SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 6 of “Gen V,” currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
The latest episode of “Gen V” Season 2 unveiled significant revelations, primarily during the God U students’ time in Stan Edgar’s (Giancarlo Esposito) unusual “billionaire bunker,” as noted by showrunner Michele Fazekas in an interview with Variety, following their escape from Elmira.
Major revelations from the episode, including a crossover cameo from “The Boys”, include: Thomas Godolkin (portrayed by Ethan Slater) is the elderly burn victim being cared for/abused in a hyperbaric chamber by God U dean Cipher (Hamish Linklater); Godolkin conceived The Odessa project; Marie (Jaz Sinclair) and Homelander (Antony Starr) are the only surviving subjects of the Odessa experiment; Zoe (Olivia Morandin) is now safe with her adoptive grandpa Stan Edgar after her mother Victoria Neuman’s death in “The Boys” Season 4; and Marie’s estranged sister Annabeth (Keeya King) has the ability to foresee the future.
As Cipher’s grand scheme—building on Godolkin’s work with Odessa to purge 75% of the student population at God U by eliminating the weaker supes—becomes apparent, Marie and Cate (Maddie Phillips) resolve to return to campus. They believe saving Thomas Godolkin from Cipher could help them thwart Cipher’s plot and potentially eradicate Homelander once and for all.
In this discussion, “Gen V” showrunner Fazekas elaborates on the significant reveal in Episode 6 and outlines how the remaining episodes of Season 2 are designed to set the stage for the forthcoming fifth and final season of “The Boys,” scheduled to premiere next year.
Marie has demonstrated her healing abilities to such an extent that she was able to revive her sister. Was this the specific power Cipher aimed to exploit—her control over blood?
It is one of the aspects. It involves healing, but I would argue it’s just a stepping stone toward Cipher’s ultimate objective. It’s important to distinguish between healing and resurrection; we were careful to convey that she’s not reanimating the deceased, but this isn’t the endgame either.
Was the nature of Annabeth’s death—her throat being slit and bleeding out—critical to Marie’s ability to heal her? Did the bloody circumstances enable her to resurrect her sister?
Not necessarily.
This episode reveals that Annabeth herself is a supe with precognitive abilities and has received Compound V. Was she part of the Odessa project like Marie?
No, I can confidently say no.
The discovery that Godolkin is the elderly burn victim under Cipher’s care is a significant lore development. I recall you and “The Boys” creator Eric Kripke mentioned in Season 1 that viewing “Gen V” separately from “The Boys” was feasible. However, it seems we are now deeply entrenched in Vought lore, making it hard to follow the final season of “The Boys” without having watched Season 2 of “Gen V”.
I’m not the right person to address the next season of “The Boys”, as I truly don’t know, but I doubt it’ll be entirely dependent on “Gen V”. Eric Kripke and I believe that if you engage with both shows, you’ll grasp the story on a deeper level than those who choose only one. Yet, we ensure that the narrative remains accessible such that those who haven’t seen either can still enjoy it. For instance, even if I’ve never encountered “The Boys” before, the references to Homelander make it clear who he is. Will you derive more from watching “Gen V” before “The Boys”? Perhaps, but it won’t be so interconnected that it’s incomprehensible.
What was Godolkin’s primary focus and original plan regarding Odessa? Why are Marie and Homelander the only survivors? What sets them apart?
That’s what Cipher is investigating. It’s partially a matter of scientific experimentation; different trials yield varying results, and some succeed. The key question in science is whether such results can be replicated. That’s where it becomes complex—why did it succeed for Homelander and Marie, but not for others? We could delve into genetic complexities, but as it stands, these are the two successful cases.
There’s a similarity—this isn’t a spoiler—in how both Marie and Homelander were created through Lab processes, being “test tube babies.” That contributes to why their experiences differ from others.
Annabeth has been explicitly noted as not being part of that category.
Right.
Discussing Dean Shetty’s approach in Season 1 compares with Cipher’s current strategy. Where Shetty sought to eliminate all supes, Cipher aims to target the weaker ones. What is his end goal?
He wishes to eliminate the weak as a means of resource control. He’s choosing to discard those he deems inferior and to focus efforts on those who exemplify superiority, similar to a Darwinian approach for supers. He believes only the fittest should survive, disregarding others he judges to be lacking. That theme resonated with me throughout the season—even powers deemed insignificant can still contribute heroically, but he overlooks that potential, which reflects a significant flaw in his logic.
Is there clarity at this stage in the season on why Marie was unable to perceive the Compound V in Cipher?
No, not yet.
Will there be clarification later in the season?
Absolutely. That was intentional, and it will make sense.
There are just two episodes remaining this season. Without giving away spoilers, can you offer a hint about potential setup for a third season? How long do you envision the show continuing after “The Boys” concludes, alongside the upcoming prequel, “Vought Rising”?
There are countless possibilities for a potential third season. Our primary aim was to bridge into “The Boys”, which does not preclude the possibility of another “Gen V” season. The appeal of a college series is that there’s always new students entering, so the story can continue! Still, our objective was to set the foundation for the new season of “The Boys”.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
