Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Gen V Season 2 Episode 5. Gen V Season 2 has moved into its second half by revealing just how dark things can get. After Episode 4, “Bags,” showed Marie (Jaz Sinclair), Jordan (London Thor and Derek Luh), and Emma (Lizze Broadway) reuniting with Cate (Maddie Phillips) as they confront Cipher (Hamish Linklater), the story takes an unfortunate twist. With Cate taken to Elmira and everyone else willing to risk it all to save her, the details of their imprisonment are on full display, and Cate and Emma even grow closer from this experience. While Episode 5, “The Kids Are Not All Right,” ties him to The Boys’ Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), Gen V still does little to explain Cipher and his plan. The mysteries surrounding his character are in desperate need of clarity, but in the meantime, a familiar face comes in to intensify the story.
The Heroes Face Consequences in ‘Gen V’ Season 2 Episode 5

Emma (Lizze Broadway) in Gen V Season 2 Episode 5Image via Prime Video

Following their bold confrontation with Cipher, the Guardians of Godolkin are left reeling. Cate is taken to Elmira, Jordan must deal with the fact that they were controlled, and Marie realizes that Cipher’s training methods actually worked. Even so, Marie refuses to go back to training, which angers Cipher. Instead, she has a new idea of how to use her powers. While Cate is imprisoned and trying to escape, Marie wants to go back for her. Emma resists due to her lingering dislike for Cate, but due to the lingering trauma she, Jordan, and Marie have from Elmira, they agree to save Cate. With Elmira back in the forefront of the story, Gen V explains more about the show’s time jump, as Marie reveals she only escaped because she killed a guard by pulling blood from his cut, allowing her to climb out of an air duct. Unfortunately, they cannot get back in that way, as Marie’s escape led to increased security. By looking back on this storyline, the series continues to explore the fallout of Season 1, even as the plot rapidly moves forward. As they head out, Emma asks Sam (Asa Germann) for help, but having realized that Cate was still manipulating him, he isn’t eager to help save her, insisting that she deserves whatever happens to her. Sam’s refusal causes the group to hesitate, but Marie has a newfound confidence in her powers. This is a major step for her as she has been denying her strength throughout Season 2. However, as extra insurance, Emma tells Greg (Stephen Thomas Kalyn) what they are doing, instructing him to tell Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas) if they don’t return. The secret Starlighters take a backseat in this episode, yet with Greg as the backup, they aren’t entirely gone.
‘Gen V’ Season 2 Episode 5 Takes Sam on a Journey of Self-Discovery

Sam (Asa Germann) in Gen V Season 2 Episode 5Image via Prime Video

Throughout Gen V, Sam has had a particularly tragic story, and Episode 5 takes him back to the beginning as he returns to his parents’ house. While they are surprised to see him, they welcome him home, but it isn’t the happy reunion Sam dreamed of. As he looks for his old things, he discovers they’ve all been packed away following his supposed death, making him feel forgotten. However, his parents explain that when they saw him on TV, they went to see him, only to hear that he wouldn’t let them. However, Vought never told Sam they made contact. Vought’s cruelty is evident in how they came between this family, and though the company has done plenty of horrific things, this might be a new low. Sam may get the reunion he needed, but it doesn’t fix everything. Even in the comfort of his childhood home, Sam has a violent episode, lashing out and hurting his father. He also blames his parents for giving him Compound V and all the issues that have come with it. However, his mother explains that things are not that simple. She tells him that they never wanted to send him away, but had no other options because of his mental health struggle. She also reveals that delusions and hallucinations run in her family, and often result in violent actions. They gave him Compound V in hopes that it would save him from that, but it only made it harder to control. This may surprise Sam, but it paints his parents in an even more sympathetic light. With the full story, Sam no longer blames his family, leading to peace between them. The episode highlights the tragedy of Sam’s treatment at the hands of Vought, but it ends in a happier place as he reaches an understanding with his mother.
Cipher Becomes Even More Intimidating in ‘Gen V’ Season 2 Episode 5

Cipher (Hamish Linklater) with a knife pointed at his throat in Gen V Season 2 Episode 5Image via Prime Video

