Cast: Jaz Sinclair as Marie, Lizzie Broadway as Emma, Maddie Phillips as Kate, London Thor and Derek Luh as Jordan, Asa German as Sam, Sean Patrick Thomas as Polarity, Jessica Clement as Harper, Hamish Linklater as Cypher
Length: 8 episodes
Release year: 2025
Streaming Service: Prime video
Audio Description Produced By:
Written By:
Narrated By:
What is it?: Picking up mostly where we left off, a new head of the University has been appointed, and the spin is the kids who were locked up, are now heroes. If they can just agree to keep their heads down, they might get through a semester. But, Marie made it out, and she’s on the run. Leaving no friend behind following the death of Andre, our heroes reteam just in time to fight what may be their most dangerous foe yet.
What Works: After really redefining how scary sheep can be in season 1, the second season is certainly looking for shock value moments. It works them in so seamlessly into the debauchery at hand that it doesn’t even seem as shocking as it should. I knew I was right at home with this creative team the minute one of the students was shown with the head of another supe protruding from his butt. Oddly, choices like that are what fuel the season, as cypher’s plan for the school is eventually revealed. And, spoiler alert, he thinks the weak heroes with undesirable powers weaken their species. He wants to cull the herd, removing the more freak show contenders, and allowing alphas to rise. Or, at least, that seems to be his grand plan.
Gen V starts to integrate much more with The boys heading into its final season, with Starlight making two appearances, and several other cameos along the way. it is strongly suggested that some of these gen V kids might crossover into the Boys, which can only help make their third season make sense.
I adore Jaz Sinclair as an actress, and as Marie. she reminds me quite a bit of Zoe Saldana in the way Zoe has navigated many of her roles with emotional maturity, and grit lined with an intelligence and reverence. From Colombiana, to Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy,and Avatar, these seeds are planted, and very much feel like tenants in Sinclair’s persona. she’s strong, smart, empathetic, and aware of what her role is.
Her friends all have fun stuff to do while Marie “levels up”. Emma is trying to figure out how to control her powers without vomiting, makes some new friends that will join in on the cause, and teams up with Polarity on a mission. She’s also past Sam, who has been getting pushed by Kate in an effort to keep him sane, but halfway through the season really starts to prove he has sanity capable in him if people just stop trying to mess with his head. Jordan strikes up a relationship with Marie, and deals with being ranked #1 in the school. Kate suffers a blow to her head which alters her powers, making her either more dangerous or useless. And the shining Polarity is given far more to do after the death of Andre, and sean Patrick Thomas is here for every moment of it.
but, the scene stealer is Hamish Linklater as Cypher, who is devilishly clever, and proves to be a much bigger foe for Marie than she anticipated. Little clues you get in the beginning make more sense by the end. Hiding in plain sight, if you will.
Gen V continues to be edgy, groundbreaking, and daring in the subject matter it chooses to platform, and the characters it shapes. There are queer leads, a trans hero, plenty of diversity, and a clear stance against the fascism being pushed by Homelander and his crew. The Boys has set up a final battle based on ideaology, and the Gen V cast are still trying to find their own identity. it will be interesting to see how the flagship series uses them, but also how they come out the other side. Will they have a firm sense of self, or still deep questions about their powers and how they should be using them.
And what bizarre stuff are they thinking up? this season, a girl whose power set was to grow her hair (not the ones on her head), ended up being a pivotal and useful new introduction. So, what’s next up the sleeve? Whatever it is, I’m ready for it.
The Audio Description: Gen V is one of those high risk, high reward shows for an AD studio. There’s just so much extreme graphic violence all the time, as well as sexual content, that there’s never a lack of things to describe. Plus, with an ever growing ensemble, and one that borrows from the boys, a lot of people are around to track and develop as characters. this is an excellent track, worthy of an award.
Why you Might Like it: You enjoyed Season 1, or The Boys.
Why You Might Not Like it: if you felt Season 4 was making commentary on the political landscape, and you turned it off, gen V isn’t doing anything different.this show is in your face and doesn’t care if it turns off a few potential viewers.
Final Thoughts: Just as creatively strong as the first season, gen V is invigorated through a new mysterious figure played to perfection by Hamish Linklater, determined to push the heroes to their limits.
Fresh: Final grade: 9.1/10
