One of the most powerful supes in The Boys, Queen Maeve, has more depth and better development in the series than in the comics, where she dies early. She initially gained her abilities after her parents injected her with Compound V, but she spends much of her life being manipulated and controlled by Vought International and Homelander. Over time, she begins to see the truth and ultimately chooses to stand with The Boys to take down Homelander.

However, after a brutal battle in Season 3, Queen Maeve disappears and does not return in Season 4 of The Boys. So, what really happened to Queen Maeve, and was Season 3 her final goodbye?

Queen Maeve, who was initially controlled and silenced, slowly began to find her voice and a purpose to protect the people she loves after meeting Annie and Hughie. In Season 3 of The Boys, she continues to support The Boys in their fight against Homelander and even gets captured. After escaping, Maeve makes a heroic sacrifice to stop Soldier Boy from detonating.

It left her injured, having lost an eye and her powers. However, she survives the explosion and quietly disappears, choosing to start a new life and escaping with her girlfriend Elena while the world believes she is dead. Moreover, Maeve also does not appear in Season 4, and neither does the actress Dominique McElligott. 

However, there is a reason to believe her story is not over. In a 2022 interview with Deadline, showrunner Eric Kripke made it clear he has no intention of ending the series without Queen Maeve. And that leaves the door open for Maeve’s return in Season 5, which is expected to be the show’s final chapter.

"We definitely won’t reach the end of the series without seeing Maeve again,” he has said, while also explaining how crucial Maeve's removal was for Annie/Starlight who is she mentors. 

What Happened to Ryan in ‘The Boys’? Will He Return in Season 5?

Now, what makes Queen Maeve’s character better than the comics is has even given her departure a crucial role in the series.

Speaking about Queen Maeve, Eric Kripke explained that she is incredibly powerful and often considered second only to Homelander. He also noted that Maeve often resolved most of the conflicts, which made it harder for Annie to step forward and fully embrace a leading role.

"It is right narratively for [Maeve] to exit stage left because she was too powerful, and she solved too many of Starlight's problems for her. For Starlight to truly flower into the powerful character she is, she needs to remove all of her life preservers," he told Deadline in July 2022.

Now, with Annie stepping into her own power and motivated in the absence of her mentor, The Boys enter a new chapter. At the same time, it seems to be the right time for Maeve’s return, even when she is without her powers. How the show plans to bring her back, or whether it will at all, remains to be seen.

Is Laz Alonso Sick? 'The Boys' Actor Has Fans Concerned Following Intense Weight-Loss in Season 5

What do you think about Queen Maeve's return? Let us know in the comments.