Gen V (2023– ) User Reviews

Superheroes with growing pains

[SonGoku540 · 7/10 · 19 January 2024]

Gen V, the spin-off of the hit series The Boys, throws us into the lives of hormonal, competitive superheroes-in-training at the prestigious Vought American University.

It's a potent mix of teen drama, superhero action, and The Boys' signature dark humor, but does it live up to its predecessor's legacy?

Gen V delves deeper into the inner workings of Vought, the corporation that creates and exploits superheroes.

We see the sausage-making of superhero creation, the ruthless marketing strategies, and the devastating consequences of their experiments.

The young actors bring their characters to life with genuine charm and vulnerability.

Jaz Sinclair shines as Marie Moreau, a troubled girl with a dark past and a dangerous power.

Gen V doesn't hold back on the violence, and it's often darkly funny. Think exploding body parts, superhero infighting gone wrong, and enough blood to fill a few swimming Pools.

The series tackles relevant themes like teenage anxiety, social media's influence on identity, and the commodification of bodies in the superhero industry. It's not afraid to get under the skin of these complex issues.

The overarching mystery can feel convoluted at times, with predictable twists and turns. You've seen these genre tropes before, and Gen V doesn't subvert them in any meaningful way.

The show sometimes swings wildly between gritty realism and over-the-top silliness.

It can be hard to find its footing tonally, leaving you feeling like you're watching two different shows taped together.

We're mostly confined to the university campus, which can feel constricting compared to The Boys' expansive universe.

A wider scope could have allowed for richer worldbuilding and exploration of superhero society.

Action sequences are well- choreographed and exciting, with impressive special effects for a TV series.

The soundtrack pulsates with a blend of edgy rock and synth- heavy electronica, capturing the show's rebellious spirit.

Cinematography is slick and stylish, with dynamic camerawork and striking visuals that evoke a hyper-real teenage world.

Gen V is a fun, albeit flawed, addition to The Boys universe. It's packed with sharp performances, brutally funny violence, and thought-provoking social themes.

However, the predictable plot, uneven tone, and limited worldbuilding hold it back from reaching the same dizzying highs as its parent show. Still, for fans of superhero satire and teen angst with a healthy dose of blood splatters, Gen V is a binge-worthy ride you won't regret.

Watch it if you enjoy The Boys' dark humor and superhero action, but temper your expectations for narrative originality.

Solid Spin-off

[Supermanfan-13 · 9/10 · 12 May 2024]

As a big fan of The Boys I've been looking forward to Gen V ever since I first heard about it. Then after seeing the trailers my excitement grew even more. After watching the first few episodes I can absolutely say without a doubt that Gen V has not only met my expectations but has exceeded them in every way. It's as fast paced and entertaining as the The Boys series. Even though you'd probably enjoy this more if you've seen the The Boys, you don't have to have seen them to like this. The action scenes are as good as anything I've seen on tv, as exciting and ridiculous as they are in The Boys. I can't stop watching this and really hope they plan on doing several seasons of this because I'm hooked.

Nice addition to the Boys Universe

[Rob1331 · 9/10 · 12 May 2024]

Gen V is every bit as good as I hoped it would be. This is a spin-off of the incredible series The Boys and much like that series this is a show for adults. Gen V tells the story of a premier college for superheroes called Godolkin University. The students there are looking to join the elite superhero teams across America. We get to see these young supes as they learn to become both superheroes and adults. Obviously, not everyone there is a good guy, there are also villains and this show turns very bloody very quickly. There are also plenty of cameos from the The Boys that pop up in this too. I'm so glad that they are expanding this universe and hope they do even more spin-offs. If you like The Boys I promise you you'll like this too.

Generic Teen Drama meets The Boys

[ssvfolder-1 · 6/10 · 16 December 2023]

The Boys show is amazing. Excellent casting along with compelling storylines and gruesome details. It has it all. This show is a spinoff in the same universe, though it never manages to reach the same heights or interest of The Boys.

If you've seen one modern teenage drama, you've seen them all. Basically it's about actors in their late 20's, playing as 18 years old, tackling the issues of identity, sex, evil senior leadership that is keeping a dark secret and modern diversity and inclusivity.

The show tries to make the story more interesting by using gruesome elements form the Boys universe (and that's the only reason that I gave it 6/10), but at its core it's still the same annoying teen drama.

Special effects and gruesome details are at par with "the boys", while acting and storyline is lacking in quality, boring and feel forced.

