Warning: Spoilers ahead for Gen V episode 7.
Article Overview
In Gen V, The Boys franchise revisits its initial premise by unveiling Shetty's involvement in Homelander's plane crash, shedding light on the morally ambiguous aspects of the characters. The series delves into the daily challenges faced by young supes, offering a fresh perspective and subverting the conventional superhero storyline.
Gen V's storyline in The Boys universe highlights the persistent conflict between supes and non-supes, causing issues for characters like Butcher, Hughie, and Shetty. Despite deviating from its original theme, The Boys has returned to its core narrative with the reveal of Gen V and Shetty after four years. Both Gen V and its parent series share a fearless approach in pushing boundaries, showcasing graphic violence and morally complex characters that challenge conventional notions of good and evil.
Despite these similarities, Gen V has established its own identity by primarily exploring the daily challenges and misadventures of its young superhero characters. Additionally, Gen V offers a fresh perspective into the lives of superheroes by delving deeper into their experiences, rather than simply following the same formula as The Boys. Nevertheless, despite the franchise's departure from The Boys' initial storyline, episode 7 of Gen V brings it full circle with the unexpected revelation of the Shetty twist.
Gen V Returns To The Boys' Original Premise With Its Shetty Reveal
The Boys was initially created as a contrast to the typical superhero stories. Instead of portraying the main supes as noble heroes sacrificing for the greater good, The Boys depicted them as self-centered individuals who abused their powers and disregarded the well-being of civilians. Nevertheless, The Boys became more intricate when supe characters like Starlight and Maeve displayed empathy and a desire for positive change, while non-supe characters like Butcher pushed ethical boundaries to overpower supes.
Gen V further complicated the audience's allegiance by revealing the torment and experimentation inflicted on young supes at Godolkin University's secret Woods. With the introduction of Dean Shetty, Gen V demonstrated that even non-supe individuals could be as cunning and heartless as some of the worst supes. However, in episode 7, Gen V subverted this narrative by exposing that Shetty lost her entire family in the plane crash caused by Homelander in season 1 of The Boys. While this doesn't excuse Shetty's cruel actions, it highlights her similarity to Hughie, whose hatred for supes stemmed from his grief over his ex-girlfriend. As a result, Gen V's revelation of Shetty brings the franchise back to its original premise where the supes, for the most part, serve as the antagonists.
Gen V Proves Supes Vs. Non-Supes Will Always Be A Problem In The Boys Universe
Gen V captivated viewers by shining a spotlight on aspiring young supes navigating the challenges of power control and the consequences of fame. Nonetheless, Shetty's storytelling in Gen V convincingly highlights the enduring conflict between supes and non-supes within The Boys' universe. Despite the efforts of certain supes to utilize their powers responsibly, the inevitability remains that their abilities will eventually cause issues for regular individuals. As these problems escalate, the retaliation from non-supe characters such as Butcher, Hughie, Shetty, and numerous others in The Boys intensifies.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of The Boys, I'm thrilled to see the series return to its core essence with the reveal of Shetty's involvement in Homelander's plane crash. This twist brings the franchise full circle, reminding us of the initial premise that set The Boys apart from other superhero stories. The show has always excelled at exploring the morally ambiguous nature of its characters, and Shetty's reveal adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict between Supes and Non-Supes.
The Boys has never shied away from pushing boundaries, and Gen V continues that tradition with its graphic violence and morally complex characters. The series delves into the daily challenges faced by young Supes, offering a fresh perspective on the superhero genre. Despite its departure from the original storyline, Gen V has established its own identity and successfully subverted the conventional superhero formula.
