Gen V

This review was made after watching Season 1.

Good news, the show will have a second season 2. Sad news, sadly, one of the main actors passed away at 27. He was my favourite character in the series, I wish his family well, and I'm sure he made it to Heaven.

Ok let's review the show now. Is there gore? Yes. Is there nudity? Yes. Are there cool superpowers? Yes. That checks it for most of The Boys fans, but this series has more. Many current topics are tackled like eating disorders, self harm, parents acceptance and social media. The cg is good, the sets are good, and the acting is great. You really should give it a try.

I've watched the first season of Gen V right after finishing the boys. Hearing about a the boys spinoff that involves college supes sounded so creative and interesting to me that I just had to check it out. Every Wednesday i've been waiting for a new episode and i'm currently waiting for the season 2 finale. This shows been great and they have an amazing cast.

This show is comedic, irreverent, and crass, but somehow they merged the characters played by Chance Perdomo and Sean Patrick Thomas with grace and let the moments breathe. There is so much love that the father pours out for his son on screen that it transcends and honors the late actor. Great character work in season 2.

Gen V

Gen V is basically season 3.5 of The Boys. We are introduced to teenagers that are in a school for supes, teaching skills to be able to interact with humans depending on their unique powers. The major themes of the show are acceptance of who you are and, fear and discrimination on all sides.

The challenge with self acceptance of being a minority in America is made worse due to the fact that they have special power that can be deadly, depending on the morality of the person. What makes this worse is the fact that these powers were given to the people as children by the parents, thus metaphorically giving the impression that they were born that way. The idea that a minority is stronger than the snobbish majority is a theme that has been shown a lot lately in fictionalized media. Dehumanization still remains which is also a more difficult issue for these people because any use of their power can be interpreted as threatening thus justifying the discrimination. It doesn't help that there are folks happy to be immoral because they believe themselves as unstoppable. This metaphor proves to be very interesting as self acceptance then becomes near impossible. Most of the characters do not like having their powers. Some use them accidentally causing harm or death to loved ones, increasing this self loathing. I definitely can relate as a gay man because self acceptance took many decades, even though my power to cause harm was emotional or mental.

Fear and discrimination plays out in abusing the supes' lack of self acceptance because we learn that the school is more than it appears. In the first episode, the boy considered the number one student murders a beloved mentor and then commits suicide with the audience left wondering what is happening with that character, and with the school that supported him. The Boys demonstrated this many times in their three seasons with the supes' behavior and arrogance, often hidden to prevent backlash. This fear leads to two types of people. Ones that wish to live in peace, and those that wish to promote their arrogance to squash the others. It's ridiculous as it happens today, but it is still fun to watch the lovable characters fight back.

I'm eager for Season 4 of The Boys, and this show just made my eagerness stronger.

Gen V, the spin-off of the hit series The Boys, throws us into the lives of hormonal, competitive superheroes-in-training at the prestigious Vought American University.

It's a potent mix of teen drama, superhero action, and The Boys' signature dark humor, but does it live up to its predecessor's legacy?

Gen V delves deeper into the inner workings of Vought, the corporation that creates and exploits superheroes.

We see the sausage-making of superhero creation, the ruthless marketing strategies, and the devastating consequences of their experiments.

The young actors bring their characters to life with genuine charm and vulnerability.

Jaz Sinclair shines as Marie Moreau, a troubled girl with a dark past and a dangerous power.

Gen V doesn't hold back on the violence, and it's often darkly funny. Think exploding body parts, superhero infighting gone wrong, and enough blood to fill a few swimming Pools.

The series tackles relevant themes like teenage anxiety, social media's influence on identity, and the commodification of bodies in the superhero industry. It's not afraid to get under the skin of these complex issues.

The overarching mystery can feel convoluted at times, with predictable twists and turns. You've seen these genre tropes before, and Gen V doesn't subvert them in any meaningful way.

The show sometimes swings wildly between gritty realism and over-the-top silliness.

It can be hard to find its footing tonally, leaving you feeling like you're watching two different shows taped together.

We're mostly confined to the university campus, which can feel constricting compared to The Boys' expansive universe.

A wider scope could have allowed for richer worldbuilding and exploration of superhero society.

Action sequences are well- choreographed and exciting, with impressive special effects for a TV series.

The soundtrack pulsates with a blend of edgy rock and synth- heavy electronica, capturing the show's rebellious spirit.

Cinematography is slick and stylish, with dynamic camerawork and striking visuals that evoke a hyper-real teenage world.

Gen V is a fun, albeit flawed, addition to The Boys universe. It's packed with sharp performances, brutally funny violence, and thought-provoking social themes.

However, the predictable plot, uneven tone, and limited worldbuilding hold it back from reaching the same dizzying highs as its parent show. Still, for fans of superhero satire and teen angst with a healthy dose of blood splatters, Gen V is a binge-worthy ride you won't regret.

Watch it if you enjoy The Boys' dark humor and superhero action, but temper your expectations for narrative originality.