Gen V, Season 2 - (Prime Video)

By Nick Zednik 

The gritty, cynical world of Prime Video’s acclaimed hit, The Boys continues as Gen V returns with a sophomore year mindset –- bigger, bolder, and more chaotic! Season 2 hits the ground running as the fallout from the first season’s revelatory cliffhanger places our beloved, yet flawed, group of misfits in dire straits. As if trying to steer clear of Homelander wasn’t hard enough, Hamish Linklater’s (Midnight Mass) Cipher, is Gondolkin University's newly appointed sinister and complex Dean and quickly makes himself a threat not to be missed with. Cipher’s hopes on creating a more unified establishment for Supes to be the best versions of themselves had about as high of a chance at succeeding as trying to control a teenager’s testosterone level. 

Season 2 makes a bold choice to separate its main cast for a majority of the time for the sake of  deeper storytelling and in doing so, the young adults are on their own self-fulfilling journeys. While it allows for natural character growth and creative narratives, The decision came at the expense of the overall mystery taking too long to cook to the point of dwindling interest. A consistent highlight continues to be Marie Moreau’s (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) Jaz Sinclair, who is not only the heart and soul of Gen V, but seen as a main player in the revolt against Homelander. Cipher develops a dark obsession with Jaz Sinclair’s powerset and serves as a mentor wanting to help a student reach their utmost potential for their own personal gain. If there’s one thing season 2 does expound upon it's the pressure and guilt the students carry with dealing with their status quo in the world thanks to their special and outlandish abilities. 

The sophomore season relies a bit too heavily on trying to reinvent the gore wheel and despite an underwhelming villain, the end result still raises interesting and exciting future possibilities. Despite its shortcomings, season 2 still serves as a worthy universe expansion and establishes the relevance of Gondolkin University and its rambunctious students as a prominent piece in a much bigger puzzle, even including some fun cameos to set the stage for more to come. 

Nick’s Pick: 7.5/10 After a slow start, Gen V Season 2 becomes a solid next chapter for The Boys Universe and further pushes the creative liberties that streaming television has to offer.