Do we need a spin-off for The boys? Arguably part of the fun of the R-rated series is the brand’s aversion to watering down the franchise with subpar material. It doesn’t take long Generation V series premiere, God U, to suggest that there may be room for The boys welcome another member into the family.
The boys it’s all about the finished product of supers and the shock factor of seeing the deep levels of depravity that humans can exhibit still carry over to those with powers. Generation V A clever approach delves into the hero training grounds of the prestigious Godolkin University.
If Mary (Jaz Sinclair, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) becomes a hero, she at least understood the tragic origin story. Marie’s powers manifest at the worst possible time, leading to a horrible tragedy. Determined not to make this moment the most important aspect of her life, Marie is thrilled to be accepted by God U with a full journey.
God U has been home to some of the most notable, some of whom have even become members of The Seven. It’s end game for Marie and she’s training diligently to master control of her… unique blood control abilities. At God U, Marie quickly realizes that this is a college experience like no other.
Her roommate, Emma (Lizze Broadway, Ghost), can be reduced to the size of a pickle, but the transformation is not the simplest. Emma isn’t looking to become a member of the Seven, so it turns out to Marie that God U’s high achievers like her.
There’s matter manipulator Andre (Chance Perdomo), mind-controlling Kate (Maddie Phillips), Jordan Li (Derek Luh and London Thor) who can instantly shift from male to female form, and Luke, a.k.a. Golden Boy (Patrick Schwarzenegger, The list of terminals), who is on track to join The Seven.
The only problem is that Marie wasn’t accepted to follow the superhero trail. President of Generation V, Professor Brikenhoff (Clancy Brown, Ahsoka) doesn’t think Marie’s powers would be a particularly popular addition to The Seven.
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The beauty of this premise is that Marie can naturally overcome all the normal problems of college: feeling out of place, being forced to follow a different career path while still being extremely motivated to do more with her life. That alone would make for a pretty decent college drama. Adding the superpowers angle allows Generation V to be yet another original and refreshing take on the superhero/comic book genre.
Right away, the actors establish their characters well, eliciting the desired emotional response from viewers. Sinclair has the better performance, capturing that optimism of a much-needed fresh start, the frustrations of his dreams derailed prematurely. Schwarzenegger is also a strong role model for his peers, while carrying a secret burden.
God U is more about establishing the players, but director Nelson Cragg excels in the episode’s two action sequences as well as Marie’s terrifying origin. It’s a treat to watch Jordan in action and swap the sexes with every strike.
Generation V would not fall under The boys‘umbrella if it weren’t for a number of non-family moments. Some involve male genitalia and large amounts of blood. It’s probably going to be a bloody adventure – in true boys fashion – but if God U was any indication, Gen V is going to be an unpredictable and totally entertaining experience.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Photo credit: Amazon
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