Gen V review: The Boys spin-off is as outrageous and horrifyingly fun as the original

Watch Yahoo's review of Gen V:

• 📺 Where to watch Gen V: Premieres on Prime Video on Friday, 29 September
  

• ⭐️ Our rating: 4/5
  

• 🍿 Watch it if you liked: The Boys, Invincible, Euphoria.
  

• 🎭 Who's in it?: Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Maddie Phillips, Lizzie Broadway, London Thor, Derek Lub, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger.
  

• ⏰ How long is it? Eight episodes, approximately an hour each.
  

• 📖 What’s it about? This spin-off of The Boys follows several teen Supes attending Godolkin University, who begin investigating the school's dark secrets while also trying to find themselves amidst the chaos of college life.

Class is in session at Godolkin University for the first generation of Supes to know about Compound V, and things are set to get explosive in more ways than one as they navigate their new life in Gen V.

The Boys spin-off is a coming-of-age story with a penchant for the macabre — much like its predecessor — and it introduces viewers to a roster of new and exciting characters led by Jaz Sinclair's Marie Moreau.

Read more: What we know about The Boys season 4

Marie's blood-letting abilities has been a burden in the past but now she is determined to change the narrative on her story, and prove she is the hero she knows herself to be and not a monster like her loved ones see her as.

To do this she decides to make her mark at God U, where Supes compete to rank highly so they can join The Seven, but she, her roommate Emma (Lizzie Broadway), and the top Supes find themselves drawn into a disturbing conspiracy. Their school hides dark secrets, and they become determined to unravel them.

Fans of The Boys will be delighted to know that the series retains the same level of gruesome debauchery they expect from the original, you will be appalled by the character's actions but also find it horrifyingly enthralling at the same time. It is everything you'd expect from The Boys but with a new setting.

Evan Goldberg and Craig Rosenberg have created a host of interesting new characters who seamlessly fit into the world of The Boys, viewers will quickly become invested in their lives, their backstories, and their respective journey over the course of the season.

Sinclair delivers a nuanced performance as Marie, and her storyline around trying not to being seen as a villain is touching even if her character's tendency to push people away with harsh words can be frustrating to watch.

Gen V is truly an ensemble piece, and its young cast all bring their respective characters to life well. Broadway is a highlight as Emma, her ability to turn small makes her feel like that in her everyday life and her journey of self-discovery is one of the most satisfying of the season.

London Thor and Derek Luh's dual role as non-binary Supe Jordan Li proves a moving watch, particularly with how it handles their relationship with their parents and others because of their abilities. Chance Perdomo makes his character Andre Anderson a reluctant leader in interesting ways, and Patrick Schwarzenegger channels his inner Homelander for a memorable performance.

The narrative takes the franchise into an intriguing direction (judging from the six episodes given to press at least), and the events of the spin-off feel essential to The Boys and what will likely occur in its upcoming fourth season.

That being said, Gen V stands well on its own merit, particularly thanks to its talented cast and the captivating story they tackle.

Much like The Boys, Gen V treads a fine line between being shockingly entertaining and going all-out with its grossness. Sometimes it can be too much, and the jokes can be a tad juvenile in nature, but it is also what most people will expect — and want — from the Prime Video series.

Gen V is a thrilling coming-of-age drama that will keep fans of The Boys entertained from the very beginning, it brings interesting new dilemmas to the superhero world while also doing things that fans won't expect, and the cast make it all the more captivating.

Gen V premieres on Prime Video on Friday, 29 September with its first three episodes, and will then air weekly on the streaming platform thereafter.

Watch the trailer for Gen V: