Gen V Season 2 Review: The Boys Spin-Off Manages To Entertain Despite Heightened Melodrama

The much-loved anti-superhero show The Boys on Prime Video spawned an almost equally interesting spin-off, Gen V in 2023. Now, two years later, Gen V returns with season 2 and here’s MensXP’s review of the web series.

Gen V Season 2 Plot Analysis

All four seasons of The Boys are some of the best (anti) superhero stuff I’ve seen on TV and what turned out to be a pleasant surprise was its spin-off Gen V season 1turning out to be quite an interesting watch.

© Prime Video

However, Gev V season 2, in comparison to its previous season, as well as The Boys, is the weakest of the lot.

The show has a slow start, with a focus more on the melodrama. It isn’t as funny or diabolical as its previous season or The Boys.

In fact, in the first four episodes, the plot too takes a back seat and more prominence is given to the one-on-one equation and relationship of the lead characters instead of the core plot of the show featuring Hamish Linklater’s Cipher, a mysterious yet sinister plan.

The first half of Gen V season 2 really begins to test your patience until the plot finally kicks in and since then, even though it isn’t a smooth or a fun ride, the show still manages to engage and mildly entertain.

Besides that, the pacing of the show also suffers due to the uneven writing. At one point, we are introduced to a human character and we are kind of given a peek into her life at the college that mainly has human-hating supes. But she is completely ignored after an episode.

© Prime Video

Similarly, two characters from The Boys make a late entry to the show and we are given a peek into their lives but their characters are forgotten after a few scenes.

The music of the show is fine, but the pacing is occasionally an issue, particularly in the first half. It looked like the makers had content of only five or six episodes at max, which was stretched to eight episodes.

Gen V Season 2 Performances Review

Season 2 marks the return of Jaz Sinclair as Marie, Lizze Broadway as Emma, Maddie Phillips as Cate, London Thor as female Jordan Li, Derek Luh as male Jordan Li and Asa Germann as Sam.

While all of them have delivered good performances, it is Lizze Broadway who stands out from the rest with a better-written character and an outstanding performance.

© Prime Video

Having said that, the show stealer without a doubt is Hamish Linklater as the new mysterious GodU dean Cipher.

Sean Patrick Thomas gets a couple of MVP moments and he is quite good.

Gen V Season 2 Final Verdict

If this were the first season of the show, The Boys spin-off Gen V would’ve been dead on arrival. Overall, Gen V season 2 is watchable and will engage and may entertain you only if you are fully invested in the world of The Boys and are a huge fan of the show.

The first three episodes of Gen V season 2 are now streaming on Prime Video, followed by a new episode every week.

Gen V Season 2 Rating: 3/5