It still better than most of the superhero movies being released today, as it's not as predictable and stupid as the rest of them, but it's mostly due to "the Boys" universe and not as self sufficient as it might have been.

I hope they'll manage to improve and take it further to the insanely high level of the original show\comics.

Solid spinoff

[williamxbones · 16 December 2023]

Season one is pretty good, it's different from the parent story for better and for worse. Starting with the positives, Marie, Emma, Andre and and Jordan are likeable character that are fun to follow in a story that has a tone of humor. Sam's character arc was pretty impressive in only a season. The two last episodes were really great with Neuman's appearance that quickly raised the stakes and the last episode being really crazy. Unfortunately the first six episodes were a bit forgettable, they definitely were necessary for character development and build up but they were not exactly interesting. While the comedy is still great, the one thing missing from this spinoff is expert writing, in The Boys, seeing incredibly powerful characters engaging in mind games to screw each other is essential while in this, they let Cate operate long after the reveal.

Seasone 1: 7/10.

Not as good as the boys

[paulbuck-06503 · 6/10 · 5 May 2024]

It's nowhere near as good as the boys there's no dark humour that makes the boys so good it's just a load of teen angst and I appreciate that as a 50 year old man this wasn't really made for me it's a young adult show but I was hoping it would be like the boys but sadly it wasn't that's not to say it's bad it's o.k if your it's target audience (young adult), there are a few funny bits but they just don't hit the mark, the acting is pretty good and the storyline is not bad it kept me entertained and I did want to know what was gonna happen so in that respect it's a good entertaining program but it's just lacking a little something.

Unexpectedly Good!

[nashezzubair · 8/10 · 6 January 2024]

A spin off set in the most incredibly thought through universe of recent times. Sounds too good to be true but they pulled it off in spectacular fashion. Looking at the Boys' universe from the lens of teenage superheroes as they realize what being a superhero means in the real world is refreshing.

The cast is good, although not at the level of The Boys but good enough. Jaz Sinclair (as Marie) in the lead is good, supported by Lizzie Broadway (as Emma), Chance Perdomo (as Polarity), London Thor (as Jordan Li) and others are also good.

The plot surprisingly ties in very well to the story of the main series and the cameos of the main show are extremely rewarding.

Good and entertaining to watch. Not a must though for the Boys universe.

Lackluster Spin-Off with Limited Entertainment Value

[drael64 · 6/10 · 29 September 2023]

I watched Generation V with a sense of anticipation, curious if it would boast any endearing characters or capture the cutting social satire that made its predecessor, The Boys, so compelling. Regrettably, it appears that the only common thread between the two lies in their penchant for shock value, sporadic action, and a hint of intrigue. In fact ironically it seems to take many of the things lampooned in the Boys seriously.

Is it entertaining? Well, in my opinion, it won't leave you utterly bored, but it's unlikely to evoke any profound affection for its characters or its world, nor will it really elicit laughter. If you do decide to tune in, it will likely be solely to follow the progression of the plot.

It's hard to imagine that a show like this, relying on the now shock tropes from the Boys as being safe, but here we are. The series adheres to the familiar tropes of a teenage action show, featuring spirited underdog protagonists who forge bonds and defy the odds within a flawed system, all while exuding an undercurrent of confused sexual desire. In comparison to other shows of its genre, it may surpass many in quality (it at least doesn't solely rely on sexual tension), but it fails to offer any significant character insights or compelling comedy. Whether you choose to watch it or not, chances are you won't despise it or love it. However, if you find yourself pressed for time, it might be wise to await a more compelling streaming option.

Are these ratings a joke?

[realflunk · 4/10 · 2 October 2023]

I cannot fathom, in any way possible, that anyone would rate this show above 8.

This feels so weird to watch. You feel like it SHOULD be a good show, because it's set in the same universe as The Boys, right? But the more you watch, the more you feel like you're watching some weird teenage show , that the annoying girl from your old high-school class guaranteed you was sooo interesting. Kind of like Riverdale vibes (how was that ever popular??) And yet, you feel yourself drifting off into sleep, the more you watch.

I don't know man, I wished I like this, because The Boys is an amazing, innovative show, but this is just so half-assed and bad.

Please, just stop. Stop it now.

