Gen V Season 2: Does the man in the hyperbaric chamber have control over Cipher? Here's what a popular fan theory suggests 

Gen V Season 2 has raised more questions than it has answered, and one of the strangest mysteries is Cipher's connection to the man hidden away in that hyperbaric chamber.

Now, fans think this man isn't just a random character. Instead, many have theorized that he might actually be the one pulling the strings behind Cipher's every move.

While the show hasn't cleared this up yet, one popular theory Reddit suggests Cipher himself might only be a host body. If that's true, then the entire arc of Gen V looks very different than what Vought wants us to believe.

Keep reading to find out more about the theory.

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Cipher as a possible puppet: Breaking down the host-body theory for Gen V Season 2

Cipher's presence in Gen V Season 2 has never sat right with fans. Marie can't sense Compound V in his blood, Cate can't read his thoughts, and yet he's always one step ahead. That's odd and rare even in a show where Supes bends the laws of physics daily.

When Jordan and Cate learn about the burnt figure in Cipher's hyperbaric chamber, fans immediately connected the dots. What if that man is the true Supe and Cipher is just the shell?

This speculation gained traction on Reddit, where u/Boiqi wrote;

"I'm calling it now that Cipher's original body is Godolkin, we saw him last in the burning lab with V spilled all over the floor. It also explains him acting against Vought, his knowledge of supe powers and creating Marie as a weapon against Homelander."'

If Cipher is only a vessel, it would explain why he can stab himself without flinching, why Cate's mind control bounces off him, and why Marie's blood-sensing ability comes up empty. His real essence would be inside that broken body preserved in the chamber.

u/SalvadorZombie added on the same thread,

"Exactly, there's only one person who tube-man would be in the context of the show and it's Thomas Godolkin. We'll find out that Godolkin somehow got powers from that experiment, and it's the power to take control of others (including whoever 'Cipher' is). That's also why he wanted to bring back Thomas Godolkin Day - ego."

The burned figure, possibly being Thomas Godolkin, ties everything back to the explosive season opener, when a Compound V trial spiraled into chaos. If Godolkin survived the fire but lost his body, possession could be the only way to stay alive.

And suddenly, Cipher's obsession with Marie, like pushing her powers, nitpicking her control, focusing on her limits, feels less like mentorship and more like preparation.

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Godolkin’s darker agenda in Gen V Season 2

Gen V Season 2 loves playing with superhero archetypes. Godolkin built a school for gifted Supes, but the intent may have been darker from the start. Instead of protecting young heroes, what if he designed Godolkin University as a farm for host bodies? That aligns with comments from fans who see Cipher not as an individual but as a puppet.

u/TheChartreuseKnight speculated,

"Yeah, I'm betting that him 'dying' at the start is actually him accidentally possessing somebody else who he then uses to save his (badly burned) body."

It's a chilling thought: every time Cipher appears on screen, we might just be watching another unwilling vessel.

Other fans have pointed out that Cipher's methods make sense only if Godolkin is the man inside the chamber. u/ObviousAnswerGuy wrote:

"Regardless of who Cipher is, I think it's clearly Godolkin in the tube chamber, given the flashback scene we saw at the beginning of the season."

That perspective suggests Cipher's entire existence is a front, a mask to conceal Godolkin. u/Alonest99 even noticed a naming clue, posting:

"Yeah exactly, that old man HAS to be Godolkin right? The real mystery is if Cipher is really his son... 'Dr. Gold' hmm."

Seen this way, Cipher's focus on Marie takes on an even sharper edge. He isn't trying to groom a challenger for Homelander, but he's scouting for a replacement vessel or even hoping her powers could heal what's left of his ruined body. Either way, the balance of power at Godolkin University looks like it's about to tilt in terrifying directions.

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The man in the hyperbaric chamber may not just be another background secret but the real one to look out for in Gen V Season 2. If Cipher is nothing more than a host, then Thomas Godolkin's story didn't end in that fiery lab, but it only began.

Fans believe this theory explains his strange behavior, his interest in Marie, and his eerie resistance to powers.

Whether Cipher is a puppet or not, the chamber scene has already shifted how viewers see the season, proving once again that in The Boys universe, nothing is ever as it seems.

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