Worth: $15.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Derek Luh, London Thor
Intro:
… surprisingly addictive and clever.
Set in the same universe as Garth Ennis’ The Boys, Gen V expands the mythos of Compound V, the serum that gives “supes” their powers, only this time in an X-Men style setting. Marie, Emma, Andre, Jordan, and Cate are a group of college students training to be the next generation of heroes at Godolkin University where, much like The Xavier Institute, adjusting to being the new kid in class is the least of their worries. These kids will literally tear each other to bits if it means ranking in the Top 10, a list of those voted most likely to join The Seven — Vought’s most cherished superhero team — after graduation.
From the very first episode, we’re reminded that the expanded universe of The Boys is no Marvel family-friendly fare. Instead of quips and dance-offs we have sex, gore, and black humour. Ennis’ signature subversion is vividly present, joyful in its violence and devilish laughs. A twist on the teen sleuth boarding school mystery genre, Gen V is self-aware and self-referential, right down to the over-the-top product placement of in-universe brands. Creators Craig Rosenberg, Eric Kripke, and Evan Goldberg are well aware of exactly where their creation stems from, and delight in pushing the boundaries of those conventions.
With a compelling ensemble of newcomers appearing alongside a cameo or two from some familiar faces, the overall performances are solid. It’s easy for characters to fall by the wayside when the plot revolves around an entirely new group of protagonists, but as a whole, the cast manages to hold their own, including against more seasoned players like Sean Patrick Thomas and Clancy Brown.
Working with a script that’s never so much as glanced upon the realm of subtlety, the writers instead highlight each metaphor and analogy in bright, glowing neon, and do so proudly. All the usual college drama tropes are here: body image, self-harm and social media addiction, only this time with a dark and fantastical twist.
In a world weary of superhero stories, Gen V is surprisingly addictive and clever. Not on the same level as its predecessor perhaps, but it makes for great complementary viewing.