After revealing his powers, Cipher has become an especially frightening villain, even for this franchise. But the students are not the only ones onto him. Polarity continues his investigation into the man who was involved in the death of his son, meeting with Cipher to discover what he wants with Marie and her friends. But Cipher already knows what Polarity is doing and taunts him, explaining that Andre’s (Chance Perdomo) death was a result of an experiment pushing him too far. While this story seems contradictory to Jordan’s version of Andre’s death, it’s no surprise that Cipher would lie to anger Polarity, and it works. Polarity uses his powers to threaten Cipher with a knife, but the Dean insists that he cannot be hurt, and to prove his point, he drives the knife through his own hand without flinching. This is yet another question about Cipher that remains unanswered. Not only does Polarity’s investigation hit a wall in Episode 5, but he takes a turn as his illness catches up to him. Polarity has a seizure, crashing to the ground as his powers spasm. It’s no secret that he’s ill, but Episode 5 leaves Polarity on a dangerous cliffhanger. Meanwhile, Cipher’s past gets one more interesting update as Gen V reveals a relationship between him and Sister Sage, a member of the Seven introduced in The Boys Season 4. Sister Sage wants Cipher to accelerate his plan with Marie. She fears how Homelander (Antony Starr) will react to how powerful Marie has become, but Cipher insists he’s not done. Though he and Sister Sage are working together, Gen V has yet to explain their final goal, making it difficult for the audience to understand the stakes. Yet, one thing is sure: between her intellect and his ability to control others, the pair make a terrifying enemy.
‘Gen V’ Season 2 Episode 5 Takes the Heroes Back to Elmira

As Marie, Jordan, and Emma mount their rescue attempt, they are quickly captured and thrown back into the cells where they were trapped between seasons. Emma can see Cate, who is touched by the rescue; however, Emma has no hope left, ending up in a dark place emotionally. Pairing these two makes an interesting dynamic. Emma was the one who resisted the idea of saving Cate and seems to hold the most anger against her, but in Elmira, none of their past matters. Meanwhile, Cipher tries to manipulate Marie, promising to let her out if she does exactly what he wants. She refuses, and Jordan, who is in the neighboring cell, argues, revealing that when he was under the Dean’s control, he could feel Cipher’s constant pain. However, Cipher remains focused on Marie, showing her that her sister, Annabeth (Keeya King), is also in Elmira. Despite his promises to let both Marie and Annabeth go if Marie is “reasonable,” she doesn’t trust him, and the threats to Annabeth make Marie that much more determined to kill Cipher, even though there is little she can do while trapped. Though the characters who have been there before have little hope, Cate comes up with her own plan. She pulls a staple out of her head and uses it to pick the lock on the collar that blocks her powers. A guard comes to get her and finds her seemingly injured, but, in truth, the collar is unlocked, giving her control of her powers. Cate gets the key, and she and Emma escape. They find Marie and Jordan, but soon realize that the guards aren’t even after them. Even though it seems like what Ciupher wanted, Marie goes after her sister, and the rest follow. They find Annabeth bleeding out, but Marie won’t leave her, instead using her powers to work a miracle. Pulling the blood back into Annabeth’s body, Marie saves her, proving that Cipher is right about her incredible powers. Yet, despite Marie’s level-up, they are still trapped in Elmira, and not with a barely-alive non-powered companion to protect. Gen V Season 2 is streaming on Prime Video with new episodes on Wednesdays.

Release Date

September 28, 2023

Network

Prime Video

Directors

Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum

Writers

Craig Rosenberg

Franchise(s)

The Boys

Jaz Sinclair

Marie Moreau

Lizze Broadway

Emma Meyer / Little Cricket

Pros & Cons

Episode 5 highlights Sam and his tragic story, establishing that his powers didn’t cause his mental illness.
Cate and Emma getting thrown together creates an interesting dynamic, giving Cate something heroic to do.
Episode 5 ties ‘Gen V’ even more closely to ‘The Boys’ with Sister Sage’s connection to Cipher.
Marie takes a major step in developing her powers, setting up more for her future.

‘Gen V’ continues to build the mysteries around Cipher without explaining his plan.