Gen V Season 1 was a nice ride. The show felt like an important addition to The Boys universe, especially with the development of the virus at the university.
However, the execution was a little disappointing. I’m yet to figure out what about it I didn’t like, but it could have been more.
The problem with intertwining shows in the same universe is that you run the risk of cheapening one for the sake of the other.
My biggest expectation for Gen V Season 2 is that it establishes itself as a standalone product that doesn’t rely on cameos and hype from The Boys, telling a gripping narrative all on its own.
The three-episode Season 2 premiere is a step in the right direction as a new mystery gets underway while everyone tries to heal from the events of the past few months.
Gen V Says Goodbye to Andre Anderson and Chance Perdomo
There is the issue of Chance Perdomo’s death and how that would have affected the story going forward.
Sadly, cast members do pass away while their project is in different stages of production. How the team handles this loss can empower the show or leave a gaping chasm that can never be filled.
Gen V opts to go with the former, incorporating Perdomo’s death into the narrative and using it to light a fire in the other characters.
And as promised by the showrunner, this loss is addressed throughout the season, making Andre feel like a part of the narrative instead of having him disappear into thin air.
Losing someone as young, talented, handsome, and promising as Perdomo was a huge blow not only to his family but to everyone who enjoyed his immense talent.
I’ve seen most of the projects he’s been a part of, so his death does genuinely feel like a loss to me, and I connected deeply with the sadness that dominated Gen V Season 2 Episode 1.
We left most of the characters in Elmira in the Gen V Season 1 finale, and a time jump is used to explain Andre’s death and launch the next stage of the story.
However, I wish that we saw more of what transpired in Elmira because right now it feels like a lot of telling and not showing, which has never strengthened any show.
Despite having these feelings, I totally understand why production would try to avoid a situation where they might be forced to do some weird visual effects to bring Perdomo’s character to life.
Thomas Godolkin, Elmira, and Odessa
The first three episodes do a decent job of bringing the band back together as a new mystery surrounding God U’s founder, Thomas Godolkin (Ethan Slater), gets underway.
What I love most about this new arc is that it might not have anything to do with The Boys, but instead focuses more on Marie and the school. That allows me to enjoy it more, knowing that it won’t affect my ability to enjoy the final season of The Boys.
By Gen V Season 2 Episode 2, the tone shifts, and the crazy college experience is back. Rankings are king, and this time there is an even greater motivator: the new dean.
I loved Indira Shetty. Her polished look and perfect British accent could have allowed her to bullshit through everything, but sometimes, a different tool is needed to complete the job.
The New Faces
The season introduces the new dean, Cipher, played by the incomparable Hamish Linklater.
Linklater can instill fear in anyone by his delivery alone, so someone should win an award for this casting decision.
Dean Cipher is as scary as he is exciting. He doesn’t play, and neither does he bullshit. He tells everything as it is, but has a quirky way of going about things. The character is a little sassy, which is welcome because the world could use more sass.
Meanwhile, we also have another new character who doesn’t measure up to who she is supposed to replace. Ashley (Colby Minifie) is quite possibly the second-best character in The Boys universe after Homelander.
But after the events of The Boys, Ashley is nowhere to be seen. In all their wisdom that we won’t question, the almighty Vought brings in a new student liaison, Stacey (Stacey McGunnigle).
No offense to Stacey, but you can never be Ashley. For one, you are not as committed to the job as Ashley, and two, why the f***k do you have a weird tail? I will never get used to seeing that thing glisten when you walk away. My god, can you have it cut off or something?
Homelander’s America Is the Worst Nightmare Come True
Cutting the tail off would be contrary to the prevailing political atmosphere at the university and in America. It’s a supe world, and we are all just trying to survive.
You know, with the right amount of propaganda, threats, and misdirection, even the bad guys can win. We are all living in this hellscape where everything is shifting to the right.
Corporations are being exalted at the expense of real people, rights that minorities and the marginalized have fought for decades to win are being rolled back, we are being gaslit to brain rot, and religious fanaticism is back in full force. It’s horrible out here.
That’s why Gen V Season 2 feels like a downer. It’s hard to enjoy seeing stupidity go unchecked while the stupid continue to amass more power. Resistance feels like it’s killing you alive because the challenge seems insurmountable.
Homelander’s America is stupid, dangerous, and proud of it.
The only hope is that the good guys can win and normalcy will return. There is no timeline on when this is to happen, but Gen V has the opportunity to deliver a vicarious win as we work towards turning the tide in the real world.
It’s not guaranteed that we will, but trying has always been worth it.
The Gen V Season 2 premiere succeeds in honoring Chance Perdomo while establishing the show’s next mystery.
Stray Thoughts
- If anyone from the show’s team reads this, we don’t need to see that many penises, thank you so much. It’s getting old.
- With Andre gone, Cate feels out of place, and after The Woods was brought down, Sam no longer feels important. However, his budding friendship with Jordan promises to be sweet. Finally, Derek and Asa get to be BFFs on screen.
- I get that the show wants to continue shocking, but a head coming out of some guy’s butt is not shocking; it’s traumatizing.
Over to you, Gen V fanatics. What did you think?
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Watch Gen V Online
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