Gen V: Guardians of Godolkin

 "That was Andy. He was hilarious. And then really sad. He was bipolar."

Wow. That's quite a twist at the end.

And it's quite an episode. Yes, the Shetty/plague stuff was wrapped up last episode, but the season is by no means over as the episode begins. The Big Bad is not Shetty after all... it's Cate, with Same on her side and the others desapewrately trying to deal with a nightmarish race war. All looks hopeless.

Yet there's so much character stuff here. Marie grows to understand all the many more things her powers can do, and decides she doewsn't want so much to be a hero, or have her sisyter's forgiveness, but just to be a good person.... which she is. If she can't have those other things, she can at least deserve them. And yes, Cate deserves what she gets.

Sam is a **** for breaking poor Emma's heart, the girl who risked so much for him. Andre is in a horrible situation, under pressure to take over from his dad, who is suffering brain injuries as a result of just using his powers. 

But the ending is extraordinary. Homelander arrives not to save the day but to rearrange things for Vought's advantage. Marie, Jordan, Emma and Andre are the scapegoats... and genocidal maniacs Cate and Sam are the heroes. WHAT? Billy Butcher has the last word, and it's hard to disagree. But this is brilliant satirical telly. Superb episode, superb finale, superb season. More please.

Gen V: Jumanji

 "I fart the star spangled banner!"

I haven't seen the titular film, so no doubt there are all sorts of pop culture references I'm not getting here. Nevertheless... 

The B plot here is so, so sweet. Sex is often played for gross in Gen V and The Boys, but this episode has one of the loveliest sex scenes I've ever seen, as Emma and Sam make love. It's his first time, but Emma is so very understanding and makes it clear that there's no pressure. Bless her.

The rest of the episode, though.... oooh, it's dark. Also structurally clever, of course. How can we get the rest of the gang to give Cate the time of day ever again? By getting trapped in her traumatised psyche and get to understand, if not condone, what she did. Cate has a lot of work to do to even begin to earn back their trust... but it's a start.

We know what Cate did to her brother, but not how her mother proceeded to hide her away, unloved, for nine years, easy prey for Shetty and her bottle of pills. And there are parallels with Jordan who, we now see, made some dodgy decisions in going along with brink, and with Andre, who started sleeping with Cate while Luke was still alive. And then there's the parallels with Marie: her sister's rewaction is utterly heartbreaking.

But Shetty, the doctor, and that supe-killing virus... ouch. We've had two intense and character-based episodes, two superb bits of telly, but I get the feeling a lot is going to happen in these last two episodes.

Gen V: God U.

 "It's like a big, fiery cucumber..."

I had no idea what to expect from this university-themed spin-off from The Boys, full of very uoung actors who make me feel old, sort of, as their young people music sounds awfully... conservative? It seems as though this exists to tide us over during the long delay until the next season of the parent show.I have to admit, though, this first episode is bloody good. And absolutely as hilarious and dark in equal measure as is said parent show.

It's a good idea to have Marie as audience identification character, and Jaz Sinclair is superb. Not only is her backstory as tragically dark as hell, but her blood superpowers are the grossest thing ever. Then we have nice seeming Andre, whose powers are unclear; Cate, with her "these aren't the droids you're looking for" powers"; and Emma, who can shrink and is burdened, beneath the surface cheer, with low self esteem that leads her to be used, bless her. Then there's Jordan who, well, it's laudable to have a trans character, and I like the concept that being trans is heroic, nicely done... but is switching gender really a power that can be used to fight crime?

The question is perhaps not all that pivotal; it's made very clear that 90% of alumni are destined for showbiz rather than crimefighting, and even crimefighting classes are half about branding... and all bery much controlled by Vought. But the ending is shocking... Luke, Golden Boy, our pampered little Johnny Storm, ends up killing the superstar prof and then exploding himself. Wow. At least this means poor Marie isn't expelled in order to save the reputations of others further up the pecking order.

Why does Luke do this? What is "The Woods", where kids are seemingly sent? I'm sure we'll find out. I'm very much hooked.