Summary
This superhero spin-off is all talk and not enough action. It’s a great premise, in a universe everyone wants more of, but it just falls short of being compelling viewing.
The excitement for this series was incredibly high, with The Boys fans going wild for more over-the-top, outlandish, and gruesome content from this unique superhero universe. There were some worries about the release date for Gen V and The Boys due to the writers’ strikes, but thankfully, audiences haven’t had to wait too long for season 1.
Based on the comic The Boys Volume 4: We Gotta Go Now by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the story follows the lives of hormonal, competitive superheroes as they put their physical, sexual, and moral boundaries to the test.
It’s compulsive viewing and holds your attention, but don’t compare it to The Boys, as you will be disappointed. What both Gen V and The Boys do well is tell a story in that universe that reflects on our own.
In this case, it’s hormonal, anxiety-ridden, social media-addicted young adults with something to prove—they have superpowers to make things a little more interesting. However, it lacks a strong story arc or purpose, and whilst the characters are well-written, there’s not a compelling enough conflict to keep you invested.
Gen v Season 1 Review
The main storyline follows Marie and her start at Godolkin University — her trying to fit in and suddenly realizing that superhero school isn’t what she’d imagined. Her high hopes and picturesque perfect superhero future are brought down with the harsh realizations of what it really means and takes to be in The Seven — slightly similar to Starlight’s character in The Boys.
From here, this series offers in-depth character developments, as we learn little but often about the characters and watch them evolve as they unravel secrets and mysteries around Vought and the University.
The episodes explore complex relationships with lovers, friends, teachers, and parents, all of which try to mirror real society’s difficulties. I appreciated the take on social media and the “Instagram versus reality” aspect.
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However, at times, it all felt too heavy, and I was waiting for the funny R-rated graphic set-piece to happen.
While they keep the cast and are relatively small, the overriding story arc is not strong enough to carry the whole season and becomes repetitive and predictable. There were many times I wished they had pushed the writing further, as it feels like they’ve played it safe. This is a bold statement to make, but I wasn’t left in awe or desperate to continue watching.
It’s bloody diabolical. No, it’s good. However, I didn’t find it as funny as I thought I would. There are some great comedic scenes, don’t get me wrong, but it didn’t fill that dark humor hole I needed to fill. The acting is to a high standard and strange, they carry their scenes exceptionally well but don’t have compelling enough chemistry when sharing a scene. The characters are well-written, but there isn’t enough disturbing chaotic energy to keep the tension and intrigue growing.
Gen V is still worth streaming. While it’s not as action-packed or funny as you might hope, it’s still worth investing time in. You don’t need to have watched The Boys in order to watch this, and you shouldn’t compare when watching it either (or try not to; I know it’s really hard).
As a whole, the series offers another dynamic dimension to The Boys’ universe. Will it have the same popularity and longevity? I don’t think so, but it’s been a decent spin-off series and doesn’t let the latter down.
