Gen V: Season 1 (2023) Cre: Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg & Eric Kripke
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As much as I loved 'The Boys', I was a little bit nervous about the idea of a university-set spin-off series, mostly because I'm not usually the biggest fan of those kind of shows. However, I was pleasantly surprised by what the series offered. This debut season was only eight episodes, but they were more than enough to tell a thrilling superhero story with a twist.
Viewers of 'The Boys' will be more than aware already, but it's safe to say that this is a very adult show, which features some potentially triggering and certainly mature content. If you can cope with that, then you'll find a well-written and intense story, which features some brilliantly constructed and developed characters.
The narrative is full of twists and turns - it has so many shocking scenes that leave audiences both reeling and enthralled. But beneath the gruesome violence is a story that has all sorts of emotional depth across several story arcs. Furthermore, there's a great climax that not only sets up a second season, but also the next season of 'The Boys' too.
The show is actually very progressive, from featuring a genderfluid character in a prominent role, to addressing mental and social issues, albeit with varying degrees of impact. For the most part though, I think the show does a lot of good - and not in a frustratingly preachy way - certainly more than the majority of film and television.
I absolutely loved Jaz Sinclair, from episode one through eight. She was easy to root for, interesting, emotive and a very strong protagonist. I think her on-screen chemistry with the likes of Broadway and Luh was particularly impressive.
The performance of Lizze Broadway is one that started off, admittedly, a little bit choppy, but got better and better as the series progressed. I think she provided a very endearing performance that made her one of the more emotionally developed characters.
Maddie Phillips is another who seemed to get better as the show progressed. Not only did her character develop very nicely, but so did she. I felt like she was able to illicit some very strong, very believable emotions that helped some of the heavier or emotional scenes be even more impactful.
Derek Luh and London Thor do a marvellous job of playing the show's genderfluid character - who was easily one of the most interesting and likable in the show - which definitely had a lot to do with how well Luh and Thor played them.
Chance Perdomo went from strength to strength throughout the series, only really having a couple of down scenes in the first couple of episodes. However, just about everything else he touched turned to gold - he was great.
Asa Germann made it very easy to invest in the storyline of his character. He was able to show a sensitivity to contrast the more explosive side of his character that made him a very intriguing presence in each of his scenes.
The series also has some really decent supporting performances from the likes of Colby Minifire, Shelley Conn, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Jensen Ackles and Clancy Brown.
Overall, I think was a great debut season for a spin-off show with a whole lot of potential. I really enjoyed the new characters and the new environment, I think it helped build the world of 'The Boys' very effectively. It also did the most important thing with any series; leave me wanting more.
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