Amazing Spin Off Series

[kitingaomotoso · 10/10 · 11 May 2024]

This is an amazing spin of series of course from the boys universe. It explores different teenagers With varieties of different powers and how they struggle with their powers. This show is actually powerful, especially due to young teenagers who struggle With depression, drug use, sexual activities and so much dangerous things in their lives. All actors and performers gave in amazing act and I would love to see more seasons in 2025. Also would like to thank people that were involved With both the boys and Gen V. I would also like to console with the family of chance RIP to one of the best upcoming actors.

A perfect spin off

[szenkierethan · 9/10 · 3 January 2024]

This show is a perfect introduction for season 4 The Boys. It takes it time to make great character development and it's a real must watch for a fan of the boys.

I really enjoyed watching this show and I can't wait for season 2. If you liked the boys you will certainly like Gen V. The end of this season is perfect and annonce a solid season 4.

It adds a very interesting new element to the boys universe and they needed it, the lasts seasons were kind of repetitive, with the same intrigue that doesn't evolve that much and I was worried season 4 would be the same. I can tell with this final that it will be totally different and new.

Rare

[ToddWSheets · 9/10 · 18 December 2023]

The spin off has managed to capture the essence of the original while also expanding on its universe. The Gen V has breathed new life into the franchise and I can't wait to see where it goes next. I am excited to see how the spin off will continue to build upon the established foundation of the original. The new characters introduced are intriguing and I can't wait to learn more about their backstories. This show has successfully maintained the tone and style of the original, making it a seamless transition for fans. I have high hopes for the future of Gen V and I am eager to see what new adventures await us.

Nowhere near as good as "the boys"

[Mr_MickyKnox · 6/10 · 29 September 2023]

I was really looking forward to this show, but now I've seen it, I kinda feel a bit let down . The main character is totally uninteresting and boring, I think she was the wrong choice for the main character, and that blood superpower is pretty pathetic aswell, I just want every cringing scene she's in to be over as quickly as possible. Let's hope she gets killed off as soon as possible and replaced with a proper main character.

Everyone running around with phones taking selfies all the time is a bit silly too, are all people of that age really that immature and pathetic ? I know it revolves around characters in a college, it doesn't mean that the whole show should be written specifically teenagers either, because that's what if feels like.

First episode grabs you right away

[ddgjtqs · 10/10 · 16 April 2024]

I'm a huge fan of The Boys. I have been a Karl Urban fan since ghost ship! Researching new season of The Boys (if one ever comes out), I found Gen V. The first episode left me with my mouth open from shock and wanting more! There were some scenes I could do without but remembering Seth Rohan is involved helps remind me why some of the scenes were the way they were. Definitely worth watching! The very best part of the whole season is about 15 seconds after the credits start on the last episode. I originally stopped my review here since I'm usually too long winded but surprisingly I was told it was too short. So I'll go on to say I enjoyed the cast. There were lots of surprises and twists in the plot as well. Hopefully there will not be as much of a delay in between seasons as The Bots since the budget was only a quarter of the cost. I love the way the stories of the two shows were intertwined.

Gen V is what a spin off should be....

[maulcun · 9/10 · 3 November 2023]

Gen V is what a spin off should be. I initially had my doubts. I wasn't expecting an incredible, mind-boggling, award winning show but more like a good, entertaining serial, and it delivers on that.

Has it's own personality without deviating too much from the original source. They really nailed their pacing, their characters had depth and the world was built quickly.

And it's not just dumb fun, it talks about a lot of societal issues in interesting ways and it feels like a breath of fresh air in the genre of teen drama. Definitely give it a watch.

I cannot wait for season 4 of the boys and season 2 of gen v.

Gross out. Cliche stereotypes. Padded out plot.

[mr_sharma · 5/10 · 8 November 2023]

As other 5/6 star reviews have pointed out, you would not watch this IF it were not related to The Boys.

There are many problems that the series creates for itself.

When the writers aim a show at GEN X but fail to understand that an audience has brains, watches better stories on various platforms and really have gone way past gross out moments (e.g visceral, bloody gory kills, unnecessarily gross sexual scenes, mental health treated like a joke etc). It doesn't really provide characters with....humanity. No real grey areas to the characters. Either it's black or white. Oh look what they did to us so I'm gonna go bat **** crazy and kill everyone.

It's stupid.

Whereas The Boys is the same, the end result is a well developed story with well developed characters and motivations. There is empathy within the madness.

In Gen V, they have decided to explore the various aspects of (super)humans that other series don't really go into. In doing so, they simply create cliché plots, with cliché bad guys, good guys, bad women, good women....and that's it.

Characters happen to run into scenes, have time to chat, act woodenly, before fighting.

