Gen V, Amazon Prime Video’s spinoff from The Boys, kicks off in familiar Boys fashion—with a burst of shocking violence. But this time, the protagonist is the one causing the carnage. Unlike Hughie, who witnessed his girlfriend’s tragic death at the hands of the speedster A-Train in the original series, Gen V’s Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) kills her parents in a horrifying accident. When Marie’s blood-bending powers manifest during her first period, it turns into a nightmare, as her blood turns to blades and fatally impales both her parents. Talk about a rough start.
This brutal moment sets the tone for the rest of Gen V, a series where misery seems to be the default mode. A few years later, Marie ends up at Godolkin University, a college for young Supes (people with superpowers), all created by the serum Compound V. Here, she meets a cast of quirky, powerful students, including Emma (Lizze Broadway), who can shrink to Ant-Man size; Andre (Chance Perdomo), a charming nepo-baby with magnetic powers; Cate (Maddie Phillips), who can persuade minds like Professor X; and Jordan (Derek Luh and London Thor), who switches between genders at will.
The comparisons to X-Men are pretty clear, with Gen V borrowing elements from the iconic superhero school setting. But where X-Men blended school life with superhero action and themes of oppressed minorities fighting back against society, Gen V doesn’t seem too interested in school. The show quickly shifts from its initial setup (where Marie’s tragic history and dark powers put her at the bottom of the social ladder) to a murder mystery and conspiracy plot.
Along the way, Gen V tosses in some media satire, taking aim at true-crime TV shows, red-carpet events, and, of course, the superhero genre itself. But the show bites off more than it can chew. The different tones and subplots often clash, such as when Marie’s budding romance with a fellow student is interrupted by the main conspiracy story.
Gen V feels a little like Ms. Marvel did last year—starting with a fun, school-centered premise and then veering off into other storylines that weaken the core concept. While Ms. Marvel took Kamala Khan’s story to Pakistan, sidelining the high school setting, Gen V’s school drama quickly gets lost in a web of conspiracies and media critiques, which distracts from the characters and their potential.
There are, however, some standout moments, especially for fans of The Boys. Gen V does an excellent job making superpowers look dynamic and inventive. The action scenes are visually stunning, and there are creative uses of powers that are both exciting and grotesque. But while The Boys mixed dark humor, wild violence, and deranged characters to create a balanced tone, Gen V feels one-note. The show relentlessly drags everyone through misery, with each brief spark of hope being snuffed out by more violence and despair.
At some point, you have to admire Gen V‘s commitment to its dark, blood-soaked approach. But the show would do well to remember that it’s possible to critique corporate pop culture while still having a little fun. Maybe that’s a lesson they should teach at Godolkin.
