It has been nearly two years since the season finale of Gen V. The spinoff of The Boys was a tough follow since it focuses on a younger cast.
While I personally thought season 1 of Gen V was solid, season 2 of the show not only exceeded the latter, but also managed to tell a better story than The Boys’ fourth season.
Everyone was eager to see what happened after Marie (Jaz Sinclair), Andre (Chance Perdomo), Jordan (London Thor/Derek Luh), and Emma (Lizze Broadway) were locked away following the massive battle, while Vought spun the story to paint Cate (Maddie Phillips) and Sam (Asa Germann) as the real heroes of the chaos. I can say that it followed up pretty quickly while also expanding more lore about the characters and building some tie-ins to the main show. Several moments are truly surprising, featuring twists that affect the main characters.
The best new character is Cipher (Hamish Linklater). He is the lead dean of Godolkin University and his main motivation is to push the students, or in this case, supes, beyond their limit so that way they can be ready to join The Seven. The way Cipher manipulates the students to do this will spark up conversations about the teacher-student dynamic in real life. During the entire season of Gen V, there are major plotlines and secrets that will unravel about Cipher and the university and trust me, they are not pretty at all.
I also have to praise the casting of Hamish Linklater. He not only brought Gen V to life, but delivered a refreshing kind of antagonist compared to what we’re used to in The Boys franchise. His scenes with Jaz Sinclair and Maddie Phillips are standout moments, showcasing new dimensions in their performances as well.
Jordan and Marie have the best chemistry in Gen V Season 2, with their relationship explored in greater depth whenever they share the screen. Without giving away spoilers, their story unfolds as a back-and-forth journey filled with roadblocks and challenges from the very beginning through the middle and right up to the finish.
There are cameos from The Boys that made it to Gen V. I am split on this. On one hand, they add to the story of Gen V season 2 while also advancing minor points of The Boys. So that at least felt like it was important to have them. On the other hand, I felt like the cameos detracted from Gen V’s storytelling. It is not as overbearing like what Disney did to The Book of Boba Fett. It is just something I noticed.
The season also weaves in the political overtones we’ve come to expect from this universe, paired with its signature intense gore. Some of these moments may feel a bit too timely or uncomfortable for general audiences given the current environment. However, it never quite goes as overboard as The Boys’ fourth season, though the impact is still very present.
In the end, Gen V Season 2 proves that the spinoff is more than capable of standing on its own. With a sharper story, stronger performances, and deeper character arcs, it surpasses its first season and even outshines The Boys Season 4 in many ways. The season thrives on its bold storytelling, compelling new addition in Hamish Linklater’s Cipher, and the evolving dynamics between its young supes. If Season 1 showed us the potential of this series, Season 2 fully delivers on it to highlight Gen V as an essential piece of The Boys universe.
