What It Means for ‘The Boys’ Season 5

Gen V ends its second season in a way that suggests the story is only beginning. While the season wraps up its biggest antagonist, Dean Cipher (a.k.a. Doug, played by Hamish Linklater), and the supposedly still-alive Thomas Godolkin (Ethan Slater), the battle is far from over.

Outside of Godolkin University, the threat of Homelander (Antony Starr) continues to loom, especially with President Calhoun (David Andrews) essentially in his pocket, and Sister Sage (Susan Heyward) pivoting in an unknown direction for her big plan. The final moments of Gen V Season 2, however, suggest that the kids may play a significant role in The Boys‘ upcoming fifth and final season.

The Kids, With an Assist From Polarity, Win Their Fight, But It’s Not Over

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Marie (Jaz Sinclair) and the others thought they had discovered the answer to all their problems when they learned that the burned body Cipher was keeping in a hyperbaric chamber in his home was Godolkin himself. When Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) revealed that Godolkin planned to place Supes on a pedestal and create Supe supremacy, they thought this would be a good thing. Most notably, they were excited because Godolkin might know how to take down Homelander and restore order. Godolkin is, after all, the creator of both Marie and Homelander, who were born from Project Odessa.

But when Marie resurrected him, the truth became clear. His plans were the same as Cipher’s because, in fact, they were the same person. It turns out Godolkin had taken over Cipher’s mind and body, revealing that their plans were one and the same. Before that, Cipher was an average Joe named Doug. Godolkin does want to create a world where Supes rule. But after witnessing what had become of Supes over the last almost 60 years, he was disgusted. He wanted to weed out all the useless Supes with powers he deemed irrelevant, who weren’t using their powers the way they should, or who were downright embarrassing (Rufus, we’re looking at you), and he was starting with kids enrolled at the school.

His initial actions help him not only restore but also increase his powers, allowing him to control multiple students at once, even eventually Marie. But Godolkin met his match when Marie and the others joined forces to attack him. They proved that even the kids with ridiculous, seemingly useless powers were all valuable and important. There’s Black Hole (Wyatt Dorion), who can absorb matter into his rear end, Harper (Jessica Clement), who can mimic anyone’s powers for 60 seconds, and Ally (Georgie Murphy), a.k.a. Bushmaster, who can grow and retract her pubic hair, using it to subdue and control things. All of them were integral to the plan to end Godolkin for good.

The real hero, however, was Polarity. Thanks to Marie restoring his powers and health, and Sister Sage freeing him after Godolkin’s betrayal, he arrived just in time. He was angrily able to subdue Godolkin long enough for Marie to break free from his mental hold and literally explode his head, reducing him to a bloody mess of matter. “That’s for Andre,” she told Polarity while looking at the remains of Godolkin’s body, adding, “thanks for the level up, a**hole.” It’s what happens next, however, that truly sets the stage for The Boys.

‘Gen V’ Season 2 Ends With the Kids Joining the Resistance

A close up of Starlight talking to Marie in Gen V.

Following these terrifying events, the kids flee to somewhere safe until they figure out their next steps. That’s when they run into Starlight (Erin Moriarty), who has somehow found them en route. How? She had help searching the perimeter from an unlikely, or perhaps likely, ally: A-Train (Jessie T. Usher). Fans will recall that in Season 4 of The Boys, A-Train was helping the team, effectively working as a mole within The Seven. When he was discovered, he went on the run. He tried to get Ashley (Colby Minifie) to come along with him, but she refused and decided to stay back and inject herself with Compound V as a last-ditch effort to survive. But she willingly let him go, reminding him to remove his tracking chip so he couldn’t be located.

Starlight first approached Marie in the initial episode of the season, begging her to return to Godolkin University to learn more about Project Odessa. Did Starlight know Marie was part of this project and wanted her to learn about her potential strength? Whether or not she knew, Starlight was adamant that she needed Marie’s help.

Now back in front of this potential ally, likely knowing Marie has learned of her powers and tested her strength to incredible results, Starlight is ready for the next phase. “Want to join the resistance?” Starlight asks them. They smile approvingly, suggesting they are ready and willing to help.

‘Gen V’ Season 2 Is Setting up Some Crossovers

‘The Boys’ Season 5 Looks Very Promising

Jordan (male), Marie, Annabeth, and Emma in orange jumpsuits in Elmira in Gen V.

With The Boys picking up in the aftermath of Season 4 — and likely the aftermath of Gen V Season 2 — this strongly suggests that Marie, Jordan, Emma, Sam, Cate, and Annabeth are part of the fight against Homelander.

This series is setting Marie up to be the one person who can take Homelander down, especially with Godolkin now out of the picture. Knowing that she is part of Project Odessa suggests that they are equally strong and capable. But Marie is also younger and far less insecure, automatically giving her an advantage. It’s a challenge to imagine any scenario that doesn’t involve Marie and Homelander coming face to face.

Further, fans will recall that at the end of Season 4 of The Boys, all other members of The Boys were captured. Hughie (Jack Quaid) was taken while Starlight managed to escape. Sam and Cate, both under the spell of Vought before they realized the error of their ways, captured Frenchie (Tomer Capone) and Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara). This resulted in Kimiko speaking her first word in years as she screamed “no!” while watching Frenchie be taken away. Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) was ambushed and arrested before being able to escape with his family. Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), high off his newfound tentacle powers and killing Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit), took off in his car with the last of the Supe-killing virus, potentially prepping to start a global Supe pandemic.

The two sides will likely collide in Season 5, the final season of The Boys. It will likely be a group effort to save the others and stop Homelander’s diabolical plan. Whether there’s a resolution or the season is just a blip in a larger story remains to be seen. Gen V has not yet been officially renewed for a third season.

What we do know now, however, is that Starlight is prepping an army to fight back. She’s not going to sit idly by and let someone as awful, as narcissistic, cold, and cruel as Homelander take over. She wants to protect both Supes and humans and shift the narrative from the ridiculous mistruths that Homelander and his sycophants are spreading. With the incredible team she has just added to her fight, she might just succeed. Stream Gen V on Prime Video.