There is so much better stuff out there that this is only being propped up because of it's links to The Boys.

Watch it. Don't watch it. I don't think you'll learn anything new. It's all really just a Vought money grab.

And because of it's association will probably be no. 1 on Amazon.

If you want to see violence and character development done right.....watch Blue Eye Samurai. Truly does the same job a 100 times better (albeit in Anime form).

Better than I expected

[DivorcedThrice · 9/10 · 2 October 2023]

People are seemingly being overly harsh on this series either because it's not the boys or they didn't want a boys spin off but in my opinion this is infact a good ass show. If people don't like it that's fine but I think they're being too hard on it, the show has a unique premise, it expands the world of the boys, it has unique and deep characters, it has endings that make you want to watch the next episode as soon as possible and it has all the gore and weirdness that makes the boys so different. Obviously gore isn't enough to make something good so it's genuinely backed up by some great writing. People are calling the main character unlikable but everything she does whether it's bad or good has an understandable reason behind it. It's something a normal person should easily be able to emphasize with. It's not the boys good but that doesn't mean it's not good at all. It's still an incredibly good watch.

Better than expected

[LeftyMcLefterson · 8/10 · 29 September 2023]

Huge fan of The Boys, the grittiness, violence and humor really struck all the right chords for me. So when I heard about Gen V I was concerned and almost certain that it was going to be a poor spin off appealing to teens like that one Walking Dead spin off.

This time, I was gladly mistaken. Now, it's not The Boys, it definitely is more "hip" and is set on a college, but it still holds the central tenets of The Boys strong at its center. The characters take a little bit of time to get used to and figure out their roles but by episode 3 they definitely feel a lot more comfortable. I love the main character, Marie, she's wonderful.

Definitely can recommend to a fan of The Boys, especially to hold you over until season 4.

Surprisingly Good

[eclarkdog · 8/10 · 30 September 2023]

I'm older so was very concerned this would be too YA for me, but I gave the first episode a chance and ended up watching all 3 released episodes. The show has the same feel of Boys, but a bit more serious and less outright comical - although there are some very funny bits.

I see a lot of complaints about the lead actress - who is very pretty by the way. I see comments like she is unlikeable. However, if you watch all 3 released epis you will see her character evolve and evolve again. Give her a chance. Her power is quite bizarre. The manifestation of it is a horror. However, it has some interesting applications that one might not see at first until it is used. I believe her and the girl playing her roommate, are actresses to watch out for in the future.

In fact, the young cast as a whole, all unknown to me, are very solid. The blond who dates Golden Boy (played by Arnie's son) stood out to me as well, as does the guy who plays the Magneto-like supe.

Clancy Brown has a small but important role with this one soliloquy that was excellently done, and just evil.

If you like The Boys, then I don't see why you would not like this show.

I'm in the small minority that loves Gen V

[UniqueParticle · 9/10 · 9 October 2023]

I absolutely love Emma, the powers, grotesque violence, and I'm rare breed that enjoys stories about the young folks. I'm baffled there's more negative reviews the series is well directed, a superb connection to The Boys sure that series is superior but I love this for what it is! I've been into One Piece anime when I do watch shows which is masterful just nice to break from it. Assuming a lot of people don't enjoy the mellow drama new Generation I think it's interesting, well acted and intense in all the right ways.

Besides I love stuff about dark superpowers there's not enough of it out there to me Gen V hits the spot and I'd highly recommend! Stop hating on my review, I have autism/intellectual disability I enjoy things differently.

Self-injurious behavior equals superpowers? Seriously?

[groundzero-273-397110 · 6/10 · 10 December 2023]

I decided to give this series a chance, as it ties in with The Boys. It doesn't even come close to the same quality as The Boys. The story is rather boring and the characters are not very likable. The series gets a bit more interesting towards the end, but not enough. The acting is good enough and the series has some funny scenes, but it's not enough for a rating stronger than 6/10.

It's the first time I've seen Patrick Schwarzenegger as an actor. I didn't have high expectations considering his father isn't exactly the best actor, but he was actually one of the best actors in the series, and played the most interesting character. So I got disappointed when he died in the first episode.

