Critic Reviews

You’ll laugh out loud, wince often, and wonder how Gen V gets away with half of what’s displayed – which is my way of recommending this brilliantly batshit show to anyone who will listen.

Energized by the same go-for-broke creativity, sharp social commentary and puerile R-rated sense of humor as its big TV brother, it reconfirms that this franchise remains the comic book genre’s only consistently imaginative player.

As many superhero stories as there currently are these days, “superheroes in college” feels like an untapped opportunity. However, while the series’s connections to its parent show may limit its audience, creatively it’s an exciting proposition, and it’s fun to discover just how much mayhem Gen V can deliver.

In achieving what it does, Gen V neatly bridges the gap between The Boys season 3 and the upcoming fourth outing, while also setting out its stall as a unique, rollicking superhero satire in its own right.

“Gen V” is a fun and biting coming-of-age drama—it just happens to be full of superheroes.

It’s far more accomplished than Marvel’s recent output. But there is the caveat that sensitive viewers will want to keep a cushion to hand. There are times when Gen V is shockingly smart – and plenty of others when it is simply shocking.

Fans of "The Boys" will get a fun, mostly self-contained story that fleshes out this big, seedy universe even more; newcomers will get a dark superhero boarding school story centered around a captivating small-scale conspiracy. Whether you're a fan of "The Boys" or you just like superhero stories in general, "Gen V" is definitely worth your time. 

“Gen V” retains the edge, cynicism and (aptly) adolescent humor that make its parent show tick, suggesting “The Boys” is far from the creative fatigue now plaguing juggernauts like the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The “Gen V” premiere has the most shocks while subsequent episodes deepen the character backstories and the show’s mystery. It’s engrossing enough thanks to the efforts of showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, veterans of genre series “Agent Carter,” “Reaper” and “Resurrection.”

“Gen V” is an absorbing, engaging watch, notable for how it mostly manages to balance carnage and humor with heart. It’s a worthy addition to a franchise that savages them.