Becoming what it parodied: How The Boys is using a traditional superhero formula with Gen V

The Boys Season 5 is still a year away, but that does not mean fans have to wait an entire year to enter that universe. The second season of the spin-off series, Gen V, is releasing this September. From the two trailers that we have seen for the series, it is clear that season 2 will set up the events of the fifth and final season of the main series.

Even Gen V Season 1 set up the fourth season of the acclaimed Prime Video superhero satire series. But given how the trailer for season 2 played out, it looks like the upcoming season for the spin-off series will tie into the fifth season of The Boys. This makes Gen V Season 2 an essential watch if you want to understand the upcoming fifth season.

Previously, Gen V wasn't an essential viewing to enjoy The Boys:

Gen V Season 1 streamed in September 2023 and concluded in November 2023. The spin-off series revolved around a group of college friends who uncover a dangerous conspiracy that could affect the Supes of The Boys Universe. It is revealed that the dean of Godolkin University (God U), Indira Shetty, along with a team of scientists, has created a virus that's lethal to super-powered people.

This virus then played an important role in the fourth season, and it is expected to return in the upcoming fifth season as well. But it must be noted that the virus's origin is explained again in The Boys Season 4, ensuring that those who did not see Gen V Season 1 will understand it.

Showrunner Eric Kripke himself confirmed that fans should watch Gen V just out of curiosity, not as a chore to understand the main series, in June 2024:

"When it comes up, we’re very careful to say, 'Here’s where the virus came from, and here’s the story of it. The rule is, if it’s a story that you can just tell on The Boys then you don’t need to do a spin-off. What I like about Gen V is that those stories wouldn’t work on The Boys. So, with any other spin-offs – and we’re talking about a couple of them – we’re only going to do them if they tell stories that we couldn’t tell in the other shows, because there’s no other reason to do it."

However, now it seems that the spin-off series is more important. This is highlighted by Annie January/Starlight's (Erin Moriarty) appearance in the trailer, hinting that Annie is collaborating with Jaz Sinclair's Marie. It also suggests that Marie might be more powerful than Homelander. Thus, Sinclair may appear in the fifth season.

"In Season Two, school is back in session. As the rest of America adjusts to Homelander's iron fist, back at Godolkin University, the mysterious new Dean preaches a curriculum that promises to make students more powerful than ever. Cate and Sam are celebrated heroes, while Marie, Jordan, and Emma reluctantly return to college, burdened by months of trauma and loss. But parties and classes are hard to care about with war brewing between Humans and Supes, both on and off campus. The gang learns of a secret program that goes back to the founding of Godolkin University that may have larger implications than they realize. And, somehow, Marie is a part of it."

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Are you excited for Gen V Season 2? If you don't remember, watch the entire first season on Prime Video.

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