All through The Boys Season 1, Black Noir remained some of the mysterious characters on the present. Now that Season 2 has concluded with a surprising and satisfying finale, we are able to say definitively that Noir stays an enigma. Apart from a couple of tidbits and a small reveal, we discovered principally nothing about him all through the most recent eight episodes. After all, as Nathan Mitchell, the actor behind the black masks, instructed us lately, that is totally by design.

The Boys followers who’ve learn the comics on which the sequence is predicated know that Noir has a large position within the authentic story. However Amazon’s adaptation has thus far performed quick and free with the supply materials, and sure hints in Season 2–like the partial reveal of Noir’s face throughout his battle with Starlight and Queen Maeve in Episode 7–seem like fairly definitive proof that Noir’s backstory can be totally different within the present. However Mitchell would not assist us rule out any prospects.

“I am aware of the [comics storyline],” the actor instructed us, deftly avoiding making any additional touch upon numerous fan theories (if you wish to know extra about Noir’s position within the comics, take a look at our explainer here–but be warned of potential spoilers).

“As far as Black Noir’s future, you know, I think it’s best to just leave all of that up to speculation. I think there are certain things you can infer from the reveal, and you see what you see. I’m looking forward to going down this path, that we can keep surprising the audience,” he mentioned.

“I’m gonna let everybody have fun with their thoughts and their theories,” he continued. “I think that’s the best way to go. Like you said, it’s an adaptation, you know, it’s a remix, in a lot of different ways. And I think the fun thing about Noir is that he is a mystery, and that his motives and his backstory, his intention–they’re all a mystery. And so I’m gonna keep it that way.”

After all the character is a mystery–it’s arduous to be anything while you by no means take your masks off or speak. The fleeting glimpse of Noir’s mouth and jaw in Episode 7 was probably the most pores and skin Mitchell has ever revealed on The Boys, and but he finds methods to precise Noir’s emotions.

“The decision you make of what mask you choose says something about you,” the actor mentioned, explaining that he likes to think about what Noir can be saying if he selected to talk, act it out, then merely take away the phrases whereas preserving the emotion intact: “Every movement, every decision you make, verbal or nonverbal, the world views you in some way. And so for me, as long as I can move freely and express myself through my body, I’m happy. I think I can say a lot about Noir through his body, so I think it’s a really fun role to play.”

Noir is a terror in battle, however this season additionally revealed a seemingly softer aspect to him. Though misguided, he tried to consolation a baby with a stuffed pink bunny within the Season 2 premiere (whereas holding a severed head in his different hand). We additionally noticed him showing to weep when the information of Compound V went world and the world discovered that “superheroes are made, not born.” Mitchell mentioned in his opinion, these feelings are real.

“He does have a soft side and an empathetic dimension to him, and I think that’s what makes him interesting,” the actor mentioned. “This is the reality of, he could rip you to shreds on the battlefield in a second, but when he’s off duty, there is a human there that feels and is vulnerable, you know, is odd and quirky in different ways.”

Noir had a couple of juicy battle scenes in Season 2, and Mitchell mentioned the battle with Annie and Maeve was “a lot of fun.” Hilariously, it ended when Maeve shoved an Almond Pleasure into his mouth, revealing that tree nuts are Black Noir’s very personal kryptonite–and one which Mitchell shares with the character.

“It was classic [showrunner Eric Kripke] writing. It’s just such a great, great moment,” Mitchell mentioned. “The nut allergy is a thing that I deal with, so it’s very art imitating life–not that I’ve necessarily, you know, had to deal with chocolate bars being shoved down my mouth by someone I was fighting.” Fortunately, they made certain to make use of a pretend Almond Pleasure wrapper and a nut-free chocolate when capturing the scene (Mitchell thinks it could have had marshmallow).

With Season 2, The Boys proved itself to be probably the greatest exhibits on TV proper now. Unsurprisingly, we already know that Season three is coming. We’re excited to be taught extra about Black Noir because the character’s drip feed of thriller continues sooner or later, and Mitchell left us with one tease: “It’s gonna be crazy.”