Spoiler Warning: The Boys Season 3
The Amazon Prime original series The Boys, based on the Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic book series of the same name, is, to put it mildly, absolutely bonkers. The show is rife with unabashedly gory violence and uncomfortably vivid raunch-filled moments, which has been the case since the series debut in 2019. When audiences think that The Boys can't get any wilder, it pushes the envelope further. The currently running season three is the wildest installment yet, giving fans shocking scene after shocking scene.
Given the garish nature of The Boys, it's somewhat surprising that the show's creators were able to bring aboard such an incredibly talented crew of actors. Nevertheless, they absolutely succeed in bringing the eccentric characters to life. The show enlists the skills of such talented actors as Jack Quaid (The Hunger Games, Star Trek: Lower Decks), who plays the increasingly emboldened Hughie Campbell, Antony Starr (Xena: Warrior Princess, Without a Paddle) as the villainous supe Homelander, Erin Moriarty (True Detective, Jessica Jones) who plays the laser shooting supe Starlight, Dominique McElligott (The Astronaut Wives Club, House of Cards) as the harried supe Queen Maeve, and Laz Alonso (Avatar, Fast & Furious) as CIA operative Mother's Milk.
However, at the center of The Boys' incredibly acting lineup stands Karl Urban (The Lord of the Rings, Thor: Ragnarok) as the supe-hating Billy Butcher. Here are some reasons why Karl Urban's Butcher kills it in The Boys season three.
A Softer Side of Butcher
Among the impressive cast of The Boys, Karl Urban is likely the most established actor. He's had roles in multiple major franchises and has done it all, from cavorting with elves and battling orcs in Middle-Earth to betraying the god of thunder in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In The Boys, it seems that Karl Urban is simply having fun. His gruff British accent is complimented by a fearsome snarl, and Urban delivers every line with vigor and venom. However, it should be noted that in season three, while Urban's character still had the same sinister charm, fans of the show got to see a softer side of Billy Butcher. During the seventh episode, "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed," the unconscious Butcher had a vision of his abusive childhood and the brother he left behind. Urban expertly navigates the softer sides of Billy Butcher while never losing his tough-guy veneer.
Butcher's Season 3 Superpowers 
Karl Urban's Billy Butcher has one abiding principle that dictates nearly every action in his daily life: a burning, passionate hatred for superpowered folks, or supes, and everything they stand for. This made it all the more surprising when his character was given access to an experimental drug, Temp v, a shorter-lasting version of the chemical that brought about all the supernatural abilities in the universe of The Boys.
With the Temp v, Karl Urban's Billy Butcher suddenly finds himself on a level playing field with the supes he so reviles. This creates a strange conflict of character for Butcher, who has long held that no one deserves to have superpowers, and that said abilities inevitably corrupt one's character, which creates a unique set of acting challenges for the talented Karl Urban.
Butcher vs. Homelander
Due to a series of tragic events that preceded the timeline of The Boys, Karl Urban's Billy Butcher hates Anthony Starr's Homelander more than any other supe. As such, it was incredibly cathartic for both Butcher and fans of the show when, while under the influence of Temp V, aided by Jack Quaid's Hughie and Jensen Ackles' (Supernatural, Batman: Under the Red Hood) Soldier Boy, got to go a few rounds with Homelander, who up until that point was thought to be almost entirely invulnerable.
The resulting fight might have been one of the best scenes in the entirety of The Boys. It's a three-to-one slugfest rife with laser beams, right hooks, and kooky cape faux pas. Ultimately, Homelander is able to escape, though he is nearly killed by one of Soldier Boy's nuclear blasts. With the assistance of Temp V, Karl Urban's Billy Butcher can finally utilize his hand-to-hand combat skills on a level playing field against a supe.
What Is Next for Butcher?
Sony
Fortunately for fans of The Boys everywhere, the outlandish superhero series has been renewed for season four, and the season will soon start filming. Additionally, the last episode of season three will be released on Friday, July 8, 2022, so it's still unclear how some events will be resolved. Will Billy Butcher continue to abuse Temp V, and to what end? How will Homelander react to his near defeat in the aftermath of the infamous Herogasm party?
In any case, Karl Urban will continue to kill it, and fans will continue to root for Billy Butcher.