The original post: /r/television by /u/Sudden_Pop_2279 on 2026-05-25 00:59:05+00:00.

They’re probably the two most consistently and best written characters for the way they continue to parallel and contrast each other until the very end.

They’re the two supes who introduce to how corrupt the supes of this world are. A-Train begins the series accidentally running through Hughie’s girlfriend Robin, having no regret for it. The Deep sexually assaults Starlight and later mocks her about it.

Both are characters who consistently try to get Homelander’s approval and do whatever it takes to get back into the Seven. Both are kicked out of the group and eventually manage to find their way back into it. Both demonstrate a willingness to throw other’s under the bus (Supersonic for A-Train and Timothy for The Deep) to win favor with Homelander.

But where they differ is the fact A-Train had someone like his brother there to be his conscience. When Blue Hawk crippled his brother and Ashley pointed out to him that A-Train never had a problem with getting away with his actions until now, A-Train finally sees himself for the horrible person he is and sincerely apologizes to Hughie. Meanwhile, The Deep always ignores his octopus girlfriend Ambriosus and eventually ends up even killing her.

The parallels continue in season 5. Both characters going “I’m not scared” but ARE clearly still scared of Homelander. The difference is A-Train does eventually find the courage to come and save the Boys. In the end, he sacrifices himself to avoid making the same mistake that killed Robin and finally stands up to Homelander with no fear, dying as Reggie Franklin. Meanwhile, The Deep continues to only sink… well deeper and deeper. Him letting the man drown due to fear of sea life is a direct contrast to A-Train sacrificing himself to dodge the lady (die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain), as well as when A-Train saved MM (one saves someone with no fans of camera’s around, just a single kid smiling in joy while the other fails to save someone in front of fans and camera’s). In the end, The Deep SCREAMS “NOOOO!” to taking responsibility and dies pathetically with absolutely nothing left.