Looper’s own Audrey Fox praised “Gen V,” especially the new crop of characters and fast-paced energy to keep audiences engaged throughout the runtime. And while it maintains a similar tone to “The Boys,” namely profane, bloody satire, it explores new facets of this world viewers haven’t seen before. The focus this time around is on a school for superpowered individuals, and while there are some well-placed cameos, a new setting brings a reinvigoration for the franchise. Grace Randolph of Beyond the Trailer offered this glowing review, “One would think the magic of ‘The Boys’ couldn’t be duplicated, but ‘Gen V’ is a fantastic extension of that edgy, clever superhero show. Only this time, instead of the Avengers & Justice League, this is a take on the X-Men. Lots of VFX & mystery — a fun time!”
But offering a send-up of established superheroes, from Aquaman to Iron Man, is only part of the appeal of these shows. “The Boys” satirized American politics, especially the rise of the alt-right. “Gen V,” even with its smaller scope, still manages to skewer various aspects of pop culture; as Ed Power of The Telegraph writes, “The tone is brisk and breezy even as the script explores hot-button topics such as cyberbullying and transphobia. It’s far more accomplished than Marvel’s recent output.”
It’s not necessarily a competition, but it’s nice that mature audiences have a chance to watch superhero shows that offer something different than the typical PG-13 output at movie theaters. And since “Gen V” takes place between Seasons 3 and 4 of “The Boys,” fans can rest assured they’ll be fed well in the meantime.
