Queen Maeve, whose real name is Maggie Shaw, is one of the central characters in the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys (2019-). Portrayed by Dominique McElligott, Queen Maeve is an important member of The Seven, a group of superheroes managed by the powerful conglomerate Vought International and led by the strongest Supe in the world, Homelander. Maeve is known for her incredible strength, durability, and combat skills, being acknowledged as the second in command within the group. However, beneath her public persona as a feminist icon and role model lies a deeply conflicted individual.
From the beginning, Maeve is depicted as a jaded and disillusioned hero, burdened by moral compromises. Her experiences with The Seven, and especially her relationship with Homelander, whom she dates in the first season, gradually leave her bitter and disenchanted with the life of a sup. This is painfully evident from the very start of the show when Maeve is forced to participate in a disastrous airplane rescue with Homelander, where he coldly decides to let the plane crash, making no attempts to save the passengers. Maeve is visibly shocked, although she tries to conceal her deep-seated frustration and resentment.
Her bisexuality is hinted at in the first season, but this is fully explored in the second when it is revealed that she has a romantic relationship with a woman named Elena. This relationship is crucial for Maeve’s story since they were deeply in love but forced to end their bond to shelter Elena from the ever-present threat of Homelander. Her anxiety is not unfounded, as later, when he learns about it, he seizes an opportunity during an interview to dodge hard-hitting questions, opting to oust Maeve as a “strong, proud lesbian hero”, simultaneously threatening Elena and completely erasing Maeve’s bi identity. This personal attack on her privacy and the looming danger over Elena catalyze Maeve’s decision to oppose Homelander and Vought, offering crucial assistance to Starlight, the newest member of The Seven, trying to break free from Vought’s control and attempting to expose the true face of the corporate heroes with the help of The Boys.
In season three, Maeve’s relationship with Elena becomes estranged again as she gets involved in the fight against Homelander. For Elena’s protection, she distances herself emotionally, fearing that her involvement in the escalating conflict will risk both of their lives. The climax of Maeve’s story occurs when, in the heat of battle, she decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to stop Homelander, engaging in a brutal brawl with him, knowing full well that she might not survive in the end. Although gravely injured, she virtually neutralizes Homelander, buying The Boys and her fellow heroes crucial time to regroup. Following the battle, Maeve fakes her death and goes into hiding with Elena, finally choosing to prioritize her happiness and safety over the never-ending cycle of violence and manipulation she endured with The Seven.
In a show that doesn’t hold back when it comes to tearing into the corporate mess that is Vought and The Seven, her moral ambiguity and contradictions make her a compelling character. While she gets pushed around by a greedy company trying to control her every move, she never loses sight of who she is. Even when she hides what’s most important to her and agrees to erase her bi identity from the public, she doesn’t stay stuck as some compliant superhero stereotype. She proves she’s way more than that. She’s a resilient and authentic character who feels relatable, especially as a bi woman navigating a messed-up world.
You can find an entry about this show in our Bi Media section.
