With its first season, Prime Video’s Gen V ingeniously spins off from the hit series The Boys into an exhilarating new chapter set in the same gritty universe. Centered around Godolkin University, a prestigious school run by the notorious Vought International to train the next generation of young “supes,” Gen V complements The Boys’ cynical lens with an empathetic exploration of teenagers facing traumatic manipulation and pressures to use their powers responsibly.
Showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters smartly anchor the show in the resonant coming-of-age story of its lead character, Marie Moreau (a stellar Jaz Sinclair). As a freshman still reeling from the murder of her mother, Marie enters Godolkin eager to gain control over her formidable but frightening ability to weaponize her own blood. She aims not just to master her powers, but to become a celebrated supe and role model who can inspire others like her. From the start though, Marie and her fellow students — all grappling with volatile abilities and traumas of their own — discover the university’s posh, aspirational veneer hides something far more insidious, like a beautifully wrapped gift hiding a venomous snake.
Like its predecessor, Gen V gleefully doubles down on shocking violence, raunchy humor, and sex to underscore the volatility of its young characters as they traverse adolescent minefields, both ordinary and extraordinary. But it does so thoughtfully, pushing boundaries to visceral effect in order to elevate the personal journeys at stake. As the season progresses, the mental and physical carnage inflicted, both intentionally and not, leaves real scars. The result is a grounded exploration of teens struggling with accountability, morality, and their own superiorities and flaws as they decide who they will become.
What elevates this coming-of-age story the most is Gen V’s stellar young cast, who universally commit to embellishing this wild collegiate backdrop with genuine emotion.
As manipulative illusionist Cate, Maddie Phillips adds riveting complexity, while the romance between shape-shifters Emma and Sam, played wonderfully by Lizze Broadway and Asa Germann, provides needed an emotional throughline. Together the core ensemble takes archetypal dynamics and infuses them with a raw, contemporary edge.
There’s Jaz Sinclair’s Marie, the prototypical hero trying to stay morally upright in a corrupt system. Chance Perdomo shines as Andre, the partying son of a celebrity supe who uses his metal-morphing ability mainly for personal gain. Derek Luh portrays Jordan, a gender-fluid chameleon still finding themself. London Thor nails golden boy persona as speedster Jet, a campus legacy hungry for fame and glory. And Shelley Connor’s chilling turn as the university’s corporate overseer keeps the sinister undertones flowing.
Marie’s life has been a constant battle against tragedy and disadvantage, her place in the narrative hindered by circumstances beyond her control. But despite these obstacles, she stands as a shining example of the best humanity has to offer. In most shows, this would relegate her to a dull and uninteresting main character, overshadowed by more complex and captivating supporting roles.
However, Marie remains the heart and soul of Gen V for three key reasons: Firstly, her heartbreaking backstory is not simply a forgotten plot device. Instead, it resurfaces during both triumphant and tragic moments, adding depth and resonance to her character development. Secondly, the story initially presents Marie’s powers as strange but ultimately cool. Yet as the story unfolds, they are revealed to be far more dangerous and surprising than anyone could have anticipated. And finally, actress Jaz Sinclair shines as the lead in this series. She effortlessly brings Marie to life, making her simultaneously relatable and aspirational – an unmissable force on-screen.
The writers insightfully track how trauma, insecurity, recklessness and betrayal leave scars on all sides. And while parts of Marie’s disillusioning hero journey feel familiar, her scenes are compelling, thanks to foils like Cate, and they provide a building sense of danger. Together, the cast keeps you invested in each emotional beat along the way.
Of course, Gen V capably stands on its own two feet as a TV series as well. Early on, it layers in plenty of references to satisfy franchise fans, name-dropping key supes and events to firmly establish its place in The Boys universe.
But new viewers are brought up to speed organically on key backstory in order to follow along. Before long, the central mysteries unfolding on campus take center stage over any callbacks.
The writing and character development prove strong enough here to make Godolkin University feel like a fully-realized environment viewers are discovering for the first time. Visually, Gen V is hugely impressive as well, continuing the signature look and detailed world-building that makes superpowers feel grounded in reality. Action scenes thrill with blood, gore, and imaginative supernatural feats. Quieter character moments still simmer with beautiful cinematography and a buzzing atmosphere. It all keeps you locked in moment to moment, unsure what wild or revolting thing might happen next.
From university corruption and infighting, to an anti-supe terrorist group horribly exploiting god-like abilities, Gen V has plenty of compelling threats and moral complexity to mine in future seasons. The finale leaves some character arcs on frustrating cliffhangers but that sting proves the show has you invested. When the closing moments promised an expansive conspiracy that could crossover directly into The Boys current season, that interest only grew.
In the end, through eight thrilling episodes, Gen V succeeds mightily in expanding The Boys universe by ingeniously telling its own captivating coming-of-age story. The trials and transformations of Marie and friends feel distinct from what the flagship show explores, opening up new creative avenues while still hitting those signature notes fans expect. Darkly hilarious yet full of raw emotion, the first season establishes Godolkin University as an essential, adrenalized new corner of the franchise.
Tonally and qualitatively, Gen V at its best reaches the same heights of character drama, social commentary, and gleefully gratuitous spectacle that makes its namesake such a global phenomenon. To spin excellence off from greatness is no easy feat. But much like Marie discovering the power within her own blood, Gen V taps into the rich DNA of The Boys and runs with it to produce something wholly its own. The comparably grounded coming-of-age tale told here stands out as a thrilling alternative perspective that widens the lore and mythos in all the right ways.
The show does suffer from a lack of world-building. At this point, Gen V is still experimenting with its tone, cast, and the way Godolkin’s internal world operates. Hopefully, just like The Boys, it will find its niche and voice and get even better in the next few seasons.
After an explosive freshman year poised to intersect back with the main series, the adventures on Godolkin’s campus now feel essential not just to The Boys universe, but to the Prime Video original lineup as a whole. Much like actual university, the first season introducing us to Marie, Cate, Sam and all the rest flies by in a flash. But it leaves you grateful for more semesters with these flawed, fascinating characters lying ahead. Wherever Gen V heads next, sign us up. The series has more than earned its place, carving its own legacy as a true highlight fans won’t want to miss.