stormfront appear surprised by Vogelbaum's appearance, suggesting even they were unaware that he was testifying. Homelander showed no reaction, although he has a deeply-complicated relationship with the doctor, who essentially raised him in a lab. Homelander genuinely did seem concerned by the situation once the violence started, and was shown scanning the room — uncharacteristically alert behavior from the typically cavalier "hero." Chances are, whoever wanted to silence Vogelbaum also has a vested interest in keeping the Seven around — for now.
This new villain is likely a Sage Grove creation or attached in some way to the experiments and possibly even Stormfront. It isn't Cindy, despite her having similar powers. She was locked up when Raynor died (or at least that's what viewers have been led to believe), and she's too volatile to be weaponized. Although Stormfront has been publically rebuking Vought at every turn, she has a long-standing relationship with the company. Vought has protected her for 50 years, covering up Stormfront's crimes and giving her new identities. Edgar Wright brought her into the Seven, which would suggest that despite Stormfront's antagonistic behavior and dark origin, she and Vought are aligned. She doesn't want to destroy Vought. She wants to use its resources to further her xenophobic agenda.
If Stormfront was somehow behind the attack, and if her goal was to protect Vought, Victoria Neuman would have been a logical target since she's been waging the public campaign against Vought. This could suggest that Neuman herself is responsible for the attack — although her motivations at this point are unclear. However, earlier in the episode, Stormfront told Homelander that a common enemy rallies the base; by keeping Neuman alive, Homelander has another "enemy" to pit her supporters against. Furthermore, Neuman appears shellshocked throughout the gruesome scene.
The only other remaining survivor of note is Colonel Mallory. She's the founder of the Boys and the only member of the group who attended the hearing. It's another missed opportunity by the assailant, so either someone wants the Boys and their closest allies alive, or don't perceive the small band of misfits to be a threat. Mallory still has connections with the CIA, but she's kept a lower profile than Butcher, whose brutal antics make him comparable to Homelander. This was her last and best shot, but her efforts to protect Neuman indicate she may not be as quick to give up as she lets on.
Hopefully, the season finale will clarify who was behind the hearing that has drawn endless comparisons to Game of Thrones' Red Wedding. The Boys has spent the entire season amassing a list of sizable suspects who would all have good reason to want to protect Vought, and that is the overriding motive behind the attack. The Church of the Collective (The Boys' equivalent of Scientology and a swipe at Tom Cruise) is trying eagerly to get The Deep and A-Train back on The Seven, giving them access to the company from the inside. Stan Edgar isn't about to let Vought go down in flames, and he has no shortage of morally bankrupt superheroes at his disposal.