'The Boys' Finally Unveils the Reason Behind Hughie's Mom's Absence (SPOILERS)

"I took you to school, and I left. I didn't want to, but it was life or death for me," Hughie's mom, Daphne, tells him in Season Four of 'The Boys.'

Jun. Thirteen 2024, Published 3:Forty eight p.m. ET

Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from Season 4, Episodes 1-Three of The Boys.

Content caution: This article discusses depression and suicide.

Season Four of The Boys is in spite of everything here and able to shake things up via formally introducing audiences to Hughie's (Jack Quaid) absentee mom, Daphne Campbell (Rosemarie DeWitt). In previous seasons, we got hints about her backstory; now not handiest did she leave Hughie when he was simply six years previous, however she is the cause of his love of Billy Joel.

And now, with his mom again within the image, Hughie is less than extremely joyful. His festering resentment surfaces, however things escalate when his dad, Hugh Sr. (Simon Pegg), suffers a stroke — leaving Daphne with complete keep watch over over his scientific selections.

Despite the load of the current state of affairs, Hughie can not assist however be compelled to handle his mom's abandonment of the family years ago. Well, why did Daphne leave him? Read on for the heartbreaking details.

Why did Hughie's mom leave him in 'The Boys'?

In the second episode, titled "Life Among the Septics," Hughie arrives at the health facility and confronts his mom. Reflecting on their ultimate interplay, Hughie vividly recollects the Friday she walked him to school. She had promised to shop for them tickets to look Billy Joel, leaving him "vibrating with excitement" for the rest of the day.

However, she disappeared from his lifestyles after that — till now. Hughie even shares how he spent per week status by the entrance door, reassuring his dad she would go back, simplest to face general disappointment.

In the following episode, Hughie returns to the clinic and notices his mom seated out of doors his father's room. After asking about his father's condition, Hughie sits beside her and immediately questions why she left them years in the past. As it turns out, Daphne used to be struggling with severe despair and suicidal ideas.

"I was 22 when I had you. … But I was depressed — postpartum. You know, people think depression, they think, 'Oh, so you're sleepy, so what?' But it's not like that," she explains to Hughie. "It's painful. It hurts. My friends all said, 'Give it a month, six months, a year,' but it never went away."

Hughie interjects, "But you were always so fun," declaring how they would have "dance parties" all the time. Daphne admits she "never wanted" Hughie to witness it, however "getting dressed was like climbing Everest."

"And so, one night, I just took 40 Ambien and tried to kill myself. Thank God I threw them up in the toilet," Daphne finds. "So, the next day, I took you to school, and I left. I didn't want to, but it was life or death for me."

"I didn't know that," Hughie admits. Daphne responds, "Why would you?"

He then brings up the fact that she never known as, and Daphne discloses, "I tried, but your dad was so hurt, and he didn't want me to confuse you. So, eventually, I just stopped.

"I assumed, you understand, perhaps I wasn't minimize out to be a parent," Daphne adds. "And I know you have got spent a large number of your existence hating me and pondering I'm the villain, and I might never ask on your forgiveness, however I'm actually sorry, Hughie, that I harm you. I used to be simply f–ked up."

New episodes of The Boys drop on Thursdays at 3 a.m. EST on Prime Video.

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call, text, or message the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Dial or text 988, call 1-800-273-8255, or chat by the use of their website online.

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