Something that really bothered me about this series is the choice of superpowers the writers have given some of the characters. There are two characters who basically have to use self-harming behavior in order to use their superpowers. Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) has telekinesis, but only when it comes to blood. She has to cut herself, to get blood that is, so she can use it as a weapon. Emma Meyer's (Lizze Broadway) superpower is that she can change size to either become as small as an ant, or as big as a giant, more or less. The way she gets small is by sticking her fingers in her throat and vomiting, and the more she does it the smaller she gets. It goes the other way when she wants to get big. Then she has to eat, and the more she eats the bigger she gets. Who thought this was a good idea? Seriously? Self-injurious behavior equals superpowers? Just, why? I know it's a brutal and grotesque series, and it should, and I want it to be brutal and grotesque, BUT it should be funny and entertaining at the same time, and there's nothing funny about these so called superpowers! There is nothing wrong with the superpowers themselves. It's the way of activating the superpowers that is wrong. They could have done this in so many other ways. They should be ashamed.

UNDDERATED!

[berkdk94 · 10/10 · 10 December 2023]

It is fantastic! Connection between boys is so natural developed! The characters are nice and well designed. Hero, antihero, villain all of it mixed and brings more confusion and change in emotions.

Violence like Tarantino movies l, everywhere is bloody. They showed us without fear.

Cinematography like denisse, and I sense something from david lynch.

They showed us revenge story, sympathy Conflicts and the one eye above all of us who monitor, control and manipulate use. Even put us really deep sleep..... good to see different superpowers as well I don't understand this rating at all.

It is really really underrated!

Well done boys!

First three episodes

[yokoyoko-05926 · 6/10 · 29 September 2023]

First three premiere episodes feels like "The Boys" now have this weird cousin that you don't necessarily hate but he is not your favorite.

You can't help but compare it to main show because its happening in the same universe. When BOYS are introducing you into separate characters with interesting background, here everything just feel SOOO rushed. Everyone are able to forget about something that happened just day before only to mindlessly push story further. Also VXF in some situations are amazing but in others they look like they were made in Paint3D

I'm not saying that the show is bad, for now (29th September) we have only 3 episodes from 8. But in my opinion the characters are much more bland here in "Gen V" then in "The Boys". For now, totally not matching my expectations.

A good "meanwhile" to tide us over until The Boys Season 4

[malmevik77 · 8/10 · 25 March 2024]

Gen V

Gen V is basically season 3.5 of The Boys. We are introduced to teenagers that are in a school for supes, teaching skills to be able to interact with humans depending on their unique powers. The major themes of the show are acceptance of who you are and, fear and discrimination on all sides.

The challenge with self acceptance of being a minority in America is made worse due to the fact that they have special power that can be deadly, depending on the morality of the person. What makes this worse is the fact that these powers were given to the people as children by the parents, thus metaphorically giving the impression that they were born that way. The idea that a minority is stronger than the snobbish majority is a theme that has been shown a lot lately in fictionalized media. Dehumanization still remains which is also a more difficult issue for these people because any use of their power can be interpreted as threatening thus justifying the discrimination. It doesn't help that there are folks happy to be immoral because they believe themselves as unstoppable. This metaphor proves to be very interesting as self acceptance then becomes near impossible. Most of the characters do not like having their powers. Some use them accidentally causing harm or death to loved ones, increasing this self loathing. I definitely can relate as a gay man because self acceptance took many decades, even though my power to cause harm was emotional or mental.

Fear and discrimination plays out in abusing the supes' lack of self acceptance because we learn that the school is more than it appears. In the first episode, the boy considered the number one student murders a beloved mentor and then commits suicide with the audience left wondering what is happening with that character, and with the school that supported him. The Boys demonstrated this many times in their three seasons with the supes' behavior and arrogance, often hidden to prevent backlash. This fear leads to two types of people. Ones that wish to live in peace, and those that wish to promote their arrogance to squash the others. It's ridiculous as it happens today, but it is still fun to watch the lovable characters fight back.

I'm eager for Season 4 of The Boys, and this show just made my eagerness stronger.

Trying too hard to be hip it almost gets a little too obnoxious.

[TechGeekAnthony · 6/10 · 10 January 2024]

In the world of The Boys there has always been lots of edgy jokes and over done adult jokes but Gen V does it all a bit too much. The Boys found a decent balance to adult jokes but on Gen V. It's too much. Seriously... In majority of scenes there's either jokes about genitals and/or the over done use of trying to be hip to a teenager audience like me but it falls short big time. Some reason the show writers think we use constant cuss words and talk 'hip' like the show portrays. It's just too much. However the story-line this show has is decent and has a good direction. It kept me hooked despite the awful misses of it trying to be hip and appealing to that aspect. Overall 6/10.