Some of the best TV shows manage to create heroes who are very much different from one another. This is also the case for the unusual superhero TV show, The Boys. Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, leads the titular group and is determined to bring down superheroes. And then there's Jack Quaid's Hughie Campbell, who joins the Boys after his girlfriend is killed. Despite the fact that Billy and Hughie have a similar goal, their personalities couldn't possibly be more different.
This leads to a lot of tension between them on the show. For one, Billy doesn't always treat Hughie in the best way, and Hughie keeps some important details from Billy. Whatever the case, it can be a difficult choice to pick who is the best hero of the two since both of them have a lot to offer.
Billy: He's The Brains Of The Operation
Without Billy, the Boys never would have gotten together and the show wouldn't be what it is. It's true that Hughie might have inspired Billy to put the band back together, but Hughie himself wouldn't be able to pull it off.
Billy knows his co-workers well and also knows what strings he needs to pull to get them to work with him. For example, in Frenchie's case, all it took was implicating him in Translucent's kidnapping.
Hughie: He Starts It All
Of course, the series still starts with Hughie and his girlfriend's death. Robin's death serves as a catalyst that sends Hughie down the path that leads to him meeting Annie aka Starlight and also becoming one of the Boys.
It's doubtful whether Billy would manage to reunite the Boys if it wasn't for him bringing Hughie into the fold. As a result, Hughie is just as integral to the plot as Billy is, if not more.
Billy: He's Accustomed To It
Hughie might have killed Translucent in the end, but for Billy Butcher, this isn't his first rodeo. Billy has been killing Supes long before Hughie realized his beloved heroes weren't who they pretended to be.
And Billy continued to kill superheroes even after Hughie entered the picture. For example, he took down Mesmer when he learned the Supe betrayed them to Homelander.
Hughie: He Represents The Viewer's POV
Some fans might sympathize with Billy more, but there's no denying Hughie is the one who represents the viewer's point of view in the show. Those members of the audience who aren't familiar with the comics have no idea what the show is about when it starts.
It's via Hughie and his story that the people watching The Boys learn all the necessary information about the fictional world, its heroes, as well as the fact that the Seven is the most famous superhero team in the world - and they're not as good deep inside as their squeaky clean public image would suggest.
Billy: He Has A Reason For What He's Doing
Billy might come across as overly violent at times, but he does have a reason for what he's doing. In other words, he isn't trying to destroy the Seven just for the fun of it. Billy believes that Homelander raped and then killed his beloved wife, Becca.
Even though this later turns out to be false, the trauma with which Billy has to live explains his actions, although it doesn't entirely satisfy them. After all, Billy hates all superheroes and not all of them are bad people (such as Starlight, to name just one).
Hughie: He Also Has A Reason For His Actions
That said, Hughie also has a compelling reason for his actions. The fact that superheroes are bad people who don't respect the lives of others comes as a huge shock to him, since he worshiped them before, unlike Billy, who never seemed to be a big fan of the heroes, even when Becca was still with him.
After A-Train kills Hughie's girlfriend, Robin, Hughie realizes he can't let it go and continue with his life - since A-Train destroyed it. It's a poignant moment and makes the audience sympathize with Hughie, who just wants justice for the death of his loved one.
Billy: He's Funny
Not everyone enjoys Billy's special brand of dark, rude humor, but those who do will have a lot of fun watching the show. The world of The Boys is rather dark and it's somehow fitting that it's Billy, of all people, whose brutally honest comments and results have the strongest potential to make the audience laugh.
If there's one definite thing about Billy, it's that he doesn't mince his words at all, and such brutal honesty can be very funny at times.
Hughie: He Doesn't Manipulate His Friends ... That Much
It's true that Billy has a point to everything he does, but this doesn't change the fact that he manipulates his friends more than once (such as when he uses Hughie's loss to make him do his bidding and bring Vought down).
Hughie also lies to the Boys, especially about his relationship with Annie aka Starlight, but he's still much more open and honest than Billy, who has difficulty not lying to the people who work with him - even if his lies and evasions might endanger their lives.
Billy: He Grows As A Person
Despite Billy's many character flaws that make it difficult to like him, he still grows as a person during the show's run. For one, he is able to work with a Supe (Starlight) despite his earlier hatred for all of them. He also shows unexpected compassion toward Ryan, Becca's and Homelander's son, after Becca was killed.
Even though Ryan is the son of Billy's most sworn enemy, he still promises to protect the boy because that's what his late wife would have wanted. So for once, Billy puts someone else's interests and wishes above his own.
Hughie: His Relationship With Starlight
Hughie's developing relationship with Starlight is one of the major plot points of the show that will continue into its third season as well. Considering the challenges the couple faces, their relationship is far from easy. This makes it painful for them sometimes, but compelling to watch for the audience.
Billy's romantic storyline, on the other hand, is over now and it's hard to say what awaits him in the upcoming third season of The Boys.