If you’re going to dive into Gen V, you probably want to start by watching The Boys. Spoiler alert, Gen V deals with the consequences of people finding out that they are not naturally gifted with powers, but were given Compound V as babies and often by their parents. To be a superhero is different from being a hero in the traditional sense. Individuals get powers they cannot control, or are useless in terms of doing anything remotely heroic. The accidental bloodshed and graphic depictions of this are what sell audiences on the brutal realities that these ‘superheroes’ face. Gen V manages to highlight real issues surrounding students, such as race, sexuality and gender within its storyline.
To be a superhero in the world that Vought has created is to be an individual who will make money. With sponsorship deals, movies, TV shows and merch campaigns, the students at Godolkin University are being taught how to best market their powers. The top 10 ranking system is all about who gets the most views and who the public loves. To be a relatable hero is to be transparent about real problems, with the script that Vought has provided of course.
"To be a superhero in the world that Vought has created is to be an individual who will make money."
If you’re looking for a show that matches the energy of The Boys, then maybe Gen V isn’t for you. Four episodes in though, the writers have proven that the corruption and deceit that centres Vought is much deeper than seen in The Boys, and not in a way that feels like a generic cop-off.
