Warning! This article contains spoilers for Gen V season 1.
Gen V has filled in some of what happens directly after the conclusion of The Boys season 3. The Boys, based on the comics by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson was first released in 2019 on Amazon Prime. The series follows a group of humans living in a world where superheroes are celebrities. They protect the nation, but at the same time, they are in it for the career, fame, and fortune. As a result, they tend to act out and leave a trail of destruction in their wake.
Over the first three seasons, Billy Butcher and his crew have taken down several supes and are attempting to shine a light on the terrible and ignorant behavior of supes who roam free despite committing horrific crimes. The Boys season 3 ended with a few loose ends, such as Soldier Boy being captured and imprisoned in a sedated state, the world finding out about compound V, Maeve fleeing with her partner, and Homelander killing a civilian in broad daylight. Gen V is starting to bridge the gap on what happens next in the world of The Boys.
10 The Boys Season 3’s Vought Tower Battle Was Blamed On Russians
Despite Homelander And The Boys Showdown Being The Real Cause
The Boys season 3 finale teased a news story being spun about the Russians being involved in the destruction that took place on Vought Tower due to the battle between Homelander, Soldier Boy, Queen Maeve, and Billy and Hughie with temporary V. Gen V confirms that the incident and ensuing destruction was blamed on the Russians. Gen V episode 1 features a clip from a news report showing the tower with significant damage and a headline that indicates new evidence of Russia’s involvement.
9 Vought Is Massively Exploiting Queen Maeve’s “Death”
And Only A Few People Know About Her Survival
Queen Maeve, actually survived the battle with Homelander and Soldier Boy, and while the new CEO Ashley Barrett is aware of her survival, she deleted the footage of her escape to protect her privacy. That has in no way stopped the rest of Vought Industries from milking Maeve’s death for every penny it’s worth with multiple productions, food lines, merchandise, and memorials to position themselves as supporting her in her non-heterosexual relationship and championing her bravery. In death, it appears that Maeve is a much bigger earner for Vought than she was while alive.
8 Homelander Really Is Running Vought After The Boys Season 3
No One Is Willing To Stand Up To The Volatile Supe
Homelander shows up to put a stop to the chaos on campus by lasering Marie Moreau in the Gen V finale. His status as the leader of The Seven seems entirely unaffected, and he has been bolstered in his confidence to do whatever he pleases as a result of killing an innocent civilian in broad daylight and essentially getting away with it. There is the possibility of a trial, but his legal team seems to be effectively navigating that while Homelander freely continues his work. While Ashley Barrett is still the figurehead and navigating day to day, she is no match for the powerful and terrifying Homelander.
7 Adam Bourke Got Canceled
He Is No Longer The Renowned And Respected Director
Adam Bourke had a direct relationship with the Seven as a director for some of the most important films (propaganda) being created by Vought to sell its heroes to the public. He directed Dawn of the Seven, an epic film that detailed a fictionalized origin story for the super team. However, in Gen V, he is now a teacher in the drama department. Emma tells Marie that due to an incident where he exposed himself to an actress, he has lost his former position and status and has been forced into a lowly life as a university professor.
6 Shetty Kept God U Under Control After The Compound V Announcement
She Maintained Strict Control Of The Students
With the news breaking that supes were made, and not born, the impact this would have had on the wider community and the general public was likely significant. The public is now aware that powers can be bought, and this is bound to change things in the world of The Boys. One group that is directly affected would be the students at God U themselves, and Shetty reveals that when the Compound V news broke, out of her 400 students enrolled at God U, she “barely had any suicides.” Shetty influenced her students and kept a relative degree of calm, proving just how influential she could be, even without powers.
5 Vought Is On The Defensive
Vought Is Doing Its Best To Play It Safe
Vought Industries is in a precarious position trying to cover up massive incidents like the Vought Tower explosions, Soldier Boy’s rampage, Homelander murdering someone publicly, and a completely muddled Seven. The heroes that people once looked to are now publicly being called out for horrific incidents and things that are just awful for PR. The Seven needs new team members and Vought is attempting to lean into their positive attributes, no matter how tenuous, like their supposed support for Queen Maeve.
4 Homelander Is On Trial… Maybe
With No Clear Sign Of Real Punishment
In Gen V, episode 7, Victoria Neuman is asked whether Homelander will stand trial for murdering an innocent civilian. She delivers a very political non-answer and the super-powered students break out into a frenzy. From signs appearing around campus, it appears there is a lot of support for Homelander among the student body. In episode 1, a statement from Homelander’s lawyer declares “he stood his ground,” which could mean that a potential trial for Homelander is going ahead, or that it’s being debated whether this will go to court.
Either way, the Gen V finale made it clear that Homelander is still roaming free at present and appears to be working. When Cate and Sam go on a killing spree on campus, Homelander turns up just as Marie stops Cate by blowing up her arm. Homelander is evidently furious at Marie for harming another supe and then blasts her with his heat vision. It’s clear Homelander is boldly standing up for supes over humans, but it’s less clear if he was called in to support the Vought executives on campus.
3 Victoria Neuman Has Plans For Marie Moreau
Considering The Pair Have Twin Powers
Neuman played a big part in The Boys season 3 as she secretly eliminated threats to her position and secured a spot as the presidential candidate’s choice for Vice President. Neuman grew up in an orphanage and, as seen in Gen V, this is the same orphanage Marie Moreau was raised in. Neuman has also been paying close attention to Marie and her development as she became a secret benefactor, securing her place at God U.
2 Butcher & Mallory Are Working Together To Investigate A New Mystery
The Virus Is On The Radar For The Boys
In Gen V season 1, episode 7, Shetty meets with Mallory to discuss her desire to work together. Shetty wants to use Mallory’s knowledge and database of supes to swiftly deliver and spread her supe virus and wipe out anyone with powers. However, Mallory rejects her offer for its excessive violence and the outcome resulting in mass genocide. After their meeting, she speaks to someone who was on an open call listening in directing them to “keep a close eye on [Shetty].” The following episode then features a short cameo with Billy Butcher investigating the woods after the break out on campus.
Butcher and Mallory have been working together since The Boys first started and Mallory recruited Butcher to lead a small specialized unit. While the two butt heads sometimes, it’s clear they are comfortable working together to achieve a common goal, holding supes accountable for their actions. A virus that could wipe out supes sounds like something that Butcher would be more than happy to use considering his reckless streak and going to dangerous lengths to stop supes like Homelander by using temp V injections in The Boys. With Mallory bringing Butcher in, it’s unclear what they will do if they retrieve the virus, but it’s clear they are working together.
1 Neuman Is Planning To Give Supes Political Representation
Giving Supes A Platform In Government
Victoria Neuman may be hiding her identity as a supe, but it’s clear that she intends to include supes in her future plans. Neuman had a one-to-one with Marie Moreau where she revealed her role in securing Marie’s place at God U. She also tried to dissuade Marie from digging further about the virus and instead focus on her career, mentioning that if Marie becomes the first black woman in The Seven and is “friends with the vice president,” Marie would have real power and influence.
Neuman has proven her ability to play the long game, pulling herself up from her humble beginnings in the orphanage and becoming a politician on the edge of becoming the vice president. She’s been watching Marie for years, and with tensions between humans and supes at an all-time high, Neuman is using everything to her advantage. She also clarified her intentions to give supes a voice in government during her town hall meeting in Gen V episode 7 before the crowd broke into a riot. Her role going into The Boys season 4 can’t be overstated as she holds the virus, a connection to Marie, and is on the cusp of becoming the vice president.
