The Boys: Black Noir's Shocking Weakness Was Inspired by His Actor (original) (raw)

WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Boys Season 2, Episode 7, "Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker," available now on Amazon Prime Video.

With the past two seasons of The Boys, The Seven's god-like team of Supes have proven their abilities time and again, with seeming invulnerability. However, the group's immensely strong and endlessly silent Black Noir has truly demonstrated just how powerful he is numerous times.

From his encounter with Kimiko in Season 1 to this season's premiere episode where he battles another unknown but powerful Supe, Black Noir appears to have no weakness. Even the explosive traps set at Butcher's Aunt Judy's house in Season 2, Episode 5 only cause a simple flesh wound for the aloof member of The Seven. However, during "Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker," it's proven that he does have a vulnerability, and it's inspired by his actor, Nathan Mitchell.

After Starlight escapes the confines of her cell, she is confronted by Black Noir. The two Supes exchange blows, destroying much of The Seven's meeting room in the process. Black Noir appears to have the upper hand, until Queen Maeve headlocks him and shoves something in his mouth. Black Noir is immediately seen in a panic, squirming and choking as he struggles to pull out his Vought branded epinephrine pen.

"Was that an Almond Joy?" Starlight asks Queen Maeve, who proceeds to kick the pen away as Black Noir as he goes into anaphylactic shock.

Maeve explains that Black Noir has a tree nut allergy, a simple but genuinely surprising weakness for such a mysterious and seemingly immortal figure. However, as both Starlight and Queen Maeve leave the scene, Black Noir's fate is left in uncertainty. While the Supe is clearly struggling, neither Starlight nor Maeve take the pen, so it's safe to say he could survive.

Interestingly enough, Black Noir's weakness, as stated in the X-Ray features for the episode, is inspired by the actor who portrays him, Nathan Mitchell, who has a severe nut allergy where he cannot even be in the same room as them. The side effects for someone with a tree nut allergy can vary from minimal to fatal. Prior to this episode, it was safe to assume that a Supe with an allergy would experience lesser side effects given their enhanced anatomy; however, that isn't the case for Black Noir.

Other side effects include digestive or intestinal distress, itchiness and a difficulty breathing. The latter, along with anaphylaxis, are what Black Noir suffers from during his allergy attack. While the show has killed off several Supes, Black Noir has proven to be a durable force to be reckoned with, so it's likely fans will see him again. Furthermore, if he is to die, it seems likely that his death would be more graphic and grand, keeping with the over the top violent theme of The Boys. However, the show continues to surprise, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities for Black Noir to only have a weakness that's utterly human.

Amazon Studios' The Boys stars Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, Jack Quaid as Hughie, Laz Alonso as Mother's Milk, Tomer Kapon as Frenchie, Karen Fukuhara as the Female, Erin Moriarty as Annie January, Chace Crawford as the Deep, Antony Starr as Homelander, Aya Cash as Stormfront and Simon Pegg as Hughie's dad. New episodes of Season 2 release Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.

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