The Boys season 3 can fix Starlight’s biggest comic problem. First introduced in season 1 of Amazon’s ultraviolent, yet relevant, series, Starlight (Erin Moriarty) quickly made a strong impression. She was positioned as the more idealistic hero who actually had a moral compass and a good heart; Starlight genuinely wanted to do right by others and help people. The Boys has already changed a lot (and for the better) with regards to her storyline from the comics and season 3 can take that a step further.
Starlight is one of the best and most three-dimensional characters in The Boys. However, such is not the case for her comics counterpart. The superhero, like many of her superhuman colleagues, has enhanced abilities, but she is often relegated to the sidelines and isn’t given much to do in the comics. Starlight’s superpowers aren’t used as much as the other members of The Seven, the elite team controlled by the corporation Vought. She’s also less active as a character than in The Boys TV series, where she is crucial to the overarching plot and far more outspoken. Unfortunately, Starlight doesn’t have any particular moment of glory in the comics when it comes to using her abilities out in the field or against any major supe like Homelander.
While it’s doubtful that she would be able to beat the leader of the Seven (whose powers far exceed her own), Starlight could at least be shown taking on other supes as there are plenty of them. The Boys season 3 could finally provide her with a moment to shine on her own. The series has been developing Starlight beyond her romance with Hughie since the first season. She spoke out against The Deep, who assaulted her in season 1, and spied on The Seven for The Boys before working with them to attain information on Stormfront during season 2. Suffice it to say The Boys has done a far better job exploring Starlight, making her a stronger character than her comics counterpart. It's a big part of the reason why the show could give her what the comics don't.
One of her biggest fight moments came when she, Kimiko, and Queen Maeve beat up Stormfront in The Boys season 2 finale. However, Starlight mostly punched Stormfront instead of using her powers and she was assisted in the fight by two others. Granted, the series isn’t as focused on having supes fight each other in the traditional sense as there are rarely any fight scenes that see them battling each other using their superpowers. The Boys season 3 could change that by providing Starlight with a moment to truly show off her immense power; it would also remind fans what she is fully capable of.
The character is not only incredibly strong physically, but emotionally as well, and season 3 will likely continue growing her character. Starlight will likely continue having a central story next season on The Boys and it’s possible it will build toward something substantial. Perhaps season 3 will introduce someone from Starlight’s past, another supe from before she joined The Seven, that she could fight to finally get that moment of glory she deserves. Regardless of the circumstances, The Boys season 3 is in a much better position to give Starlight a true hero moment of her own, one that could utilize her powers in a standout moment she never got before.