Warning: The article contains spoilers for Gen V episode 5, "Welcome to the Monster Club."
Summary
In Gen V's latest episode, viewers were treated to a chilling puppet massacre scene, cleverly showcasing intense violence while avoiding explicit blood and gore.
The credit for bringing these puppets to life goes to the show's talented head of the makeup department, leveraging their past expertise in puppet-building.
Gen V's ability to incorporate storytelling elements from the original series, like animated hallucinations, demonstrates its seamless integration into The Boys' world.
In a recent breakdown by showrunner Michele Fazekas, the bizarre puppet massacre scene in episode 5, "Welcome to the Monster Club," was explained in detail. Building on the unexpected ending of Gen V episode 4, this installment of The Boys' spinoff follows Sam Riordan (played by Asa Germann) as he evades capture after escaping from the secretive research facility called "The Woods" at Godolkin University. Continuing from Sam's previous hallucination featuring actor Jason Ritter and a murderous puppet, episode 5 of Gen V shows Sam ruthlessly wiping out an entire Vought special forces team, but with the entire scene shot using puppets.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fazekas disclosed that the unique scene was made possible by the show’s talented head of makeup, who had previous experience in puppetry. Initially, there were doubts about the effectiveness of the scene, but Fazekas, who has a background in broadcast television, believed that using puppets allowed the portrayal of violence to be more graphic without the need for "real blood and gore." Below are her comments:
"I can't recall which came first, the Jason Ritter scene or the puppet scene. However, Jason Ritter was always intended for the Jason Ritter scene because we had worked with him on an ABC show called Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, and he is incredibly versatile and a delightful person. It all stems from the story and the characters. We wanted to portray the strain on Sam and his struggle with mental illness, so we needed a solid foundation of real drama and high stakes to build upon. Interestingly, when we discussed this with the production team, our head of makeup said, 'I can do that. I've built puppets before.' So, he created all the puppets. I have one of the guards. There may have been some nervousness about how it would look and whether it would come across as silly, but we didn't shoot it like muppets. We shot and edited it like an actual fight sequence. The only difference was the use of puppets, along with sparkles and silly string instead of blood. It was truly a remarkable experience for all of us involved."
How Gen V’s Puppet Massacre Fits Perfectly Within The World Of The Boys
The live-action spinoff Gen V of The Boys has gained acclaim for its unique humor and intense violence. Viewers initially questioned if the new show could match the success of the original, but Gen V has proven itself by not only expanding the fictional world of The Boys but also incorporating many beloved aspects from the original series.
Episode 5 of Gen V showcases yet another example of the creative team successfully incorporating and expanding upon storytelling elements from the flagship series. Similarly, in The Boys season 3, Eric Kripke and his team employ a similar strategy by utilizing animated characters in hallucinations to convey the harrowing backstory of Black Noir and Soldier Boy. Just as Gen V's puppets shed light on Sam's mental health struggles, the animated Buster Beaver and his cartoon companions offer insights into Black Noir's inner turmoil.
Although it remains uncertain if Sam will suffer the same tragic fate as the original Black Noir, his hallucinatory experiences already bear resemblance to previously employed storytelling techniques in the franchise. Beyond sharing a world of corrupt mega corporations and morally compromised superheroes, Gen V proves to be a compelling extension of The Boys, drawing upon the original series for more than just background mythology.
Source: EW
